Veteran violinist Minoti Khaund passes away at 85

Guwahati, Jan 19: Veteran musician, violinist Minoti Khaund passed away at a private hospital in Guwahati on Sunday evening. She was 85.

Born and brought up in Jorhat, the eminent musician had been ill for a long time. According to family members, she recently had an accidental fall at her home where she received serious head injuries and had internal bleeding. After the accident, she was immediately admitted to the hospital, where she underwent a surgery.

According to family members, Khaund suffered a cardiac arrest this evening and was declared dead by doctors.

Minoti Khaund had dedicated her entire life in popularizing violin as a musical instrument in the State. A disciple of late Pandit VJ Jog, she had earned nationwide accolades with her performances in various programmes of classical music. She had performed in various prestigious events during her career which spanned several decades. For her contributions to the sphere of music, Khaund received the Sangeet Natak Akademi award. The Assam government honoured her with the Silpi Bota for her contributions to the world of music.

She was a resident of Hatigarh Chariali area in the city. Her mortal remains will be brought to her residence on Monday and thereafter her last rites will be performed at Nabagraha crematorium. Condolences have started pouring from different sections of the society, terming her passing away as an irreparable loss not just to the musical world but to the society as a whole. She was predeceased by her husband late Kabindra Ram Khaund and leaves behind her son Pabitra Ram Khaund, daughter Sunita Khaund Bhuyan, an internationally acclaimed violinist, daughter-in-law Mani Kanchan Khaund, son-in-law Surajit Bhuyan, and three grandchildren.

By

Staff Reporter