Photo: Saregama Carnatic — CC BY 3.0Source
Lakshmi Shankar
- June 16, 1926
- December 30, 2013
- 87 years
About Lakshmi Shankar
Lakshmi Shankar, 87, Indian classical vocalist.
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Full Biography
|Lakshmi Shankar (née Shastri, 16 June 1926 – 30 December 2013) was an Indian singer and a noted Hindustani classical. Born into a south Indian Hindu family, she became an outstanding Hindustani vocalist of the Patiala Gharana and married Rajendra Shankar, brother of Uday Shankar, a Bengali by birth. She was known for her performances of khyal, thumri, and bhajan. She was the sister-in-law of sitar player Ravi Shankar and the mother-in-law of violinist L. Subramaniam (her daughter Viji (Vijayashree Shankar) Subramaniam being his first wife).
Biography
Born in 1926, Lakshmi Shankar started her career in dancing. Her father Bhimrao Shastri was a noted Sanskritist who took active participation in India's struggle for freedom and was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. She was the co-editor of 'Harijan'. In 1939, when Uday Shankar brought his dance troupe to Madras (recently renamed Chennai), she joined the Almora Centre to learn Shankar's dance style based on the Indian classics, and became a part of the troupe. In 1941, she married Uday Shankar's younger brother, Rajendra (nicknamed Raju). Her sister Kamala was also a dancer at Uday Shankar's ballet troupe.
During a period of illness, Lakshmi Shankar had to give up dancing, and already having had a background of Carnatic music, she undertook learning Hindustani classical music for many years under Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan. Later, she also trained with Ravi Shankar, the sitar maestro and youngest brother of Rajendra and Uday.
In 1974, Lakshmi Shankar performed in Europe as part of Ravi Shankar's Music Festival from India. Late that same year, she toured North America with Ravi Shankar and George Harrison, who produced the Shankar Family & Friends album (1974), including the pop single "I Am Missing You" with vocals by Lakshmi Shankar. Following Ravi Shankar's heart attack during the tour, she conducted his ensemble of musicians.
Lakshmi Shankar has shown her versatility and adaptability by composing music for Bharatanatyam for the leading dance company Shakti School of Bharatanatyam, located in Los Angeles.
Shankar died on 30 December 2013 in California.
Discography
LP records
• Nirmala Devi & Lakshmi Shankar - The Gramophone Company of India, India, 1968
- The Voice of Lakshmi Shankar – World Pacific, US, 1969
- Le chant indien, classique et dévotionnel – Stil discothèque, France, 1976
- Les Heures et les Saisons – Ocora, France, studio 107 de Radio France 1983, 1987
CDs
- Les Heures et les Saisons – Ocora, France, studio 107 de Radio France 1983, 1989
- Chants de dévotion / Songs of Devotion – Auvidis (Ethnic), France, 1990
- Live Concert from Los Angeles – Ravi Shankar Music Circle, US
- Jai Uttal Footprints, featuring Lakshmi Shankar and Don Cherry – Triloka, Los Angeles, California, US, 1990
- Live in London – Navras, UK
- Bhakti Ras (Live in London, Vol. 2, September 1992) – Navras, UK, 1995
- Shringar: Thumris – Music Today, India
- Ecstasy – Audiorec, 1991
- Amrut Ras, Lakshmi Shankar sings songs from the devotional tradition – Audiorec Classics UK (Cat No 766032 1055-2), 2003
- Divine Love – Navras UK, 2005, 2006
- A life of dedication – Navras UK, 2006, 2006
- Dancing in the Light – World Village, recorded live, 9 April 2005 at On the Path Studio, Santa Monica, California, US, 2008
Cassettes
- Live in London – Navras, UK
- Bhakti Ras – Navras, UK
- Songs of the Seasons – Music Today, India
- Shringar: Thumris – Music Today, India
- Thumris – His Master's Voice – India
- Lakshmi Shankar Vocal with Zakir Hussain and L. Subramaniam – His Master's Voice, India
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi_Shankar
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 30, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Lakshmi Shankar's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Lakshmi Shankar born?
- A.16 June 1941
- B.30 December 2013
- C.16 June 1926correct
- D.30 December 1939
Lakshmi Shankar was born on 16 June 1926.
Source: biography header
2.What was the occupation of Lakshmi Shankar's father, Bhimrao Shastri?
- A.Sanskritistcorrect
- B.Musician
- C.Sitar maker
- D.Professional dancer
Bhimrao Shastri was a noted Sanskritist who participated in India's struggle for freedom.
Source: biography section
3.Lakshmi Shankar initially started her career in which field?
- A.Singing
- B.Journalism
- C.Dancingcorrect
- D.Teaching
Lakshmi Shankar started her professional career in dancing before shifting to music.
Source: biography section
4.Whom did Lakshmi Shankar marry in 1941?
- A.L. Subramaniam
- B.Rajendra Shankarcorrect
- C.Ravi Shankar
- D.Uday Shankar
In 1941, Lakshmi Shankar married Rajendra Shankar, the younger brother of Uday Shankar.
Source: biography section
5.Which Hindustani classical music tradition was Lakshmi Shankar associated with?
- A.Maihar Gharana
- B.Agra Gharana
- C.Lucknow Gharana
- D.Patiala Gharanacorrect
Lakshmi Shankar became an outstanding Hindustani vocalist of the Patiala Gharana.
Source: biography header
6.Who was Lakshmi Shankar's teacher for Hindustani classical music?
- A.Bhimrao Shastri
- B.George Harrison
- C.Mahatma Gandhi
- D.Ustad Abdul Rehman Khancorrect
Lakshmi Shankar undertook learning Hindustani classical music for many years under Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan.
Source: biography section
7.What was the name of Lakshmi Shankar's daughter who married L. Subramaniam?
- A.Shakti
- B.Kamala
- C.Vijicorrect
- D.Nirmala
Viji (Vijayashree Shankar) Subramaniam was the daughter of Lakshmi Shankar and the first wife of L. Subramaniam.
Source: biography header
8.Lakshmi Shankar performed in Europe in 1974 as part of which event?
- A.The Almora Centre Ballet
- B.The London Classical Showcase
- C.Ravi Shankar's Music Festival from Indiacorrect
- D.The Paris Bhakti Festival
In 1974, Lakshmi Shankar performed in Europe as part of Ravi Shankar's Music Festival from India.
Source: biography section
9.Which pop single included vocals by Lakshmi Shankar on the 1974 Shankar Family & Friends album?
- A.Songs of the Seasons
- B.Dancing in the Light
- C.I Am Missing Youcorrect
- D.Divine Love
George Harrison produced the 1974 album which included the pop single 'I Am Missing You' featuring Lakshmi Shankar.
Source: biography section
10.Following Ravi Shankar's heart attack during a tour, what did Lakshmi Shankar do?
- A.She produced his albums
- B.She retired from music
- C.She conducted his ensemble of musicianscorrect
- D.She took over his sitar lessons
Following Ravi Shankar's heart attack during the 1974 tour, Lakshmi Shankar conducted his ensemble of musicians.
Source: biography section
11.Where did Lakshmi Shankar die?
- A.London
- B.Californiacorrect
- C.France
- D.Madras
Lakshmi Shankar died on 30 December 2013 in California.
Source: biography section
12.Lakshmi Shankar composed music for a dance company located in which city?
- A.Los Angelescorrect
- B.New Delhi
- C.London
- D.Chennai
Lakshmi Shankar composed music for the Shakti School of Bharatanatyam, located in Los Angeles.
Source: biography section
13.What role did Lakshmi Shankar play regarding the 'Harijan' publication?
- A.Music composer
- B.Dancer
- C.Co-editorcorrect
- D.Sitar player
Lakshmi Shankar served as the co-editor of 'Harijan'.
Source: biography section
14.Which of these is a recognized vocal style performed by Lakshmi Shankar?
- A.Jazz
- B.Thumricorrect
- C.Ballet
- D.Opera
Lakshmi Shankar was known for her performances of khyal, thumri, and bhajan.
Source: biography header
15.Who was the producer of the 1974 album 'Shankar Family & Friends'?
- A.George Harrisoncorrect
- B.L. Subramaniam
- C.Ravi Shankar
- D.Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan
George Harrison produced the 1974 album 'Shankar Family & Friends'.
Source: biography section
16.What is the title of the album recorded live at On the Path Studio in 2005?
- A.Shringar: Thumris
- B.Divine Love
- C.Dancing in the Lightcorrect
- D.Bhakti Ras
'Dancing in the Light' was recorded live on 9 April 2005 at On the Path Studio in Santa Monica, California.
Source: discography section
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