The search engine giant Google pays tribute to Pandit Ravi Shankar with a an attractive artistic doodle on his 96th birthday. Pandit Shankar was born on April 7, 1920 in Varnasi. His family named him Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury.
Pandit Shankar started learning sitar playing under the guidance of court musician Allauddin Khan.The artist explained Indian music raga as ‘its own peculiar ascending and descending movement consisting of either a full seven-note octave, or a series of six or five notes in a rising or falling structure.’
In 1999, the musician received highest civilian award Bharat Ratna. His relation with Beatles guitarist George Harrison aided the spread of Indian music outside country, leading to the raga rock trend.
The legend passed away on December 11, 2012, after undergoing heart valve replacement surgery.
