President Pratibha Patil, vice-president Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Union ministers and chief ministers of different states on Monday condoled the demise of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and said his loss has created a huge void in the world of music.
Describing Joshi as a doyen of Hindustani classical music, the President said in his passing away, the nation has lost one of the greatest and most popular classical vocalists.
The vice-president said, “Joshi became a living tradition in Hindustani music with tremendous influence on classical musicians, music lovers and the general public.”
The Prime Minister said, “Generations of listeners were enthralled by his mellifluous voice, mastery of rhythm and magnificent renderings of bhajans and khayals. His rendering of the song Mile Sur Mera Tumhara on the theme of national integration is etched in the popular consciousness.”
Mrs Gandhi said, “My family always had a very special regard for Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.”