Ravi Shankar

Ravi Shankar — Life, Career, and Memorable Wisdom

Dive into the life, musical legacy, and philosophical reflections of Pandit Ravi Shankar (1920–2012), the legendary Indian sitar virtuoso, composer, and cultural bridge between East and West. Explore his biography, major contributions, influence, and meaningful quotes.

Introduction

Ravi Shankar (born 7 April 1920, died 11 December 2012) stands as one of the most influential figures in 20th century world music. As a master of the sitar and an ambassador for Indian classical music, he bridged continents and cultures—collaborating with Western musicians, introducing the sounds of ragas to global audiences, and inspiring generations of artists. Beyond his virtuosity, he embodied a philosophy of musical dialogue, spiritual openness, and cultural synthesis.

Early Life and Family

Ravi Shankar—full name born as Ravindra Shankar Chowdhury—entered the world in Banaras (Varanasi), then in British India, on 7 April 1920. He was the youngest of seven brothers in a Bengali Hindu family.

His father, Shyam Shankar Chowdhury, was a barrister and scholar (with roots in what is now Bangladesh) who later served as Dewan (Prime Minister) of a princely state, and his mother, Hemangini Devi, hailed from near Benares. As a child, Ravi Shankar was exposed to both classical Indian traditions and an intellectually rich household.

In his youth, although he did not come from a strictly musical family, Shankar gravitated toward the performing arts and dance. He first pursued work with dance troupes, especially with his elder brother Uday Shankar, whose modern dance company blended Indian classical dance with Western forms. Through this exposure, Ravi Shankar absorbed rhythm, movement, and performance sensibility.

He later apprenticed under the legendary teacher Allauddin Khan in Maihar, assimilating deep knowledge of Hindustani classical music and instrumentation.

Youth and Musical Apprenticeship

While his early years involved dance and performance, Shankar’s deep commitment to musical training emerged in late adolescence. In the 1930s, he began learning vocal techniques, sitar, and the subtleties of Indian classical music. Over time, he forged a path of mastery through rigorous discipline, deep listening, and immersion into the tradition of raga, tala (rhythm cycles), and improvisation.

Under the tutelage of Allauddin Khan, he absorbed the Maihar gharana’s (school) legacy, which emphasized versatility, instrumental skill, and compositional innovation.

During these formative years, Shankar also experimented with orchestral compositions, dance music, film scores, and cross-style dialogues—early signs of the polymath he would become.

Career and Achievements

Rise as a Sitar Virtuoso & Composer

By mid-20th century, Ravi Shankar was already gaining prominence within India. He composed music for dance, Indian films, and collaborated with leading Indian classical musicians (vocalists, tabla players, etc.).

In the 1950s and 1960s, he began to tour internationally—for example, appearances in Europe and the United States—and to record albums. His intrinsically Indian music began reaching Western ears.

He played at Woodstock in 1969, bringing Indian classical to a massive rock audience. He also took part in major collaborative events: for instance, he helped organize and perform in the Concert for Bangladesh (1971), which fused Indian and Western musicians for a humanitarian concert.

His collaborations spanned genres and continents: George Harrison of The Beatles studied sitar under him and helped popularize Indian music to broader audiences. Shankar also worked with jazz figures like John Coltrane, Philip Glass, and many Western classical and contemporary artists.

In addition to performance, Shankar composed works that merged Indian and Western sensibilities. For example, his experimental album Tana Mana (early 1980s) explored synthesizer, sampling, and fusion, blending sitar with environment and electronic textures. He regarded Tana Mana as a “child experimenting in a new sphere.”

He also published autobiographical works (e.g. Raga Mala) reflecting on his musical journey, influences, and philosophy.

Honors, Roles, & Later Years

Shankar’s stature extended beyond music into cultural diplomacy and institutional roles. Notably, he served as a Member of Parliament in India (Rajya Sabha) from May 1986 to May 1992.

His global recognition came through awards, honorary degrees, and festival appearances. He continued to perform, teach, mentor (notably to his daughter Anoushka Shankar), and engage in cultural dialogue until late in life.

On 11 December 2012, Ravi Shankar passed away in San Diego, California, U.S., at the age of 92. His death was widely mourned in music circles globally.

Legacy and Influence

Ravi Shankar’s legacy is vast, crossing music, culture, and consciousness:

1. Globalizing Indian classical music
   He was arguably the first Indian classical musician to win sustained global attention, helping many in the West discover ragas, tala, and Indian instruments. His role in the 1960s folk & rock era made him a cultural bridge.

2. Cross-genre collaborations
   By working with artists in jazz, rock, Western classical, and experimental realms, he demonstrated that tradition and innovation can converse.

3. Mentorship & lineage
   He passed his art to his daughter, Anoushka Shankar, who continues to innovate with the sitar in contemporary formats. His students and collaborators continue spreading his approach.

4. Cultural diplomacy and soft power
   As a cultural ambassador, Shankar helped bridge East and West, fostering mutual respect and curiosity about Indian arts.

5. Musical expansion & experimentation
   His work like Tana Mana showed he was not bound by purism—he ventured into new soundscapes while maintaining a classical core.

6. Enduring recordings & inspiration
   His discography remains a resource for musicians, scholars, and listeners. His legacy continues to inspire cross-cultural musical exploration.

Philosophy & Personality

Although primarily known as a musician, Ravi Shankar held a deeply reflective and spiritual attitude toward music and life. He saw music not as performance only, but as a path to inner discovery and universality.

He emphasized listening, silence, space, and the connection between performer, audience, and cosmic order. His willingness to experiment reflects humility and curiosity.

He was also known for discipline, lifelong dedication, adaptability, and a certain gentleness in promoting cultural understanding rather than cultural imposition.

Selected Quotes

Here are some memorable quotes (from interviews, writings, and sources) that reflect Shankar’s philosophical outlook:

“Meditation is getting back to our source which is enormous and unfathomable.”

“Life teaches you the art of letting go in every event. When you have learnt to let go, you will be joyful and as you start being joyful, more will be given to you.”

“Faith is realizing that you always get what you need.”

“If you are a taker of happiness you get misery; if you are a giver of happiness you get joy and love.”

“You can only love something, because it is belongs to you. If it is not yours, you cannot love it. Love is the shadow of the Self.”

“Everything is changing in the world. People who say, ‘I cannot live without you’, later say, ‘I cannot stand you!’ … Search inside, make friends with your own Higher Self…”

These reflections underline his belief in inner awareness, non-attachment, giving, and the deeper dimensions of love and self.

Lessons from Ravi Shankar

1. Tradition and innovation can coexist
   Shankar’s career shows that honoring classical roots does not preclude exploration and fusion.

2. Listening is central
   Beyond virtuosity, profound listening to sound, silence, and others enriches art.

3. Cross-cultural humility & dialogue
   Rather than impose, he invited communication—he absorbed Western ideas even while sharing Indian traditions.

4. Evolution is continuous
   Even into his later years, he learned new techniques, instruments, and soundscapes.

5. Music as spiritual path
   He viewed art not just as entertainment, but as a bridge to inner expression and universal connection.

Conclusion

Pandit Ravi Shankar remains a towering figure in music history: a virtuoso, a cultural bridge, an experimenter, and a philosopher-musician. His life embodied the possibility of connecting ancient traditions with modern worlds, and of using art to transcend borders. His recordings continue to resonate; his students carry forward his lineage; and his vision remains an invitation to listen more deeply.