Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar Passes Away

Sitar maestro and composer Pandit Ravi Shankar, described by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a "national treasure," has died in a US hospital. He was 92.

He had been admitted to the Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, San Diego on Dec. 6, 2012 after he complained of breathing difficulties. He breathed his last at 4.30 pm Pacific Time on Dec. 11, 2012.

He is survived by his wife Sukanya Rajan and daughters Anoushka and Norah Jones. He also had a son, Shubhendra Shankar, from his first wife Annapurna Devi. He learnt sitar playing under court musician Allauddin Khan.

Shankar was awarded India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in 1999, and received three Grammy Awards. He was nominated for a Grammy award for 2013 too.