Sharan Rani, born in 1929 in Delhi, holds the distinction of being India’s first woman sarod player and is affectionately known as Sarod Rani. A trailblazer in Indian classical music, she devoted nearly seven decades to mastering and performing the sarod. She trained under legendary maestros such as Baba Allauddin Khan and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, both stalwarts of the Maihar gharana. With a career that spanned international stages, Sharan Rani earned acclaim not only for her virtuosity but also for her role in promoting Indian classical music globally. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru honored her by calling her the “Cultural Ambassador of India.”

In recognition of her immense contribution to music, Sharan Rani was awarded the Padma Shri in 1968 and the Sahitya Kala Parishad Award in 1974. She received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Hindustani Instrumental Music in 1986. Her legacy was further immortalized when she was named one of the “Gems of Indian Music” by the Government of India, an honor shared only with Lata Mangeshkar and M.S. Subbulakshmi. Through her dedication and pioneering spirit, Sharan Rani paved the way for generations of women in Indian classical instrumental music.