Pandit Debu Chaudhuri passes away: A pictorial tribute to the sitar maestro

Padma Bhushan awardee Pandit Devabrata Chaudhuri was considered a leading name among sitar players. As one of the leading proponents of the Senia Gharana, his demise owing to COVID 19 complications and dementia, is a great loss to the art and music world. (Source: Express Archives)

His son Prateek Chaudhuri took to Facebook to share the news of his father’s demise. He wrote, “My Father, The Legend of Sitar, Pandit Debu Chaudhuri… is no more. He was admitted with Covid along with dementia complications and was put in ICU on ventilator around midnight today (1st May 2021)..after which he suffered a heart attack and could not be revived…..In spite of all efforts and prayers he could not be saved. to the World of Sitar and Indian Music. Great loss. In grief..Prateek Chaudhuri (myself) Runa Chaudhuri (my wife), Rayana Chaudhuri (my daughter) and Adhiraj Chaudhuri (my son).” (Source: Prateek Chaudhuri/Instagram)

Padma Bhushan Pandit Debu Chaudhuri performing at the 36th All India Bhaskar Rao Nritya and Sangeet Sammelan. (Express Photo by Jaipal Singh)

Pandit Chaudhuri was born in 1935 in Mymensingh (now in Bangladesh), and as a child prodigy, he started playing the sitar from four years of age. His first broadcast was at the age of eighteen at the All India Radio in 1953. He also served as dean and head, Faculty of Music, University of Delhi. (Source: Express Archives)

Pandit Debu Chaudhuri performed across the world for over six decades, winning several honours, including the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution in the field of music; Debu Chaudhari (sitting), Prateek Chaudhuri (left) and Ustad Rafiuddin Sabri in Chandigarh. (Source: Express Archives)

Besides being an ace sitarist, he was also an educationist and author. He is the writer of six books, composer of eight new ragas and numerous musical compositions. (Source: Instagram)