The world became a poorer place with the death of Sitar maestro Ravi Shankar at a San Diego (California) Hospital on December 6, 2012.
Perhaps the greatest Sitar artiste that the world has known, Pandit Shankar was a master, a fellow artiste and a friend for many celebrities around the world.
Former Beatle the late George Harrison, the late Violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin, and Philip Glass, one of the greatest composers of all times, were among his famous disciples.
I consider myself extremely fortunate, honoured and privileged to have known Panditji for more than 22 years. I met him first in July 1990 prior to the release of ‘Aabol Taabol,’ and presented him a ‘scratch cassette’ containing two lines of each song, since the appointment was for only 15 minutes.
While waiting for the maestro in his garden, I noticed many important people waiting to see him. As soon as his secretary Partho Sarathi introduced me to Panditji, he took. me to his ‘Rewaz Room’ (a rare privilege) which was adorned by a large idol of Goddess Saraswati. The walls of the room were decorated by large portraits of Shree Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and Baba Ustad Allauddin Khan.
Extended session
“Have you not brought the full version?” he asked me after listening to the two-line songs. I hesitantly said, ‘Yes, Master, but the time is short.”
“Aare rakho to, bajao puro cassette-ta,” (forget about the time, play the full cassette) he said and listened to them with concentration. Thereafter, he asked me to play five songs again.
Panditji spent more than 100 minutes with me, during which he never made me feel that he was a great master and I was much junior to him in the field of music.
As I was leaving, he said, “Tomar jonyo aamar obarito dar” (My door will always be open for you). When he came to know that I learned Khyal from Sangeetacharya Shailendra Bandhopadhaya, he quipped, “Tomar Bhalo background aache” (You have a good background) and “Ei gaangule shune chhelebelar kotha mone pore” (Your songs reminded me of my childhood).
Sukumar Roy, West Bengal’s great poet and playwright, had composed the poems (‘Aabol Taabol’).
Later, my interest and career in music, took to some of the most famous and celebrated musicians but none of them touched my heart as Panditji did.
Great human being
He was not only the greatest sitar player in the world but also the great human being with a big heart.
I became a regular visitor to his home and had the privilege of receiving his phone calls from time to time. I was in regular contact until 1996.
Mr Sarathi told me that once Panditji takes a liking for a person, he will never forget that person. That statement became true, when a TV film producer Som Bakshi approached me, on advice from Panditji to compose music for the second episode of ‘Pukar.’
Panditji loved music more than anyone in this world and was also keen to promote Indian classical music.
Promoting music
In 1952, when he was working with All India Radio in Delhi, the station’s director V K Narayana Menon introduced Panditji to Yehudi Menuhin.
They became great friends for life. Panditji could not accept the invitation of Menuhin to perform at a concert sponsored by the Ford Foundation in New York City a few years later. He was unable to leave India and hence recommended Ustad Ali Akber Khan.
That was just an example of Panditji’s love for Indian classical music and his belief in promoting talented people.
Even as I mourn the great loss, I believe that Panditji continues to live in many hearts and music rooms, one of which is in my home.
Amit Sengupta is a music writer, composer, singer and performer. He teaches Khyal, Thumri, Bhajan and old Hindi film songs at his Mohammed Rafi Academy of Music, located at 21, Beagle Avenue, Mt Roskill, in Auckland. He can be contacted on (09) 6295278 or 022-4249269
Email: amitgssengupta@hotmail.com; Website: www.amitsengupta.net
