Ravi Shankar: India's Ambassador of Music

Queen of England & Shankar Family

Many say that music is spiritual in how it affects people of all nations. In the case of Ravi Shankar his music touched people around the world.

The Shankar family shared a wide circle of friends from their home in Encinitas, California. Wherever Ravi Shankar went musicians, fans, and students would follow.

It was our pleasure to work with and record Anoushka Shankar and capture her magical performance of raga ‘Pancham Se Gara’, a composition by Ravi Shankar, at the Neurosciences Institute in La Jolla California.

Ravi Shankar called Anoushka his best student and it is clear that her recordings and composing extends the legacy now left by Ravi with his passing in La Jolla, California. Our condolences to the Shankar family.

-Jonathan Bewley, Director

Anoushka Shankar & Ravi Shankar

I first attended a Ravi Shankar performance in 1970. He had his wonderful tabla player, Alla Rakha, performing with him. What an amazing and powerful performance. Although I was very familiar with Ravi Shankar’s music, I was unprepared for the brilliance of his artistry that came across in person. The audience of 1,500 young people was spellbound!

Since that magical day, I have had the great privilege to meet and spend time with Ravi Shankar on several occasions. He was a quiet and gentle soul. One would not know, from his calm demeanor, that here was one of the most influential musicians of our time. Ravi Shankar changed the face of music and introduced classical Indian music to new generations in the West. His influence on the Beatles, both musically, and in George Harrison’s case, spiritually, was felt throughout popular music.

Ravi Shankar was a brilliant composer, with the ability to bring new life to classical forms of Indian music. Although his gentle human form will be missed, his legacy will live on and on. We have been blessed to have this great soul among us for so many years.

-Bruce Huntington, Secretary

Ravi Shankar:

“The whole theory in our music is about nine principal moods: tranquility, peace, passion, humor, love, devotion, anger, fear and disgust,” Shankar noted. “People wonder how can we express (all) that in instrumental music, but we do.

“Religion, whether Muslim, Hindu or Christian, is not such an important factor. It is more the spiritual depth of understanding and good will. (With the effects of) great music, it is not a matter of seeing God in front of you, but feeling godliness within you. That is the highest thing I’ve experienced myself, as a performer and as a listener...

"I always aspire for something I can see, but haven't reached. Being a performer makes it doubly frustrating, because I have ideas for new orchestral pieces and ballets I want to write. I have lots of ideas buzzing in my head, which I have not been able to (execute) yet.

"Believe me, I am still searching. And I feel I am just getting glimpses of some very divine light while I am performing. It's not that I have to think about it, but I always discover new things, and it is such a thrill."

-Ravi Shankar

Anoushka Shankar, Neurosciences Institute

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