Vocalist Soma Ghosh pays a tribute to Bhawani. She told ETimes, “Bhavani Shankar ji is synonymous with the “Pakhawaj”, like Ust Bismillah Khan was with the”Shehnai”. I had the good fortune of working with him when we worked on the one & only bhajan album “Aradhana”, composed by the Shehnai Legend, Bharat Ratna Ust Bismillah Khan. Recently, last month, I met Bhawani ji again and thereafter he called me a number of times, saying that we have to work again on a project! I guess this one last wish will remain unfulfilled. The world will miss this warm hearted maestro – Rest in peace dear Bhawani Shankar ji!!”
Shankar was born into a musical family, beginning his study of pakhawaj and tabla at the age of eight. He had played with many Indian artists including bansuri player Hariprasad Chaurasia, santoor player Shiv Kumar Sharma and tabla players Zakir Hussain and Anindo Chatterjee. Bhawani’s father Babulalji was a renowned Kathak performer and that’s why he got introduced to ‘pakhawaj’ so early on at the age of 8.
Shankar’s family announced his death with immense grief. May his soul rest in peace and may his family find strength to deal with this huge loss!