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Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan saidPandit Bhimsen Joshi had made classical music popular amongthe masses.

"Bharatratna Pandit Joshi''s name has been carved inhistory pages forever for making the classical music popularamong masses. He was the master of Khayal form of singing inIndian classical music," Chavan said.

Panditji had achieved unprecedented popularity inIndian classical music. He would continue to be among usthrough his music, he said.

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray expressed grief over thedemise of the great singer and said "this is a very sad startfor the new year."

"Panditji continued to enthral music lovers till theend. I would have surely gone to pay my respect to him, if Iwould have been physically fit," Thackeray said.

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia said "Panditji was a saintof the classical music world."

"We only read about Tansen. But while hearing Panditjiperform, everything else was forgotten. He will live in ourhearts forever," Chaurasia told PTI.

He described Joshi as a simple person whose life wasworth emulating.

Union Energy Minister Sushikkumar Shinde said "we havetruly lost ''Swarbhaskar''. He was renowned for Khayal form ofsinging as well as for his popular renditions of devotionalmusic, Bhajans and abhangs. His death has caused anirreparable loss."

Union Rural Development Minister Vilasrao Deshmukhsaid "it is a big loss for music fraternity. His performanceswere always marked by spontaneity, accurate notes,dizzyingly-paced taans which made use of his exceptional voicetraining and mastery over rhythm." PTI SSG MR VT ABC