Padma Shri Awardee Pandit Manilal Nag Dies, Leaving Musical Legacy

Mumbai, 10 November – Pandit Manilal Nag, celebrated sitar maestro and recipient of the Padma Shri, died on Tuesday at 88, bringing an end to a distinguished career that enriched Indian classical music.

West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee used the X social network to share a photo of the late artist, calling his demise the closing of a great era. She wrote that the eminent sitarist took his final breath on Monday night in Kolkata.

Born on 16 August 1939 in the Bankura district, Pandit Nag was a key proponent of the 400‑year‑old Vishnupur gharana. His initial lessons were imparted by his father and mentor, music scholar Gokul Chandra Nag.

For more than five decades he performed for All India Radio, championing the dhrupad style and introducing the Vishnupur tradition to audiences worldwide. In 2020 he was honoured with the Padma Shri, becoming the first artist from his gharana to receive the civilian award, and he also held the Sangeet Natak Akademi award among other high recognitions.

Banerjee concluded her tribute by expressing profound sympathy to his family, disciples, and admirers worldwide, noting that the void left by his departure will be difficult to fill in both West Bengal’s artistic scene and the global Hindustani classical music arena.