Kolkata, Nov. 10 -- Renowned sitar maestro and Padma Shri awardee Pandit Manilal Nag, one of the finest exponents of the Bishnupur gharana, passed away at a private hospital in Kolkata on Monday night following age-related ailments. He was 87 and is survived by his wife and two children.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari mourned his death, describing him as a "towering doyen" and a "proud torchbearer" of West Bengal's historic Bishnupur gharana. In a social media post, the Chief Minister said Nag had taken the Dhrupad-influenced strains of Bengal's classical musical heritage to the global stage. He also said his death marked the end of an illustrious era and left an irreparable void in Bengal's cultural landscape and Hindustani classical music.
Born in Bankura on August 16, 1939, Nag received his initial training in sitar from his father, Gokul Nag. His distinguished career earned him several prestigious honours. In 2001, he became the first musician from the Bishnupur gharana to receive the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2020. The West Bengal government honoured him with the Alauddin Purashkar in 2012 and the Banga Bibhushan in 2015.
Nag was also associated with the Instrumental Music Division of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy between 2005 and 2011, where he contributed to nurturing musical talent.
On Tuesday, his mortal remains were taken first to the Sangeet Academy and subsequently to the Sangeet Research Academy in Tollygunge. His last rites were performed at the Kashipur crematorium.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.