Renowned Sitar Maestro Pandit Manilal Nag Passes Away at 88 in Kolkata

Kolkata, November 10 (Daily Kiran) : Pandit Manilal Nag, the esteemed sitar virtuoso and Padma Shri awardee, has passed away at the age of 88. His death occurred late Monday night in Kolkata, as confirmed by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari via social media.

In a heartfelt tribute, Chief Minister Adhikari shared a photograph of Nag on the platform X, describing his passing as the end of an era. He stated, “The renowned sitar player Pandit Manilal Nag has left us. He took his last breath in Kolkata.”

Adhikari further highlighted Nag’s significant contributions to Indian classical music, noting his association with the historic Vishnupur gharana of West Bengal. He praised Nag for bringing recognition to the Dhrupad style of classical music worldwide. The maestro was honored with several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. His passion for music, mastery of the sitar, and dedication to teaching the next generation set him apart in the music community.

The Chief Minister expressed deep condolences to Nag’s family, disciples, and his global admirers, stating, “West Bengal and the world of Hindustani classical music have suffered a loss that will be hard to fill.”

Born on August 16, 1939, in the Bankura district of West Bengal, Pandit Manilal Nag was a prominent figure in the 400-year-old Vishnupur gharana. He received his early musical training from his father and guru, Acharya Gokul Chandra Nag. In recognition of his contributions to Indian classical music, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2020, making him the first musician from the Vishnupur gharana to receive this honor. Nag also performed for All India Radio for over five decades, leaving an indelible mark on the music landscape.