Veteran Sitarist and founder of the fusion band Rocksitar, Bijaya Vaidya , died on Monday. Vaidya, 52, was suffering from pneumonia.  

A guitar player from a very young age, Vaidya later diverted towards playing Sitar as it was the only music degree available in Nepal during the ’80s. Vaidya, who started playing Sitar from 1980, graduated in 1986 and began playing professionally. Vaidya’s unique concept of electrifying the Sitar and popularising the eastern classical instrument took shape in 2005. He was the first to modify Sitar so that it could be played by standing and could be fused with rock music.

Vaidya has five albums to his credit, including Mountains of Music, Chants of Himalayas, and Sitrance. He has also toured countries like the US, Japan, and France, playing alonside rock bands elsewhere. Vaidhya was also one of the founding members of Sur Sudha, a folk band, which has, since 1991, been producing Nepali folk music to promote world peace and ‘alleviate poverty’.