New Delhi: A large number of musicians and admirers gathered at Jammu to pay homage to the late Pandit Shambhoo Nath Sopori, who passed away recently. Pandit Sopori was father of santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori and grandfather of the talented Abhay Rustom Sopori.

Guru Vandana was presented by Vishwa Gandharv Kaswalia, a disciple of Kailash Mehra, who was accompanied on Harmonium by his father Bua Ditta Kaswalia. The entire programme was conducted by well-known broadcaster Vijay Atri.

Rich tributes were paid to the Music Legend Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori who sowed the seeds of Hindustani Classical Music in Jammu and Kashmir. Pandit Sopori was a musician with phenomenal energy, artistic qualities, devotion, dedication and perfection.

A legendary name in the musical world of Jammu and Kashmir, he was guru to thousands of students and Hindustani classical music. Sitar, santoor and classical vocal were his forte.

Prof. Aparna Sopori, daughter-in-law of Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori and wife of Santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori, had specially come to Jammu to attend the programme. She spoke about her personal association with the departed legend and his humility and affectionate nature. She also conveyed the message of Pandit Sopori’s disciple Shameem Dev Azad, who could not attend the programme due to ill health.

'Melody Queens' of Kashmir Shamima Dev Azad and Kailash Mehra, Prof. Jai Kishori Kaul, O.N.Raina, Prof. Usha Bagati, Prof. Hawa Bashir, Prof. Rifat Jabeen, Prof. B.L.Koul, Prof. Nancy Dhar, Prof. Renu Sehgal, the late Mohd. Ashraf, Dr Rajkumari Magazine, Rita Kaul, Professor Sunaina Kaul, Jawahar Kaul, and Neerja Pandit were among his many disciples. Even the late Maharani Yasho Rajya Lakshmi of the royal family of J & K State was his Pandit ji's disciple.

Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori introduced Hindustani Classical Music as a subject initially in S P Higher Secondary School for boys and later in the Women’s College at Maulana Azad Road and paved the way for the musicians to grow and make music a source of livelihood.

Speaking on the occasion, well-known singer Kailash Mehra recalled the qualities of head and heart of her guru and said that his devotion to music was exemplary and that he took keen interest in the development of his disciples. Veteran Tabla player K L Verma narrated his personal experience about the teaching methodology of Pandit Ji and spoke about his immense knowledge about Hindustani classical music. Dr Usha Bagati read a paper about the life and contribution of her Guru Pandit Sopori and said that he had sown the seeds of classical music throughout J&K State through his disciples who are further spreading his knowledge through their own disciples. Prof. Renu Sehgal, in an emotionally charged speech, paid rich tributes to Pandit Sopori and commended his farsightedness and vision.

Well known columnist and cultural activist Ravinder Kaul presented a detailed paper on the life and contribution of Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori. Renowned sculptor Padam Shree Rajendra Tikku also fondly recalled his association with Pandit ji and said that his devotion to music was all encompassing and infectious. J & K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Additional Secretary Arvinder Aman said other fields of art and literature should inculcate the discipline to guru-shishya parampara in order to ensure propagation and spread of creative pursuits.

Bhavya Kaul, a young student and daughter of Master Ji’s disciple Prof. B L Kaul read out the feelings of her father who could not attend the programme.