"We all are shocked by the news. He was more than a family member to us. He was our friend, philosopher and guide," said Mamata Shankar, Ravi Shankar's niece.
Danseuse Tanushree Shankar, also the daughter-in-law of Ravi Shankar, said she had many fond memories of the musician who was always like a friend to her.
"Last January, he saw my performance in Delhi and blessed me, saying it was superb. That itself is enough for me to last a lifetime," she told PTI.
Tanushree, who also runs a dance academy in Kolkata and had married the son of Ravi's brother and dance legend Uday, said the sitar player was always full of life.
"Even after crossing 90 he was like a child and we could joke with him. He was always full of life and energy. That is something we need to learn from him."
