Pt. Abhay Sopori Honoured for Contributions to Music and Culture of Kashmir

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SRINAGAR JANUARY, 19:-Renowned Santoor maestro Pt. Abhay Sopori dedicated his research and artistic journey to his father and guru, the legendary saint musician Pandit Bhajan Sopori, to the Santoor, the music of Kashmir, and to the people of Kashmir for preserving and safeguarding the region’s rich musical and cultural heritage for thousands of years.

Pt. Sopori, who has served as Visiting Faculty at the University of Massachusetts, USA, and as Guest Professor at the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, China, is widely regarded as a cultural icon of Jammu and Kashmir. He has played a pivotal role in shaping cultural policy in the region, facilitating the inclusion of music as an academic subject in colleges, and initiating new academic streams in colleges and universities, thereby creating fresh employment opportunities for the youth. He has also been instrumental in paving the way for the introduction of the postgraduate programme in Hindustani Music in Kashmir.

The award ceremony concluded with a captivating Santoor recital by Pt. Abhay Sopori in Raga Kaushik Ranjani, presented in the distinctive Sopori Baaj—a style created by his father and guru, Pandit Bhajan Sopori. The performance was received with resounding applause from the audience, marking a fitting tribute to Kashmir’s enduring musical legacy.