US Indians urge Oscar bosses to honour Pt. Ravi Shankar

Washington: Hindu leaders from America are urging Oscar bosses to follow the example of their Grammy Awards peers and honour the late Ravi Shankar at the 2013 Academy Awards, it has been revealed.

The Indian sitar player passed away late on Tuesday just hours before the world learned that he was to be awarded a special Grammy accolade in February 2013, which will now be presented posthumously. Hindus now feel that the musician’s life should be honoured at the Oscars. “Ravi Shankar gave so much to the world in his lifetime through music and he will continue to do so in the coming decades. He was highly revered in the world of music for his intense, distinct and deeply moving music and was known for rhythmic novelties,” Contactmusic quoted Rajan Zed, the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, as telling Wenn. “We urge the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to grant him a Special Oscar at the Academy Awards on February 24th and we’d also like to extend that wish for next year’s Kennedy Center Honors, so that Ravi Shankar can be further celebrated for his unparalleled contributions to world of music,” he added. ANI