Legendary Sarangi maestro Pandit Ram Narayan said goodbye to the world on November 9 at the age of 96. Known for his high-class talent and majestic capability of playing this instrument, this musician has worked in the industry since 1944. He was also hailed as the first Indian Musician to popularize sarangi in Hindustani classical music along with being the first internationally successful player of this instrument.
On the death of this musician who was the recipient of the prestigious Padma Vibhushan and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award the whole of India showed grief.
Let’s look into his inspiring life and journey.
The life and journey of Pandit Ram Narayan
Born in Udaipur, India, the musician auditioned for the local All India Radio (AIR) station as a singer in 1943. However, the station’s producer, Jivan Lal Mattoo, noticed grooves in his fingernails which he believed were perfect for a sarangi player.
After the partition of India in 1947, Narayan shifted to the local AIR station of Delhi. With this incredible talent, he recorded three solo 78 rpm gramophone records for the British HMV Group in 1950 along with a ten-inch LP album in Mumbai in the subsequent year.
Following the next 15 years, he crafted music for path-breaking films like Adalat, Gunga Jumna, Milan, Mughal-e-Azam, Humdard, Kashmir Ki Kali, Madhumati, and Noor Jehan.
The reactions to Pandit Ram Narayan’s death.
The Governor of Maharashtra, CP Radhakrishnan mourned his death Pandit on X, writing: “Deeply saddened to know about the demise of internationally acclaimed Sarangi maestro Pt Ram Narayan Ji. Pt Ram Narayan took Sarangi to global heights through his masterly performances. The sound of his Sarangi touched hearts and heavens (sic).”
It continues, “In the true Indian tradition, Pt Narayan passed on the knowledge of Sarangi to numerous disciples from India and abroad. His divine music will live on for centuries. With his demise, an era in Sarangi has come to an end (sic).”
Sangeet Natak Akademi also paid tribute to the maestro writing, “Sangeet Natak Akademi and its associate bodies deeply mourn the sad demise of Ram Narayan, the renowned Hindustani musician and sarangi virtuoso. A recipient of the Padma Vibhushan and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, he passed away today. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved ones and prayers to the Almighty to give them enough strength to bear this irreparable loss (sic).”
Our heartiest condolences to the musician’s friends and family.
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