Sun, Jun 08, 2008 - Page 14 News List

Ravi Shankar bids Europe adieu

On the eve of his last ever gig in Europe, sitar giant Ravi Shankar talks about why the 1960s got India wrong, how his daughters give him hope — and why Hendrix annoyed him

By John O’Mahony  /  THE GUARDIAN , LONDON

SHANKAR’S LEGACY

After years of estrangement, he is now reconciled with Norah, and Anoushka has become his greatest disciple and hope for the future. At 88, he admits that he finds it difficult not to think of his legacy. “Yes, I have considered it,” he says. “I sit with Anoushka and give her new things, information that I didn’t give her before. That is what happens with our music — it goes on growing, because it is not written down or set in a book.”

Shankar is curiously noncommittal about whether this will be the last time we see him perform. “I’ve had quite a few ‘farewell tours’ over the past few years,” he smiles. “It sounds like a publicity stunt, but it isn’t really. I love to play for people. But traveling has become a hazard — taking off your shoes in airports, and all that sort of thing. So let’s hope that this is my last, though in my heart I hope that it is not.”

This story has been viewed 3664 times.
TOP top