PANDIT RAVI SHANKAR

THE SITAR MAESTRO

Dr. (Major) Nalini Janardhanan
Pandit Ravi Shankar was a great musician par excellence who took Indian music
across the frontiers to the audience all over the world. We identify Pandit Ravi Shankar
with sitar (a type of plucked string instrument) as he is the person who made the Indian
musical instrument popular across the world.
Panditji was born on 07 April 1920 in Varanasi into a Bengali Brahmin family and
his real name was Robindro Shankor Chowdhury. His father Shyam Shankar and
brother, the famous dancer & choreographer, Uday Shankar formed a troupe and used
to tour European Countries. Panditji joined this troupe and moved to Paris in 1930. He
returned to India in 1938 and received formal training in Indian Classical music from the
famous Ustad Allauddin Khan. Panditji stayed with Ustad in Maihar for 7 1/2 years
following the Gurukul system and learnt Dhrupad, Dhamar and Khayal forms of
Hindustani classical music.
Pandit Ravi Shankar played Sitar on his own for the first time in 1939 at
Allahabad Music Conference. He joined All India Radio Delhi as music director in 1949
and remained in the post till 1956. He founded Indian National Orchaestra at AIR Delhi
and composed music for it combining both Indian and Western classical music. Panditji
has given music to many films like Apu Trilogy and Godan (directed by Satyajit Ray),
Dharti Ke Lal, Anuradha, Neecha Nagar etc. He was member of Rajyasabha from 1986
to 1992.
Contribution to Music
Pandit Ravi Shankar was truly the cultural Ambassador of India who made Indian music
global. His jugalbandis with the famous Western Violinist Yehudi Menuhin made him
internationally popular. In 1966 George Harrison of the famous Beatles group became
interested in Indian Classical music and he became panditjis student. Harrison used
Sitar in his song Norwegian Wood (This bird has flown). Three albums of the Beatles
group had sitar in their music. Panditji received international fame due to collaboration
with Yehudi Menuhir and George Harrison. They exchanged ideas and culture between
East and West through music.
Panditjis greatest contribution to world music is the introduction of Jugalbandis
(Duet concert style) and fusion. His AIR show Vadyavinda (National Orchaestra)
represents harmony in our cultural heritage.
Contd..2/-

-2Panditji introduced new Ragas like Bouragi, Tilak Shyam and Nat Bhairav. In
1962 he founded Kinnara School of Music in Mumbai. He also opened a Western
branch of the music school in 1967 in Los Angeles.
Pandit Ravi Shankar has published two auto biographies My Music, My Life
and Ragamala. His daughter Anoushka Shankar released a book on pum Bapi : Love
of my Life in 2002.
Honours & Awards
Panditji was conferred with many honours and awards all over the world. He had
received three Grammy Awards. He was the recipient of Bharat Ratna (1999) , Mag
Say Say Award, Padma Bhushan (1967) and Padma Vibhushan (1981) and honours
from various countries. Post his death, Grammy announced him as the recipient of
Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.
Style of Music
Pandit Ravishankar brought the trend of Solo performances and Jugalbandis
(duet concert style) on musical instruments. He was well versed in Indian as well as
Western music. He always wanted to create something new. He never adhered to one
particular gharana of classical music. He liked to experiment with various styles of
music. He added the Atikharaj strings to sitar to give deeper resonance to Swaras. In
his style, all strings of sitar are equally played. Through fusion, he kept the essence of
Indian classical music alive.
Panditji travelled all over the world giving music performances and realized his
dream of making Indian music global.
He gave two excellent musicians to the world in the form of his daughters Norah
Jones and Anoushka Shankar.
The doyen of music left for his heavenly abode on 11 Dec 2012 in California,
USA at the age of 92. He was a dynamic and versatile person with a good sense of
humor. He was also well read who could speak French, Bengali, gujarathi, Marathi,
Hindi and English languages fluently. His last performance was in California on 04 Nov
2012 alongwith his daughter Anoushka.

Contd..3/-3-

Words by Great persons about Pandit Ravi Shankar :

Lata mangeshkar : The classical sun of India has set and a darkness has come over.
Pandit Jasraj : He took India overseas and brought the world to this country through his
words.
Yehudi Menuhin : Ravi Shankar is the Godfather of World music.
Pandit Ravi Shankar was certainly a genius who projected the cultural heritage of
India to the world through music. He is always a source of inspiration for musicians.
Audience sits spellbound when the maestro weaves magic through the strings of
Sitar. According to Panditji, Ellora Caves of Aurangabad sets the best backdrop for a
musical performance. During one of his concerts at Ellora Caves, he said to the
audience you are blessed, as you get to watch the divine Kailash temple in all its glory,
as you listen to my music.
Panditjis daughter Norah Jones remarked : My Dads music touched millions of
people. He will be greatly missed by me and music lovers everywhere. Her words are
absolutely true. We, the music lovers all over the world, will always miss the legendary
musician. Let us pay tribute to Pandit Ravi Shankar, the sitar maestro who brought
Indian classical music to the stage of World. May the great soul rest in peace !

DR. (MAJOR) NALINI JANARDHANAN,

PLOT NO. 105, N-1, SECTOR-A,
CIDCO, AURANGABAD
MAHARASHTRA 431 003