Ravi Shankar dies aged 92

Ravi Shankar, the Indian sitar maestro, has died in hospital in San Diego, aged 92.

Shankar, who helped popularise Indian music in the 1960s, was described as “the godfather of world music” by his most famous student, George Harrison.

According to Associated Press, a statement on his website said he died in San Diego, near his Southern California home with his wife and a daughter by his side. The musician’s foundation issued a statement saying that he had suffered upper respiratory and heart problems and had undergone heart-valve replacement surgery last week.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described him as a “national treasure and global ambassador of India’s cultural heritage”.

Shankar played sitar on The Beatles‘ “Norwegian Wood”, he also performed at Woodstock and the 1967 Monterey Pop festival, and collaborated with jazz saxophonist John Coltrane.

Pic credit: Vincent Limongelli