R.I.P. Ali Akbar Khan, Indian Musician

Ali Akbar Khan. REUTERS/Adam Tanner The Bengali-born musician, who died last week at the age of 87, was regarded by many as a genius who helped popularize Indian classical music around the globe. He played the 25-string sarod. When he arrived in the U.S. half a century ago, many he encountered were confounded by his origins. He told Asia Week: “When I came in ‘55, because I was in Indian dress, people on the street in New York came out of the bars and shops and followed us. They as