Santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori passed away on Thursday in Gurugram. He was 74.

Reports said he was going under treatment at Fortis Hospital. His cremation will take place on Friday, June 3. Sopori is survived by his wife and two sons Sorabh and Abhay.

Over the years, Bhajan Sopori won several prestigious accolades for his contributions to Indian classical music. He delivered his first performance at the age of 5 in 1953. In his career spanning more than a decade, Sopori performed across the world including Egypt, Germany, England, and the US.

Bhajan Sopori learnt to play Santoor and Hindustani music from his grandfather SC Sopori and father SN Sopori. He mastered the instrument and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2004.

Sopori was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1992. In 2011, he was honoured with the MN Mathur award 2011 for his notable contribution to Indian classical music and Jammu & Kashmir Government Civilian Award. Besides, he was also honoured with a Doctorate of Literature by Utkal University (Odisha), National Flag Honour of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and others.

Pandit Bhajan Sopori has been accredited with several patriotic songs for India including Hum Honge Kaamyaab, Vande Mataram, Bharat Bharat Hum Iski Santaan, Naman Tujhko Mere Bharat, and others. He has also recomposed like Kadam Kadam Badhaye Jaa, Vijayee Vishwa Tiranga Pyaara, Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna, and Bharat Ki Beti for national integration.

He also composed anti-terrorism songs like Savdhan Mere and Jannath Mere Kashmir for the National Network.

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