Ravi Shankar

“A national treasure and global ambassador of India’s cultural heritage.” – tweeted by PM Manmohan Singh’s office

Ravi Shankar is a Bengali Brahmin  (caste).

Ravi Shankar was born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhary in 1920 in Varanasi. He spent the first decade of his life in Varanasi with his mother and the next in Europe – mainly Paris with his brother Uday Shankar and his dance group. The next 7 years he spent learning Indian classical music with his guru, Baba Allaudin Khan at Maihar, MP in India.

Ravi Shankar composed music for several Indian films notably the Apu trilogy and worked as music director for All India Radio before beginning his international career – playing on the sitar for small audiences around the world and educating them about Indian classical music. He managed to conjure much-deserved recognition and appreciation for the Indian variety of classical music.

A few among his personal accomplishments include the top 3 Indian civil honours, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 3 Grammys and 14 honorary doctorates. He was knighted by Elizabeth II for his services to music and given the Legion of Honour by the French Govt. He was also the recipient of the first Tagore Award.

Birth Score – 3/5
Pride Score – 4/5

An adequate 7/10 Notable Brahmin Score.