Sangeet Natak Akademi and its associate bodies deeply mourn the sad demise of Shri Uma Shankar Mishra, renowned master of Sitar and Akademi Awardee, who passed away in Delhi on 22 September 2011.

Born in 1931 in Madhubani, Bihar, Shri Uma Shankar Mishra was initiated into instrumental music by his father Shri Hariprasad Mishra, and later studied with Pt. Ravi Shankar of the Senia Gharana.

Shri Mishra had evolved a personal style of playing the Sitar that was distinguished for its quiet elegance and imagination. Besides being a performer, he was also a teacher, and had trained a number of students over the past many decades. He had performed widely in India as well as in the United States, Europe, and in many Asian countries.

For his contribution to Hindustani music, he was honoured by Sahitya Kala Parisad, Delhi, with the Parishad Samman in 1991; and by the Sangeet Natak Akademi with the Akademi Award in 1992.

With the passing away of Shri Uma Shankar Mishra, the world of Indian music has lost an outstanding artist, who will be remembered for generations to come.