He was the recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1967, Presidential Award in 1971, Padama Bhushan in 1971, Swar Vilas from Sur Singar Sansad in 1971. He died a premature death in a car accident in Calcutta on February 13, 1974.

He was much more than a leading classical musicina of his times. He was an intellectual leader who created a fresh ideology in Hindustani Raga Sangeet whcih was os powwerful in its inpact that it directly or indirectly influenced a larg number of subsequent artistes and styles. Khayal and tarana were the singing genres, which the Ustad worshipped with intense devotion and ardour. He cared most for improvisation with words in Khayal singing.