Messages of condolence have poured in from India after the passing of the world renowned classical musician, Bharat Ratna Ravi Shankar. In a condolence message addressed to Smt. Sukanya Shankar, the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh  described the late Pandit Ravi Shankar as "one of  (India's) most effective cultural ambassadors across the world". The text of Prime Minister's letter to Mrs. Shankar is available at http://www.indianembassy.org/prdetail2081/prime-minister-dr.-manmohan-singh-condoles-the-passing-away-of-pandit-ravi-shankar

In his condolence message, the External Affairs Minister of India, Mr. Salman Khurshid described Pandit Ravi Shankar as one of the foremost exponents of India's classical music tradition and  praised his  capacity to bridge cultures and make India's ancient tradition accessible to the world. 

Ambassador Nirupama Rao has been in close touch with the family of Pandit Ravi Shankar over the last few months and had attended his last public concert  in Long Beach (California) in early November 2012.  On December 15, 2012, Ambassador Rao visited Encinitas, California to personally convey her deep condolences to Mrs. Sukanya Shankar and Pandit Ravi Shankar's  two daughters Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar.

On December 20, 2012, the Consul General of India in San Francisco, Mr. N. Parthasarthi attended the memorial service convened in Encinitas and presented flowers on behalf of the people and the Government of India as a mark of respect and tribute to the life and legacy of Pandit Ravi Shankar.