Vidya Shankar (90), well-known vainika, musicologist and teacher passed away on June 29, 8 a.m. at her residence in Mylapore.

She was the wife of late V. S. Shankar and the daughter of late C. S. Ayyar, one of the founders of The Music Academy.

Her brother was famed scientist and Nobel Laureate Dr. S. Chandrasekar. Another Nobel Laureate, Dr C V Raman was her uncle.

She was also the member of The Music Academy Expert Committee.

She wrote many books on Carnatic music.

She was decorated with the Sangeet Natak Akademi award among other titles like the ‘Veenavadana’ award given by the Veena Foundation.

She is survived by three sons - V. S. Shivakumar, V. S. Mahesh, Dr. V. S. Sundar. Her family can be reached at 044-2847 5543. They live on a street off Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai.

Tribute by Shanta & V. P. Dhananjayan - from San Fransisico, USA

We deeply morun the death of vidushi Vidya Shankar who was a great source of inspiration to students in Kalakshetra.

Though she taught us mathmatics for Matriculation exams there was music in her Maths. She was a great teacher both musicology and maths. Unlike many other musicians Vidya teacher always attended Bharatanaatyam performances and while appreciating us she also made valuable suggestions to embelish the Naatya music.

We have valued and benefitted from her corrections and embelished the quality of Sangeetam. When we were teaching Shoba Sharma ( Radhakrishnan), Vidya teacher being her aunty took a lot of interest in shaping her musical talent and inturn embelished the quality of music of our accompanying musicians.

She was a good human being and shared her knowledge liberally.

She will be remembered not only for her great music but as a simple, humble soul.