When and where was Ravi Shankar born?
Ravi Shankar was born on the 7th of April 1920 in Benares, now known as Varanasi. He grew up as the youngest of seven brothers in a Bengali Hindu family.
Questions about Ravi Shankar
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who taught Ravi Shankar to play the sitar and when did he complete his training?
Allauddin Khan taught Ravi Shankar to play the sitar during a seven-year training period that lasted from 1938 until 1944. Shankar lived with Khan's family as part of the traditional gurukul system while mastering the instrument.
How did George Harrison influence Ravi Shankar's global popularity?
George Harrison became influenced by Ravi Shankar's music after hearing it through Roger McGuinn and David Crosby. Harrison traveled to India in 1968 to take lessons from Shankar in Srinagar, which greatly increased Shankar's worldwide fame.
What political role did Ravi Shankar hold between 1986 and 1992?
Ravi Shankar served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from the 12th of May 1986 to the 11th of May 1992. He was nominated for this position by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
When and how did Ravi Shankar die?
Ravi Shankar died on the 11th of December 2012 at age ninety-two after undergoing heart valve replacement surgery. His final concert took place on the 4th of November 2012 at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach California.