Which of the following Indian music legends is a world famous exponent of the stringed instrument sitar?

Introduction / Context:
India has produced many legendary classical musicians, each associated with particular instruments or vocal traditions. In competitive examinations, questions often test whether you can correctly match the artist with the instrument that made them famous. This item focuses on identifying the world renowned maestro who popularised the sitar on the global stage and worked extensively in both Indian classical and international music circles.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about Indian music legends.
• The specific task is to find the exponent of the sitar, a plucked string instrument.
• Options include Bhimsen Joshi, Ravi Shankar, Amjad Ali Khan, Alla Rakha, and Zakir Hussain.
• Exactly one of these artists is primarily known for playing the sitar.

Concept / Approach:
To answer correctly, you must recall the principal instrument associated with each listed musician. Pandit Ravi Shankar was a world famous sitar virtuoso who helped introduce Indian classical music to Western audiences through concerts, collaborations, and recordings. Bhimsen Joshi is associated with Hindustani vocal music, Amjad Ali Khan with the sarod, Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain with the tabla. Matching each name with the correct instrument ensures that only one option fits the sitar perfectly, namely Ravi Shankar.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question is specifically asking for the exponent of the sitar. Step 2: Recall that Ravi Shankar is globally recognised as a sitar maestro who collaborated with international artists and appeared at major festivals. Step 3: Remember that Bhimsen Joshi was an eminent vocalist in the Kirana gharana, not an instrumentalist. Step 4: Note that Amjad Ali Khan is known for the sarod and Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain are legendary tabla players. Step 5: Conclude that only Ravi Shankar matches the description of a sitar exponent and choose that option.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can double check by recalling concert posters, textbooks, or documentaries. Whenever sitar is mentioned in the context of Indian music on a world platform, Ravi Shankar name almost always appears. In school and college general knowledge books, he is typically listed as the sitar maestro, while Bhimsen Joshi is listed among vocalists and Amjad Ali Khan among sarod players. This consistent association across different sources confirms that selecting Ravi Shankar is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bhimsen Joshi is wrong in this context because he was a Hindustani classical vocalist, not a sitar player. Amjad Ali Khan is incorrect because his expertise lies in the sarod. Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain are both globally recognised tabla maestros, so they represent percussion rather than stringed melody instruments. None of these artists is primarily described as a sitar exponent, which leaves Ravi Shankar as the only suitable option.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse classical musicians because they see their names together in lists of great artists. Another common mistake is mixing up sitar and sarod exponents, especially if you only remember that both are string instruments. To avoid such confusion, it is helpful to memorise key pairs such as Ravi Shankar with sitar, Amjad Ali Khan with sarod, and Zakir Hussain with tabla. Writing a small table of musician instrument pairs and revising it regularly before exams can significantly improve accuracy in similar questions.

Final Answer:
The Indian music legend who is a world famous exponent of the sitar is Ravi Shankar.