Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 20: A memorial prayer meet was organised at India International Centre, New Delhi to pay tribute to the great music legend of India, Santoor maestro and music composer, Pandit Bhajan Sopori yesterday, who has been hailed as the ‘Saint of Santoor’ and ‘King of Strings’ for his mastery over the instrument.
The people from different walks of life paid homage to the great music legend who passed away on June 2 at Gurugram.
Former Chief Ministers of J&K, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, BJP senior leader, D.S. Rana, musicians Vidushi Shanno Khurana, Pt. Vijay Shanker Mishra, Shameem Azad, Malini Awasthi, Pt. Chetan Joshi, Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar, Ustad Akram Khan, Pt. Madhup Mudgal, Ustad Rafiuddin Sabri, Ragini Rainu, Ustad Saeed Zafar Khan, Asghar Hussain, Dr. Agnishekhar, Nancy Dhar, Ranjana Narayan, Dr. Dayanand Vats, along with disciples, and hundreds of fans and family friends of Pt. Bhajan Sopori including Aparna Sopori, Sohrab and Abhay Rustum Sopori (sons) and Soumil and Soham Sopori (grandchildren) attended the prayer meet to pay their tribute, and also shared their memories of the Saint of Santoor.
Dr Farood Abdullah recited a Bhajan ‘Ram More Ram Kis Gali Gayo More Ram..’ while paying his tribute to the late music legend. He said, “I’m sad and deeply pained by Pt. Bhajan Sopori’s death, apart from a great musician he was a human par excellence who had love for all, be it any religion, culture or individuals,. He was a Saint; a Sufi, a Rishi. I was shocked when I got to know of his demise, and just wished if God could give him some more time to spread love for humanity, to the entire world, all of us,. I pray to God to give strength to his family and Abhay to carry forward his rich legacy”, said Dr. Abdullah.
“He was like a family,. I have known him from very early days, my wife has been a disciple of the Master musician and father of music in J&K late Pt. Shambhu Nath Sopori and Pt. Bhajan Sopori and my wife Shamima share a beautiful bond of brother and sister. He was beyond just a musician or human and I must say he was a living saint in true sense with so much energy, love and care for one and all. He was someone who never believed in any one religion but in one identity of God, whoever it was. He believed in Humanism. Pt. Bhajan Sopori always used to say that the only prime truth is that we are human beings and everything comes after that. Losing such a divine soul is a huge loss to the entire world”, said, Ghulam Nabi Azad while paying tribute.
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