Noted sitar maestro Pt <em>Ravi Shankar</em> has expired. He died in a San Diego hospital at 4.30pm (Pacific time). He is survived by his wife Sukanya and daughters Anoushka and Norah Jones, who are also in the field of music. The Indian embassy in the US confirmed the noted sitar player’s death with ambassador Nirupama Rao tweeting: “Pandit Ravi Shankar. Mourn passing of a musical genius and gentle soul. Attended his last concert Nov in Calif. He played with such passion.” The 92-year old sitar exponent had been unwell for some time and had surgery in San Diego on 7 December.