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the-south-asian.com SEPTEMBER 2002 |
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September 2002 Contents Earth
Summit 2002
Lifestyle
Sports
Health Stroke
- recognition &
Women's Issues
Purkayastha
- photographing
Around us Indo-Pak
mountaineers for Coke paints red on Himalayas The surviving Mughals The plight of HSPs
i.e. 'Bapi-
the love of my life' 'Knock
at Every Alien Door'
Books
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| print gallery | |||||
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'Bapi-The Love of My Life' - a book by Anoushka Shankarby Mukesh Khosla
Sitar may be her first love but there's another love in Anoushka's life which she values even more. And that's Bapi, as she fondly calls her legendary father, Pandit Ravi Shankar. In her recently released book, Bapi--The Love of My Life, she details many interesting - and controversial--facts of the doyen of music….
In her glittering spaghetti tops and Reebok T-shirt she could be mistaken for any teeny-bopper. But Anoushka Shankar, daughter of the legendary sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, bears the great responsibility of carrying the baton of musical tradition that her father has passed on to her. The young lady is already moving in the hallowed circles of artists, and intellectuals. You do occasionally spot her in hip and happening dos in the city --- where she becomes the Page-3 shutterbugs’ delight thanks to her designer attire. Yet, unlike the chatterati, her life does not revolve around Swarovski tattoos and cineplexes. Instead, it is marked by a passion for the extraordinary – excellence in sitar and continuing her father's great musical tradition. There is yet another passion in this 21-year-old's life - her affection for Bapi, as she calls her legendary father. In her recently released book, Bapi---The Love of My Life, a biography on Ravi Shankar, she details many interesting facts of the doyen of music. " For me Bapi is everything. Musician, rockstar, joker, Bharat Ratna. He is my father, friend, guide and guru," says Anoushka who, till the age of seven had no idea he was her father. " I always thought my mother's first husband was my father." Even when she realized that it was indeed, Ravi Shankar she was very shy accepting it because of the big age gap---he was 61 when Anoushka was born. " But he was warm, had a lovely sense of humour and slowly and surely, I got around to accepting the fact," says Anoushka who was born in London, and grew up in California, where she graduated with honours. She has been her father's disciple since she was nine, working first on a "baby" sitar that was built especially for her. At age 13 she made her performing debut in Delhi. That same year, Anoushka entered the recording studio for the first time to play on her father's recording, In Celebration. Two years later she helped as conductor with her father and George Harrison, who was Shankar's friend. The two collaborated on the 1997 Angel hit, Chants of India. International Status Anoushka still prizes the gifts George Harrison gave her - a turquoise bracelet from Mexico, a ruby necklace from Chennai, a CD player. Indeed, it is Harrison’s acquaintance that gave Ravi Shankar his true international status. Harrison called Ravi Shankar the godfather of world music. " It was only when Uncle George died that I realised how much close I was to him. He was a surrogate father….the standby dad!" Anoushka is frank in her book about her father's affairs with many women, but she stoutly defends him saying it was always a no-strings-attached type of affair. " He would make it very clear to them that since he is very committed to his music, he could not possibly think of settling down," she says and adds, he always respected the women who came in his life and we are still close to many - thanks to my mother Sukanaya. The maestro's first wife was Annapoorna, daughter of his guru Allauddin Khan whom he married at Maihar in Madhya Pradesh. It is no secret there was little element of love in the union. In fact, many accuse Shankar of marrying her to promote his musical career. Nobody was surprised when the marriage went sour and divorce followed. Anoushka is the third daughter of Ravi Shankar, born Robindro Shaunkar Chowdhury in a Bengali family in Varansi (Benares). Anoushka picked up the sitar when she was nine – a special baby sitar was made for her. By 13, she was already giving concerts. In the biography, she also provides facts and figures about her father’s growth: When he was 10, Shankar accompanied his elder brother, Uday Shankar, with his company of dancers and musicians to Paris and stayed back to do his schooling. Later he spent several years in the West absorbing different kinds of music but returned to India in 1938 where he began his career. Between 1949 and 1956 he combined his concert performances with his work for All India Radio where he established the National Chamber Orchestra. As word of his virtuosity spread throughout India, then Europe, Asia and the United States, Shankar embarked on one of the most extraordinary careers in the history of contemporary music. Worthy Daughter Anoushka says that she was lucky to be born into such a family. And candidly admits she has a definite advantage over others. But then, she adds, " I must have been a worthy daughter to share the stage with my father." Today, in addition to her own concerts, Anoushka continues touring the world with her father's ensemble and has performed in India, Europe, Asia and the United States. She performed with Zubin Mehta in March 1997. Most recently, she became the first woman ever to perform at The Ramakrishna Centre in Kolkata in February 2000. Anoushka admits she has been at a great advantage - of all the three children, Shankar groomed only her to be a true heir of his legacy. " That is because I spent more time with him, and in the process came closest to his persona" she says. At 82, Ravi Shankar’s body is frail. He suffers from ailments and his hearing is partially impaired. But he is content in the fact that he has a worthy successor. Today Anoushka is gaining a status all her own. She has an exclusive contract with Angel/EMI Classics. In 1998 her first solo recording, Anoushka, was released to tremendous critical acclaim. Her second album, Anourag, was released in 2000. As her solo career continues to blossom, she is poised to carry forward her father's legacy as one of the most creative and influential figures in the classical Indian music world. In recognition of her artistry and musicianship, on July 17, 1998 the British Parliament presented Anoushka with a House of Commons Shield. She is the youngest as well as the sole female recipient of this high honour. " I have to thank my Bapi for everything. He has done so much for me," she says about Ravi Shankar who has frequently been accused of ignoring all his students and promoting her aggressively. Anoushka admits, " To a certain extent it is true that being the daughter of Ravi Shankar gives you some unfair advantages. I've performed in the best places in the world, had the opportunity of learning from masters like George Harrison, Yehudi Menuhin and Zubin Mehta. It's all because of Bapi. Sometimes the most talented people don't get right breaks as they don't have anyone to back them." Her devotion to the sitar and to her father's guidance is unmistakable. Yes, he initially promoted her but today Anoushka can stand tall on her own as an extraordinary performer.
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