Ravi Shankar Family Tree: The Story Behind India's Sitar Ambassador

Ravindra Shankar Chowdhury, known as Pandit Ravi Shankar (1920–2012), born 7 April 1920 in Varanasi, United Provinces (now UP), British India, and died 11 December 2012 in San Diego, California, USA, was India's most-globally-known sitar maestro — 3 Grammy Awards; Bharat Ratna (1999); Padma Vibhushan (1981); Legion of Honour; famous Beatles association (George Harrison student); Concert for Bangladesh 1971 organizer with Harrison.

The Family's Roots: A Bengali Brahmin Family in Varanasi

The Chowdhury family is Bengali Kulin Brahmin from Varanasi (Kashi).

His Parents

Father: Shyam Shastri Chowdhury (d. 1935) — Sanskrit scholar; barrister; killed by an unknown assailant in London when Ravi was 15.

Mother: Hemangini Devi — homemaker.

His Brothers

Uday Shankar (1900–1977) — eldest brother; legendary Indian classical dancer (blending Indian and Western); Padma Vibhushan; father of dancer Ananda Shankar.

Rajendra Shankar — brother; danced in Uday's troupe.

Debendra Shankar — brother.

His First Wife: Annapurna Devi

Annapurna Devi Roy Chowdhury (1927–2018) — daughter of Ustad Allauddin Khan (Ravi's guru); herself a surbahar player. Married Ravi in May 1941; divorced 1982.

Their Son (with Annapurna)

Shubhendra "Shubho" Shankar (1942–1992) — son; sitarist; died young.

His Second Wife: Sukanya Rajan

Sukanya Rajan — Indian. Married Ravi in 1989.

Their Daughter (with Sukanya)

Anoushka Shankar, born 9 June 1981 — daughter; 7-time Grammy nominee sitarist.

His Other Daughter (with Sue Jones)

Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar), born 30 March 1979 — daughter with Sue Jones (American concert producer); 9× Grammy-winning American jazz-pop singer (Come Away with Me 2002 — 27M+ copies).

The Shankar Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Shyam Shastri Chowdhury (d. 1935 — murdered in London).

Mother: Hemangini Devi.

Brothers: Uday Shankar (1900–1977) — classical dancer; Rajendra; Debendra.

First Wife: Annapurna Devi (1927–2018; m. May 1941, div. 1982) — surbahar player.

Second Wife: Sukanya Rajan (m. 1989).

Son (Annapurna): Shubho Shankar (1942–1992) — sitarist.

Daughter (Sukanya): Anoushka Shankar (b. 9 June 1981) — sitarist.

Daughter (Sue Jones): Norah Jones (b. 30 March 1979) — singer; 9× Grammy.

Ravi Shankar:

  • Born 7 April 1920, Varanasi
  • Joined brother Uday's dance troupe in Paris at age 10
  • Trained under Ustad Allauddin Khan in Maihar (1938-1944)
  • Married Allauddin's daughter Annapurna 1941
  • All India Radio Delhi music director 1949-1956
  • George Harrison student from 1966
  • Concert for Bangladesh: 1 August 1971, Madison Square Garden (with Harrison, Clapton, Dylan)
  • 3 Grammy Awards including Best World Music (2001, 2013 posthumously with Anoushka)
  • US Kennedy Center Honors: 1996
  • Bharat Ratna: 1999
  • Died: 11 December 2012, San Diego — age 92

What the Shankar Family Story Teaches Us

A Sanskrit-scholar father murdered in London at 15. A legendary-dancer brother. A guru's daughter as first wife who was also a musician. Two Grammy-winning musician daughters — Anoushka (sitar) and Norah Jones (jazz-pop). A career that made the sitar a global instrument.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Ravi Shankar story carries the same lesson. Some families produce multi-generation musical dynasties across two continents.

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