Nothing can equal the joy of being honoured in one’s own country

NEW DELHI, February 15: It was less of a press conference and more of a happy homecoming for the legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar who was ...

NEW DELHI, February 15: It was less of a press conference and more of a happy homecoming for the legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar who was meeting mediapersons for the first time after being awarded the Bharat Ratna. The maestro happily signed autographs for photographers and scribes. A rare thing at a press conference, which is usually an occasion to grill the subject no matter what his or her talents might be. But then, the musical ambassador of the East and the West has always been a trend-setter. Speaking at the conference organised here today by Nokia, the maestro said that he was very happy to get nation’s highest civilian award.

“I have been given numerous awards around the world. But nothing can equal the joy of being recognised in one’s own country,” he said. He will receive the Bharat Ratna from President K.R. Narayan tomorrow. The press conference was organised by Nokia to announce the The Masterpiece, which will be the maestro’s first performance in the country after being awarded the Bharat Ratna, to be held at Siri Fort on Wednesday. The maestro’s daughter-pupil Anoushka will assist in the concert.

When asked whether Indians needed to get recognition abroad before their own country recognised them, Ravi Shankar replied: “It may be against etiquette to say so but sadly this seems to be the case. Even people like Vivekanand and Rabindranath Tagore turned to the West for the recognition of their genius. It is sad to note that our country still does not take the first step to recognise its talent. Many just wallow in frustration or turn to the West.”

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On the difference he felt while performing in India and abroad, the maestro said that the number of listeners was definitely more within the country. But he added: “Now, however, in the West there are more people who appreciate Indian classical music than there were, say, a decade ago.”

About his future plans, the maestro said with a serene smile: “What plan can I have other than making more music, better music and bringing something new for your ears?” About the innovations he introduced in music, Ravi Shankar said that whatever be the experiments, he had never deviated from the fundamentals of classical Indian music.

Called upon to play the Pandit that he is and make musical forecasts for the new millennium, Ravi Shankar said that music could not be trapped in a time capsule. For millenniums come and go but music goes on forever. “Our classical music has that adhyatmik (spiritual) element which not only entertains but also touches the soul. So it has timeless appeal. But I really don’t know how to put it in the context of the millennium. This millennium thing has become too much of a hype and is commercialised,” he said. The maestro who has given music to all-time great films like Kabuliwala, Pather Panchali and Gandhi, declined to comment on the Indian film industry or the current trend towards pop music.

Accompanying him at the press conference was daughter Anoushka whose debut album is being released by Milestone Entertainment, and wife Sukanya who is proud to be wife an mother to “two good musicians”.