Although he spent most of his life taking his music around the world, Pandit Ravi Shankar, the late sitar maestro, developed a special bond with the city of Mumbai.
Shankar, who passed away at the age of 92 at his home in San Diego, California, on Wednesday, was born in Varanasi, travelled around the country with his brother’s dance troupe and later spent seven years in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh, to receive his musical training from Allauddin Khan.
But in the mid-1940s, in order to begin his career and make a living as a musician, Shankar moved to Mumbai and began living in Borivli.
In this city, he invented the widely-loved raga Nat Bhairav. After making a name for himself internationally, he returned to Mumbai briefly in 1960, setting up the Kinnara School of Music at Breach Candy.
Even after moving back to Varanasi and later on to America, Shankar would return to Mumbai annually, performing at local concert venues such as the Suburban Music Circle in Santacruz and Chhabildas High School in Dadar.
{{/usCountry}}Even after moving back to Varanasi and later on to America, Shankar would return to Mumbai annually, performing at local concert venues such as the Suburban Music Circle in Santacruz and Chhabildas High School in Dadar.
{{/usCountry}}As a guru, Shankar trained several disciples around the world, of which some — such as sitar player Kartick Kumar and flautist Ronu Majumdar — live in Mumbai and are internationally-acclaimed musicians.
(With inputs from Amarendra Dhaneshwar)