Even as the music world was struggling to come to terms with the demise of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, the news of the demise of another Santoor legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori (1948-2022) on Thursday came as a rude shock.
After a long battle, Pt. Sopori succumbed to cancer at a Gurugram Hospital. He is survived by his wife and two sons. His legacy will be carried forward by his younger son Abhay, who has already made significant strides in making santoor sing the raga of humanism.
Hailing from a musician’s family that nurtured the Shaivite, Sufi, and Hindustani Classical traditions in Kashmir for generations, Pt. Sopori led the revival of Sufi and folk music in the State to spread the message of humanism. He remained positive even when the insurgency engulfed his home district of Sopore, and kept organising events at the grassroots.
