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{{Short description|Indian instrumentalist (1948–2022)}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix = Pt.
| name = Bhajan Sopori
| image = Lange Nacht der Musik 2013 - Bhajan Sopori - 6.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape = 
| alt =
| caption = Sopori in 2013
| birth_name = Bhajan Lal Sopori
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|6|22}}
| birth_place = [[Srinagar]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Dominion of India|India]]
| origin = [[Kashmiri people|Kashmiri]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|6|2|1948|6|22}}
| death_place = [[Gurugram]], [[Haryana]], India
| genre = [[Hindustani classical music]] and Sufiyana Music
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Santoor
| years_active = 
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website = 
}}

'''[[Pandit]] Bhajan Sopori''' (22 June 1948 – 2 June 2022)<ref>{{cite web|date=24 June 2012|title=Bhajan Sopori|url=http://indiansarts.com/bhajansoporipage.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203082218/http://indiansarts.com/bhajansoporipage.htm|archive-date=3 December 2013|website=Indian Arts}}</ref> was an Indian instrumentalist. He was a player of the [[santoor]], an ancient stringed musical instrument.<ref name=Awards>{{cite web|title=Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards – Hindustani Music – Instrumental |publisher=Sangeet Natak Akademi |url=http://www.sangeetnatak.com/programmes_recognition&honours_music_hindustani_instrumenta.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519200834/http://www.sangeetnatak.com/programmes_recognition%26honours_music_hindustani_instrumenta.html |archive-date=19 May 2009 |access-date=16 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Early life and family ==
Sopori was born in [[Srinagar]] into a [[Kashmiri Pandit]] family to Shambhu Nath Sopori on 22 June 1948.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Anuj |date=2022-06-02 |title=Pandit Bhajan Sopori, saint of santoor, passes away |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/santoor-maestro-bhajan-sopori-dies-in-gurugram-hospital/article65487466.ece |access-date=2022-06-11 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Shuchismita |title='Saint of the Santoor' Pandit Bhajan Sopori passes away |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/front-page/saint-of-the-santoor-pandit-bhajan-sopori-passes-away |access-date=2022-06-11 |work=[[Greater Kashmir]] |language=en}}</ref> Sopori hailed from [[Sopore]] in the [[Baramulla district]] of the [[Kashmir Valley]] and traced his lineage to ancient Santoor experts. He belonged to the ''Sufiana gharana'' of Indian classical music.<ref name="radiocity">{{cite web|date=24 June 2012|title=Bhajan Lal Sopori|url=http://www.planetradiocity.com/musicopedia/music_instrumentalists.php?mid=38&conid=2065|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202082700/http://www.planetradiocity.com/musicopedia/music_instrumentalists.php?mid=38&conid=2065|archive-date=2 February 2010|website=Planet Radio City}}</ref> His family has played santoor for over six generations.<ref>{{cite web|date=26 February 2011|title=Santoor Player Abhay Rustom Sopori plays tomorrow|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/135/20110226201102260457085832c5eb24/Santoor-player-Abhay-Rustum-Sopori-plays-tomorrow.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129161321/http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/135/20110226201102260457085832c5eb24/Santoor-player-Abhay-Rustum-Sopori-plays-tomorrow.html|archive-date=29 January 2013|website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref>
His first public performance was at a conference organised by Prayag Sangeet Samiti & the [[University of Allahabad]] when he was 10 years old.<ref name="radiocity"/>

== Career ==
Sopori gave his first public performance in 1953, at the age of five. He learned western classical music from Washington University & Hindustani from his grandfather S.C. Sopori and father Shambhoo Nath.<ref>{{cite news|last=Thiyyadi|first=Sreevalsan|date=22 November 2017|title=How all did the Soporis improvise on their 'Folk' instrument|publisher=Outlook India|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/how-all-did-the-soporis-improvise-upon-their-folk-instrument/304680|access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref>
Sopori has taught music at Washington University, US. His performances have been broadcast in India and seen by both cultural associations there and by audiences in countries such as Belgium, Egypt, England, Germany, Norway, Syria and the USA.<ref name="radiocity"/> Sopori stated that ''"he worked with All India Radio in 1990, when he was transferred to Delhi."'' & that ''"no music was produced from the valley. There was not even a tabla player to accompany him"'' when he returned.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

==Music Academy, SaMaPa==
Pandit Sopori, considered as the cultural link between Jammu and Kashmir and rest of India, also ran a music academy called ''SaMaPa'' (Sopori Academy for Music and Performing Arts), which is actively involved in promoting Indian classical music.<ref>{{cite news|date=5 February 2012|title=J&K to be Cultural Capital of the country|work=Ground report|url=http://www.groundreport.com/Arts_and_Culture/J-K-be-the-cultural-capital-of-country-Sopori/2944056|url-status=dead|access-date=15 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607092334/http://www.groundreport.com/Arts_and_Culture/J-K-be-the-cultural-capital-of-country-Sopori/2944056|archive-date=7 June 2013}}</ref> ''SaMaPa'' is involved in promoting music with jail inmates, with the objective of using music for healing the prisoners and creating an emotional bond between the society & the prisoners.<ref>{{cite news|date=15 February 2012|title=SaMaPa to start music classes in Jails in J&K|work=Deccan Herald|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/samapa-to-start-music-classes-in-jk-jails-220268.html|access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref> The academy has trained several musicians and revived old instruments. It was presented the state government [[dogra|dogri]] award in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|date=15 September 2011|title=Trinidad envoy jams with Kashmiri Sufi band|work=Thaindian|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/trinidad-envoy-jams-with-kashmiri-sufi-band_100563864.html|url-status=dead|access-date=15 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227082321/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/trinidad-envoy-jams-with-kashmiri-sufi-band_100563864.html|archive-date=27 February 2014}}</ref>
Bhajan Sopori, in 2015, announced the ''SaMaPa'' awards for contribution to the field of music.<ref>{{cite news|date=18 November 2015|title=Santoor Maestro Bhajan Sopori announces SaMaPa awards|work=Indian Express|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/santoor-maestro-bhajan-sopori-announces-samapa-awards/|access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref>

== Awards ==
Sopori was awarded the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] in 1992<ref>{{cite web|title=Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards – Hindustani Music – Instrumental |publisher=Sangeet Natak Akademi |url=http://www.sangeetnatak.com/programmes_recognition&honours_music_hindustani_instrumenta.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519200834/http://www.sangeetnatak.com/programmes_recognition%26honours_music_hindustani_instrumenta.html |archive-date=19 May 2009 |access-date=16 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the [[Padma Shri]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|title=Padma Awards|publisher=Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)|url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php?start=0&award_year=&state=&field=3&p_name=Sopori&award=All|access-date=16 May 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090521144546/http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php?start=0&award_year=&state=&field=3&p_name=Sopori&award=All| archive-date= 21 May 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> In 2009 he was honoured with the Baba Allaudin Khan Award.<ref>{{cite web|date=13 February 2009|title=Pandit Bhajan Sopori awarded again|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pandit-bhajan-sopori-awarded-again/421681|access-date=4 July 2020|website=Indian Express}}</ref> He was also awarded the M N Mathur award in 2011 for his contribution to Indian classical music<ref>{{cite web|date=3 March 2011|title=Bhajan Sopori gets M N Mathur Award|url=http://earlytimesnews.com/newsdet.aspx?q=68767|access-date=4 July 2020|website=Early Times}}</ref>
and Jammu and Kashmir State lifetime achievement award.<ref name="onlykashmir.in">{{Cite web |date=26 January 2016 |title=State awards for Jammu and Kashmir announced |url=http://onlykashmir.in/state-awards-for-jammu-and-kashmir-announced/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131231557/http://onlykashmir.in/state-awards-for-jammu-and-kashmir-announced/ |archive-date=31 January 2016 |access-date=25 January 2016 |website=Only Kashmir}}</ref>

== Personal life and death ==
Sopori was married and had two sons.<ref name=":0" /> His son [[Abhay Sopori|Abhay Rustum Sopori]] is also a santoor player. Sopori died in [[Gurgaon|Gurugram]] from colon cancer on 2 June 2022 at the age of 73.<ref name=":1" />

== External links ==
* {{discogs artist|Bhajan Sopori}}
* {{imdb name|6591538}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sopori, Bhajan}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Hindustani instrumentalists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Santoor players]]
[[Category:Kashmiri people]]
[[Category:Kashmiri musicians]]
[[Category:People from Srinagar]]
[[Category:Kashmiri Pandits]]

Bhajan Sopori - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT at 04:36, 22 July 2023