When was Ravi Shankar born and where was he born?
Ravi Shankar was born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury on the 7th of April 1920 in Benares, now known as Varanasi. He was the youngest of seven brothers in a Bengali Hindu family.
Common questions about Ravi Shankar
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who was Ravi Shankar's teacher and when did he begin his training?
Ravi Shankar studied under the court musician Allauddin Khan starting in 1934 when he was eighteen years old. He entered the traditional gurukul system in Maihar and dedicated seven years to mastering the sitar.
When did Ravi Shankar marry Annapurna Devi and when did they separate?
Ravi Shankar married Annapurna Devi, the daughter of his teacher, in 1941 and their son Shubhendra Shankar was born in 1942. The couple separated by 1962 although they maintained a relationship with other partners.
When did Ravi Shankar meet George Harrison and what was the result of their collaboration?
Ravi Shankar met George Harrison in 1966 when Harrison traveled to India to study sitar in Srinagar. Their collaboration led to the song Norwegian Wood and the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971 which won Shankar a second Grammy Award.
When did Ravi Shankar serve in the Rajya Sabha and what political role did he hold?
Ravi Shankar served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1986 to 1992 after being nominated by Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He was a member of the upper house of the Parliament of India.
When did Ravi Shankar die and what was his final concert?
Ravi Shankar died on the 11th of December 2012 at the age of 92. His final European concert was billed as taking place in June 2008 but he continued to tour until his death.