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Time of India
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rishabh Rikhiram Sharma: Indian music is not just healing; it's cool, stylish, and full of swag!
Rishabh Rikhiram Sharma, a sitarist and instrument maker, carries forward his family's musical legacy while innovating with contemporary sounds. He emphasizes the timelessness and global appeal of Indian classical music, highlighting its ability to unite diverse audiences. Today, on World Music Day, we turn the spotlight on a sitarist, instrument maker and someone touted to be a torchbearer of a legendary musical legacy – Rishabh Rikhiram Sharma. The youngest and the last disciple of the legendary Pandit Ravi Shankar and son of luthier Sanjay Sharma, Rishabh has carved a niche for himself in the global music scene by blending tradition with innovation. In a candid interview with us, the artiste reflects on the timeless power of Indian classical music, the responsibility of heritage, and why he believes music is one of the few forces that can truly unite the world. You've been carrying forward the Rikhiram legacy in traditional Indian music – the instrument maker's son, Rishabh. How has your family's heritage shaped your own musical journey? Being born to Sanjay Rikhiram Sharma, I had the privilege of growing up around the finest instruments in the world, many of them replicas made for my Guruji, Pandit Ravi Shankar. But for the longest time, people only saw me as the instrument maker's son, not as a performer. It's been incredibly fulfilling to finally carve a path of my own, where my passion and purpose are seen and celebrated. From traditional sitar playing to experimenting with contemporary forms, how do you find balance between preserving classical roots and evolving with modern sensibilities? I always say: tradition should be the centrepiece, not the background. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Novi ortopedski sandali za moške poletje 2025. Fiippy KUPITE ZDAJ Undo Just like in a museum, the artwork is the focus, you design everything else around it to enhance it. That's how I approach fusion. The sitar stays at the heart, and modern sounds or production techniques simply decorate the space around it. That balance is what keeps the music alive and relatable. What role do you think traditional Indian music plays on the global stage today, especially among younger audiences? Our music is timeless. On my last India tour, I saw children as young as 8 and elders over 80 vibing together with the same energy, that's the power of traditional Indian music. It's not just healing; it's cool, it's stylish, it's full of swag. I think the world was just waiting for someone to say it out loud, and maybe I'm that someone! You've performed both in India and internationally. How do audiences differ in their response to traditional Indian music across the world? Audiences everywhere are receptive, as long as the music is shared with intention. In India, there's a deep understanding of raga and taal, while international audiences are curious, open, and eager to learn. That's why education and storytelling are such an integral part of my performances. We're planning to expand globally this year to build deeper cultural bridges through Sitar for Mental Health. In an age of digital streaming and short-form content, how can we sustain interest in long-format classical performances? If people begin practicing meditation daily, they'll naturally be drawn to long-format traditional Indian music, it's meditation through sound. The deeper you go, the more rewarding it becomes. We just have to make that entry point inviting. You've also been involved in crafting and restoring instruments. How does that craft influence your understanding and performance of music? Learning the art of making and maintaining instruments from my father has been a huge blessing. It's allowed me to innovate and experiment with sound while being self-sufficient on tour. I studied both the art of playing and the science of construction. Few musicians in the world understand the sitar inside and out the way I do, and that's something I'm deeply proud of. I hope to one day hold workshops globally, teaching others how to care for and preserve our instruments. Which collaboration or performance stands out as particularly transformative in your musical career? Performing at the White House for Diwali in 2023 was life changing. To have your music and mission recognized at that level, especially for a cause like mental health, was incredibly validating. It reminded me that this path I've chosen is bigger than just performance; it's about impact. What advice would you give to aspiring musicians trying to find their voice in a world of rapidly changing musical tastes? Be yourself, loudly and unapologetically. Even when I do covers, I do them my way. Authenticity is your greatest strength. In a world full of trends, being true to your sound is what makes you timeless. World Music Day celebrates the universal language of music. What does this day mean to you personally and as a musician? To me, World Music Day is a celebration of every genre, every sound, and every culture that has left an imprint on our lives. It's a day to honor the global influences that shape our musical journeys, and to reflect on the fact that music—no matter where it comes from—has the power to connect us all. On this World Music Day, what message would you like to share with music lovers across the globe? Music is a language beyond words, beyond borders. In a world that often feels divided, music is what brings us together. I can't wait to bring this tour to audiences worldwide, and celebrate the divine gift that music truly is.
The Print
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Print
Ali Akbar Khan's father disowned him for composing film music. This movie changed his mind
By the time he was in his 20s, the young Khan was performing across India—a concert a day if not more. But in an interview with The New York Times , he recalled that at the time, he didn't love the music. He considered it work. For decades, Khan's music captured the imagination of the Indian subcontinent and the West. But his genius was more than just inherited talent. His father, Allauddin Khan, one of the foremost figures of Indian classical music, shaped him. They trained for 18 hours a day. Days would begin at 3 am. Beatings were common. Sarod maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan was the original 'sultan of strings'. Violinist Yehudi Menuhin called him the greatest musician on the planet. The Indian government declared him a national treasure. He shared a stage with his brother-in-law Ravi Shankar and performed with Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton at Madison Square Garden. It was only at the age of 50 that he found his love for the notes he played. When he 'grasped the full range of human emotions contained in each note of a raga, from playfulness to pathos to piety,' according to the interview. 'Then, I actually understood what my father meant,' Khan had said. By then, Khan had cemented his legacy, dazzling global audiences, forging East-West musical bridges, and being nominated for multiple Grammy awards. In 1989, India named him a National Treasure. In 1997, the US awarded him the National Heritage Fellowship, its highest honour for traditional arts. However, it was when his father told him, 'I am so pleased with your work in music that I will do something very rare. As your guru and father, I give you a title: Swara Samrat—Emperor of Melody', that life came full circle for Khan. Also read: Anand Bakshi's lyrics captured love, loss, yearning for home—They made him a 'people's writer' The rebellious teen, the musical maestro Born in 1922 in Shibpur, Comilla (now in Bangladesh), Khan came from a royal lineage. His family traced their gharana (musical tradition) to Mian Tansen, the legendary 16th-century musician in Emperor Akbar's court. His father, Baba Allauddin Khan, was said to have mastered over 200 instruments. At age 13, Khan gave his first public performance in Allahabad. By his twenties, he had become the music director at All India Radio in Lucknow and was composing orchestral works. In 1945, he recorded the three-minute raga Chandranandan (Moonstruck), blending four evening ragas into a melody that became a national sensation and his signature tune. But behind the serious exterior was once a rebellious teen. Recalling an encounter in Maihar where they both stayed, Ravi Shankar wrote in his 1997 autobiography Raga Mala: 'He was docile in front of Baba, even scared. So you can imagine my astonishment when one day he fished a packet of Gold Flake cigarettes out of his pocket and offered me one. Only thirteen years old! It stunned me!' The rebellion was not a one-time stunt. After stints at All India Radio and the Jodhpur court—where he was bestowed with the title Ustad—Khan entered cinema. His father initially disowned him for composing film music, but he went on to score for classics like Satyajit Ray's Devi (1960), Tapan Sinha's Kshudhita Pashan (1960), and Merchant-Ivory's The Householder (1963). He also collaborated with Lata Mangeshkar on Aandhiyan (1952); she sang without charging a fee, as a mark of respect for him. Ironically, it was Kshudhita Pashan that brought father and son together again. After watching the film, Allauddin Khan exclaimed, 'My goodness, who composed the music? He is great.' On learning that it was his son, he sent a telegram, offering his forgiveness. Also read: Hemant Kumar would run away to Kolkata for peace. There he could make Bengali music The introvert who brought Indian music to the West In 1955, on the invitation of famed violinist Yehudi Menuhin, Khan travelled to the US. Once there, he performed at New York's Museum of Modern Art and recorded the first Western LP of Indian classical music, 'Music of India: Morning and Evening Ragas'. In an appearance on British-American radio host Alistair Cooke's show Omnibus, he introduced the sarod to American television for the first time. 'When I came in '55, because I was in Indian dress, people on the street in New York came out of bars and shops and followed us,' he said in a 1997 interview to The New York Times. 'They asked me, 'Who are you? Where are you from?' When I said 'India,' some didn't even know where it was. Others asked funny questions like, 'How can you play music in India with all the tigers and snakes and monkeys you have to fight off?'' A man of few words, introverted, and never given to extravagant flourishes, he was completely absorbed in the music of the classical tradition. 'When he played, he appeared to be oblivious of everything around him. He said that it was through his music that he communicated with the Almighty, ' The Guardian wrote. It was this man that Menuhin would later call 'an absolute genius, the greatest musician in the world.' Khan's global fame surged again in 1971 at the Concert for Bangladesh with Ravi Shankar, George Harrison, and Bob Dylan. 'The concert raised millions for Bangladesh and put the country on the global map,' Shankar recalled in his autobiography. But Khan viewed it differently: 'That was not music, it was a war of music.' The star-studded lineup included Beatles' George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, and Khan's brother-in-law Ravi Shankar. Rock music played out in Madison Square Garden. Overwhelmed by the volume, Khan stuffed toilet paper in his ears. 'If I heard that music for a week, my ears would be finished,' he later said. In 1967, Khan founded the Ali Akbar College of Music in Berkeley, later moving it to Marin County. While Ravi Shankar and Zakir Hussain drew large crowds and popularised Indian instruments in the West, it was Ali Akbar Khan, reverently called Khansahib, who taught thousands, shaping deep appreciation for Indian classical music, NYT wrote. 'He has certainly taught more Americans than any other artist,' Robert Browning of the World Music Institute once said. 'More than anything, he built true knowledge of Indian music.' Khan chose to settle in the US for its opportunities. 'India gave me all the awards,' he said, 'but awards don't fund a college.' There, he taught students from across the globe. He died on 18 June 2009 due to kidney failure, but he continued teaching till the day before. Once, when scolding a class for playing out of tune, a student asked cheekily, 'Do you play in tune?' Khan laughed and said, 'I am still trying.' (Edited by Theres Sudeep)
Hans India
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar bats for ‘One Nation, One Election', calls it essential for expediting country's progress
Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Sunday extended support to the 'One Nation, One Election', a one-of-its kind initiative championed and pursued by the current dispensation, and said that it was extremely essential to turn this into a law for putting the country on a fast growth pedestal. Ravi Shankar, the founder of Art of Living Foundation, speaking to IANS, congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for completing eleven years in power and spoke on a range of issues. Making a strong case for 'One Nation, One Election', he said that it was time that the government implemented it as this will pave the way for fast growth. 'Officials and government employees remain tied up with continuous election duties -- panchayat, taluka, municipal, state, and central elections, leaving little time for actual work. Even politicians are constantly moving from one election rally to another. To free the country from this cycle and accelerate development, 'One Nation, One Election' is essential," he opined. The spiritual leader also praised PM Modi-led government for prioritising road and infrastructure in border areas and frontline villages in the northeastern states including Arunachal Pradesh. 'The government's efforts to provide basic needs like electricity and roads in these remote areas are truly praiseworthy,' he said and also informed that his Foundation has also adopted several villages with support from the government. He also shared his views on PM Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, and said: "It allows direct communication with many people and highlights various schemes running across the country. It gives people from all sections of society a platform to express themselves and directly connect with the head of the nation, i.e. the Prime Minister." Such initiatives help build confidence among the people and prepare the country to strengthen its resolve to become a key player on the world stage, he added.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Water tanker bookings plummet as monsoon makes an early onset
Hyderabad: With the early onset of the southwest monsoon, apartments and gated communities in the western corridor are experiencing respite from the severe water crisis that plagued them since summer, as bookings in their region went down by up to 50%. At the peak of the crisis, these residential complexes relied heavily on water tankers, with around 60% of total water bookings being made solely for their corridor. As the rains lashed the city last week, dependence on water tankers decreased across various divisions in the western corridor, including Durgam Cheruvu (Raidurg), Manikonda, Kukatpally, Nizampet, and Hafeezpet. For instance, the Durgam Cheruvu division, among 22 divisions in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), used to consume close to 2,000 tankers a day during the peak summer, accounting for 20% of the total consumption of tankers across the city. This number has now come down by half to 1,000. "A week ago, residents were ordering 1,800 tankers across our division, encompassing Ayyappa Society, Kondapur, Madhapur, and Gachibowli. Currently, the demand has reduced to 1,000 following rainfall and groundwater recharge. During any season, tanker bookings typically remain at 800, as certain areas lack borewell water access and depend on tankers every alternative day when water supply is limited," said a senior official in Durgam Cheruvu division, HMWSSB. Residents say that during the peak summer, gated communities were booking two to four water tankers per day, and now their dependence is reduced to one tanker every two or three days. "The water consumption pattern in our neighbourhood has significantly changed. Currently, apartments are ordering one tanker every two to three days, compared to the previous usage of one to two tankers daily. Notably, residents of Laxmi Priya Colony, who were once heavily dependent on water tankers, have no longer had to place orders due to enhanced water supply from HMWSSB and improved groundwater levels," said J Karthik, a resident of Manikonda. Usually, during the last week of May, the demand for tankers across the city would be 9,000 to 10,000, but due to early onset of the monsoon, it has gone down to around 7,000 daily, showing a significant 30% decrease. "Thanks to the early onset of the monsoon, our residents have got some respite from the water scarcity as dependence has dropped by at least 50%. During peak summer, residents within our gated premises required weekly deliveries of four to five water tankers, each carrying 10KL. This week, however, the requirement has diminished to just one tanker," said Ravi Shankar, president of the Federation of Gated Communities, Cyberabad. BOX: HMWSSB has alerted the public about fraudulent WhatsApp messages in circulation. These messages, sent from the mobile number 84271 56645, are falsely notifying residents about water supply disconnection, citing unpaid bills from the previous month. The board has cautioned citizens to disregard these unauthorised communications.
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Business Standard
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
All-party delegation in Italy underscores India's firm stance on terrorism
An all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar has met senior Italian officials to reaffirm India's "zero-tolerance" stance on terrorism and New Delhi's resolve to combat all forms of terror. The eight-member team is one of the seven multi-party delegations India has tasked to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community on Pakistan's designs and India's response to terror. The group, which arrived in Rome on Tuesday, had a "productive" meeting with former foreign minister Giulio Terzi on Wednesday. "Led by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, the All-Party Indian Parliamentary Delegation, had a productive meeting with Senator @GiulioTerzi, President of the India-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Group and its Members," the Indian embassy in Rome said in a post on X. "The Indian delegation voiced India's resolute stance on combating terrorism and zero tolerance to all forms of terror," it said. Both sides also reaffirmed the significance of India-Italy strategic partnership and the potential for elevating bilateral cooperation. The delegation also held an interaction with Italy's Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi. "Constructive exchange with the Indian parliamentary delegation visiting the @SenatoStampa. Italy and India united by strategic partnership, work together to address the common challenges of our time," Tripodi said in an X post. "She reiterated commitment for the India-Italy strategic partnership and for countering terrorism," the embassy said. The group also met the Committee on Foreign Affairs and European Commission and its president, Senator Giulio Tremonti. "The Indian side highlighted India's unwavering commitment to combat terrorism and the national consensus on zero tolerance against terrorism," the embassy said in a separate post, adding that Tremonti "appreciated" the outreach and spoke about the "shared positions on terrorism". "He underscored the need for a regular dialogue about terrorism," it added. The delegation also interacted with a cross-section of the Indian community here and shared the national resolve to "counter-terrorism and take firm actions against cross-border terrorism," the embassy said. "We also expressed our appreciation for the valuable contributions of the Indian diaspora and their deep-rooted connections to their homeland," Prasad said in a post on X. In separate meetings, the delegation also engaged with Italian news agencies, journalists and major think tanks and strategic experts, briefing them about India's stance on cross-border terrorism, Operation Sindoor, as well as New Delhi's "new normal of a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism", and its resolve to combat all forms of terrorism. This delegation visited France before arriving in Italy. It will also travel to Denmark, Germany, the UK, and the European Union in Brussels. About two weeks after the horrific April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 civilians were killed, India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7 under Operation Sindoor, following which Pakistan attempted to attack the Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions.
