New Delhi: Eminent musician and teacher Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori passed away this afternoon at his residence in Delhi. He was 98.

He had been critical for the past one month. He is the father of the legendary musician Pandit Bhajan Sopori.

Popularly known as ‘Masterjee’, he was hailed as the ‘Father of Indian Classical Music’ in Jammu and Kashmir. A legendary name in the musical history of the state, he has been the Guru and Ustad of thousands of students and Hindustani classical music grew with him in the State.

Sitar, Santoor and Classical vocal were his forte. He was the most loved and respected musician of the State. He leaves behind several important professionals, music performers and teachers who were his students including more than 35000 students.

Pandit Shamboo Nath had been the pioneer in bringing the Classical music to the masses. He initiated the mass popularization of Indian Classical music and practically made J&K State a new cultural centre with virtually every classical musician in the State as his taught.

He introduced Hindustani classical music as a subject initially in S.P. Higher Secondary School for boys and later in the Girls College at Maulana Azad Road and paved the way for the musicians to grow and make music a source of lively hood. His pioneering and dedicated efforts led to musicians getting a prestigious status in the State.

‘Sangeet Mahavidyalaya’, the School purely of Indian Classical music and Dance that Pandit S.N. Sopori started in the Valley, was the main institution for holding Hindustani Classical music and Dance concerts regularly in the State. He was also the pioneer in putting some of the Muqams in the notations to ensure its preservation. With his command in Classical and Sufiana music made his distinctive style of presentation combining both instrumental and vocal in his presentation. A versatile musician with a great command on languages like Persian, Sanskrit, Urdu, Hindi and Kashmiri, Panditji had a huge repertoire of compositions in these languages.

Music being in the blood and life itself, he would inspire people from all walks of life to sing and awaken them to nuances of melody and notes. He practically made the whole State, especially the Kashmir valley, sing and play with him. He would ensure that anyone who would meet him would learn a line or a verse of a Raga, Ghazal or a Bhajan and it all started with the punch line “Sur Lagaoo” (sing a note). This practice gradually brought him to the pinnacle of popularity and people over a period of time gradually developed a curiosity to learn more and more from him and would ask him to teach more. They found in him their affectionate and loving teacher whom with utmost regard and respect they called “Masterjee”.

Some of the eminent performers and professors who have been his taught include Pandit Omkar Nath Raina, Prof. Nancy Dhar, Prof. Usha Bagati, Prof. Rifet Jabeen, Dr. B.L.Koul (Sitar), Late Sh. Mohd. Ashraf (Music Composer), Prof. Jai Kishori Kaul, Prof. Hawa Bashir, Dr. Rajkumari Magazine, Smt Rita Kaul, Prof. Sunaina Kaul (Vocal), Sh. Jawahar Kaul (Santoor), Sh. Sai Abdul Langoo (Tabla), Sh. Abdul Majeed (Rabab), Sh. Mohd. Ameen Nizami (Flute), Bollywood singer Smt. Neerja Pandit, and the ‘Melody Queens’ of J&K State – Smt. Shameem Azad and Prof. Kailash Mehra. Even Late Maharani Yashoraj Laxmi ji of the Royal family of J&K State was Panditji’s disciple.

His legacy is being carried forward by his son Pandit Bhajan Sopori and grandson Abhay Rustum Sopori.