Indian Hindustani vocalist Pandit Jasraj no more

Indian Hindustani vocalist Pandit Jasraj breathed his last in New Jersey, US on Monday. He was 90.

In a musical career that spanned over 80 years, he had received of various prestigious awards and honours including Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

Jasraj was born on 28 January 1930 in Pili Mandori, a village in the Hisar district of Haryana in a middle-class Brahmin family to Pandit Motiram, a classical singer.

Motiram died in 1934 when Jasraj was four, on the day the former was to be appointed as the state musician in the court of Mir Osman Ali Khan.

Jasraj's elder brother, Pandit Pratap Narayan, was also an accomplished musician and was the father of music composer duo Jatin-Lalit, singer-actress Sulakshana Pandit and actress Vijeta Pandit. His eldest brother is vocalist Pandit Maniram.

Jasraj spent his youth in Hyderabad, and travelled often to Sanand in Gujarat to study music with musicians of the Mewati gharana.Jasraj performed for Maharaj Jaywant Singh Waghela, the Thakur Sahib of Sanand, who was deeply dedicated to classical music and received training from him.

In 1946, Jasraj moved to Calcutta, where he began singing classical music for radio.

Prime Minister Modi tweeted condolence message over Pandit's demise. "The unfortunate demise of Pandit Jasraj Ji leaves a deep void in the Indian cultural sphere. Not only were his renditions outstanding, he also made a mark as an exceptional mentor to several other vocalists. Condolences to his family and admirers worldwide. Om Shanti."