Thanjavur V. Sankara Iyer passes away

The legendary vocalist was known for his childlike enthusiasm to teaching Carnatic music

Vocalist, veena player, teacher and composer Thanjavur V. Sankara Iyer died in Tirunelveli on Thursday. He was 98. Sankara Iyer was probably one of the few musicians who remained a link between glorious years of Carnatic music, which flourished on the banks of the Cauvery and subsequent generations of talent. He had a childlike enthusiasm when it came to teaching music and used to sing endlessly. A bachelor, he lived with his nephew R. Chandrasekaran in Tirunelveli for 15 years after suffering a stroke. “Whenever a young musician called on him, he would first ask his name. Then he would ask him to sing and would promptly join him. He would go on explaining the nuances of the raga and the keerthana and he never asked money from any student,” recalled nagaswaram player Injikudi E.M. Subramanian, who learnt from Sankara Iyer when he was teaching in Annamalai University.