Why in the News?

• 7th April 2025, marks the 103rd birth anniversary of sitar player and composer Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Key Points:

About Pandit Ravi Shankar:

⇒ Pandit Ravi Shankar, born on 7th April 1920 in Varanasi , was a great sitarist and composer of  Indian classical music .

⇒ His original name was Ravindra Shankar Chowdhury and he was the seventh son of his father Shyam Shankar Chowdhury and mother Hemangini Devi.

⇒ At the age of 18, he started learning sitar and took initiation from Ustad Allauddin Khan of Maihar.

⇒ He recomposed the famous song "Saare Jahan Se Achcha" at the age of 25.

⇒ He served as the Music Director of All India Radio in New Delhi from the year 1949 to 1956.

⇒ Subsequently, in the 1960s he taught and performed Indian classical music with violinists Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison, helping to popularise it in the Western world.

⇒ Pandit Ravi Shankar introduced  Indian classical music to the western world.

⇒ The Beatles' George Harrison described him as the 'Godfather of World Music'.

⇒ He was also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1986 to 1992.

⇒ He died on December 11, 2012 at the age of 92.

Honours and Awards:

⇒ He was awarded the country's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, in 1999. Apart from this, he received many honours and awards, which include:

• UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador (1999): Appointed for cultural contributions.
• Padma Bhushan (1967): India's third highest civilian award.
• Padma Vibhushan (1981): Second highest civilian award for exceptional service.
• Kalidas Samman (1986): Madhya Pradesh's premier award for excellence in Indian classical music.
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987): A mark of excellence in the field of music in India.
• Grammy Awards (four times): Honoured in various categories, including a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

Indian Classical Music:

Introduction:

• Classical Indian music is a complex and ancient form of music with its roots in the Vedas, the oldest texts of Hinduism, dating back to around 1500 BCE.
• It is divided into two main traditions: Hindustani music (prevalent in North India) and Carnatic music (popular in South India).

Historical Background:

• Indian classical music traces its origins to ancient texts such as the Samaveda, which shows its deep historical background and connection to Indian traditions.

Importance:

• Preserving the authenticity of the Guru-Shishya tradition (teacher-disciple tradition) in classical music has ensured the transfer of knowledge and skills from one generation to the next.
• Classical music follows a set of rules and conventions (such as the raga system, which has been passed down for generations) that have ensured the preservation of India's musical heritage.
• Classical music plays a role in uniting people from diverse backgrounds by acting as a common cultural thread.
• It has a role in promoting a sense of national unity through reducing regional, linguistic and religious barriers.
• Classical music includes a combination of various regional styles and instruments, which reflects the cultural diversity of India.
• This inclusiveness promotes harmony and coordination among different communities.