Death of a sitarist

Ravi Shankar, the Indian sitarist, died at the age of 92 in San Diego, California.

Just as it's difficult to talk about Gandhi, so it is with Ravi Shankar; both are too much of legends.

So I won't waste space describing what a genius Shankar was.

But I do wish there were an Andy Warhol-like figure immortalizing somebody like Shankar in a portrait as snazzy as that of Marilyn Monroe.

Alas, in India, legends are remembered differently--through dour hagiography.

Anyhow, so Shankar, I used to read growing up, had a certain irresistible charm. He successfully used that charm, not only to bowl over major Western musicians, but also the most talented and intelligent of women.

It is apt that he is survived by two gifted women--his two daughters, singer Norah Jones and virtuoso Anoushka Shankar Wright.

Oh and proud to say this: He was a Bengali.

Salute to the spirit, life and music of Robindro Shonkor Choudhury.