Pandit - Music

Music

In India today, 'Pandit' is an honour conferred on an expert of any subject or field, especially Hindustani music. Its usage is confined to Hindu male exponents. Muslim male musicians are bestowed with the title 'Ustad', and the terms 'Vidushi' and 'Begum' are used for Hindu and Muslim female exponents respectively.

The term 'Pandit' (always capitalised) is prefixed to the person's name, similarly to the way the term 'Maestro' is occasionally used. Examples include Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

This usage also applies to politician Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

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