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Bhimsen Joshi was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2008. –Source: rainbowskill
NEW DELHI: Legendary Indian singer Bhimsen Joshi, who was best known for promoting classical Indian music to audiences around the world, died on Monday at the age of 89.
Joshi died at a hospital in the western city of Pune after battling a prolonged illness. He built a reputation over a number of decades for singing “Khayal”, a modern form of traditional Hindustani music.
He was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2008.
“In his death the country has lost a great personality who was an exponent of vocal music,” Indian President Pratibha Patil said in tribute.
Joshi had undergone surgery to remove a brain tumour in 1999 and had an operation on his spine in 2005.
His last public performance was in 2007.
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