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Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar
Over eight decades, Ravi Shankar was India's greatest cultural ambassador who took Indian classical music to the world's leading concert halls and festivals, charting the map for those who followed. Renowned for his association with The Beatles - teaching George Harrison sitar - Shankar turning the Sixties generation on to Indian music, astonishing the crowds at Woodstock, Monterey Pop and the Concert for Bangladesh with his virtuosity. He radically reshaped jazz and Western classical music as well as writing film scores, including Pather Panchali and Gandhi, and transformed awareness of Indian culture in the process.
Indian Sun is the first biography of Ravi Shankar. Benefitting from unprecedented access to family archives, Oliver Craske paints a vivid picture of a captivating, restless workaholic, who lived a passionate and extraordinary life - from his childhood in his brother's dance troupe, through intensive study of the sitar, to his revival of the national music scene; and from the 1950s, a pioneering international career that ultimately made his name synonymous with India.
Indian Sun is the first biography of Ravi Shankar. Benefitting from unprecedented access to family archives, Oliver Craske paints a vivid picture of a captivating, restless workaholic, who lived a passionate and extraordinary life - from his childhood in his brother's dance troupe, through intensive study of the sitar, to his revival of the national music scene; and from the 1950s, a pioneering international career that ultimately made his name synonymous with India.
672 pages, Hardcover
Published April 2, 2020
26 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Oliver Craske
5 books7 followersI am the author of Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar (Faber & Faber/Hachette USA), the first biography of India's maestro of the sitar; and of Rock Faces (Rotovision), a survey of leading music photographers.
Books I have contributed to as editor include Ravi Shankar's Raga Mala (Genesis/Element), The Beatles Anthology (Chronicle), and John Robb’s Punk Rock: An Oral History (Ebury).
For over 25 years I have worked in publishing, editing non-fiction books on music, art, photography, sport or heritage subjects.
As a writer, I’m particularly intrigued by the way that artists are formed by, and shape, the times and places they live in – that strange, complex dance between art and history.
Books I have contributed to as editor include Ravi Shankar's Raga Mala (Genesis/Element), The Beatles Anthology (Chronicle), and John Robb’s Punk Rock: An Oral History (Ebury).
For over 25 years I have worked in publishing, editing non-fiction books on music, art, photography, sport or heritage subjects.
As a writer, I’m particularly intrigued by the way that artists are formed by, and shape, the times and places they live in – that strange, complex dance between art and history.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 18, 2020
This was a profound read for me. Personally, I have learnt so much more about his life from this reading and the impact it had on many others. The complexities and challenges faced by him and others around him is worthy reflection. He also lived throughout the 20th century and was privy to much of how the world worked. This book illuminates the role and propagation of indian classical music in the world and Ravi Shankar’s pivotal role in it. It’s a must read for any music lover. his passion for creativity, spirituality in sound, the art of collaboration and what it takes to be humble in your talent is well detailed. It’s a very touching and impactful biography of a great legendary artists who was also a human being. I feel throughly enriched to experience his life through words.
July 28, 2021
Apart from a few exceptions (Tharoor on Nehru, Guha on Gandhi) I am not a fan of biographies about famous Indians. Mostly because these biographies are overly deferential to the subject and bombastic.
This book is a one to add to the exceptions list. It is deeply researched, comprehensive and treats its subject as a complex human character with positives and negatives. I learned quite a bit from this book that I had not known about Ravi Shankar's life. Except for the last two chapters which were pretty hagiographical and acritical, I loved the rest of the book.
One reason it took me a while to finish this book is that, thanks to the magic of YouTube, I would read in the book about some early experimental collaboration of Shankar's and go find the recording on YouTube and spend hours off on a tangent.
This book is a one to add to the exceptions list. It is deeply researched, comprehensive and treats its subject as a complex human character with positives and negatives. I learned quite a bit from this book that I had not known about Ravi Shankar's life. Except for the last two chapters which were pretty hagiographical and acritical, I loved the rest of the book.
One reason it took me a while to finish this book is that, thanks to the magic of YouTube, I would read in the book about some early experimental collaboration of Shankar's and go find the recording on YouTube and spend hours off on a tangent.
September 6, 2021
Book: Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar
Author: Oliver Craske
Publisher: Faber & Faber; Main edition (30 July 2020); Penguin Random House
Language: English
Hardcover: 672 pages
Item Weight: 1 kg 40 g
Dimensions: 15.3 x 3.9 x 23.4 cm
Country of Origin: India
Importer: Penguin Random House
Price: 701/-
This is the chronicle of a mastermind.
This genius made it his life’s assignment to spread sympathy and love of Indian classical music.
His name means ‘the sun’. In 1997, the Times of India acclaimed him as “The Sun who Rose in the West,” but the newspaper had a short memory. Before he began touring abroad as a sitar player, his rank was already unequaled in India.
He was inexhaustible, ferociously original and a terrific conversationalist.
As the country shrugged off its colonial shackles, he told Indians to be proud of their cultural riches. Through his record releases, concerts, film scores and theatrical productions, and for the most part through radio, which had blossomed late in India, he led the way in creating, for the first time, a mass market within India for the nation’s classical melody.
When he took it up himself in the 1920s and 1930s, it was a selected art form that was struggling to survive on the waning patronage of maharajas and rich landowners.
First he played a leading role in its revitalization in India as a national classical art form. Subsequently, from the mid-1950s onward, he took it abroad to the world’s principal concert halls, festival stages and airwaves.
He had a rare gift for making new audiences delight to a formerly alien music.
It was as if the incense sticks that smoldered during his concerts were slow-burning fuses setting off chain reactions across the worlds of rock, pop, jazz, folk and Western classical music.
By the end of 1967, it was clear that he was having a global effect.
He was Billboard’s Artist of the Year, the guru to a Beatle, and—alongside his legendary tabla accompanist Alla Rakha—the show-stealing sensation of the Monterey Pop Festival. He was in the middle of a six-month run at the top of the classical album charts, and had just performed a duet with Yehudi Menuhin in the United Nations General Assembly, East meeting West in a symbolic encounter.
Hollywood had commissioned him to write a film score, and a feature documentary was being made about him. John Coltrane had named his son Ravi, the Doors were attending his music school, and Marc Bolan had been inspired to remodel himself.
Demand was so high that a dozen Ravi Shankar albums were released that year alone in America. “Due to the influence of Shankar, the music of the East is no longer strange to the occidental ears,” proclaimed Billboard.
If the mid-1960s passion for all things Indian was only provisional, his force outlasted the craze.
Over time he became a one-man spokesperson of not only a system of music, but an entire culture. As an icon of India, he ranks not far below Gandhi or the Taj Mahal. At one stage there were three Indian restaurants named after him on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue alone (none with his endorsement).
He also lived one of the twentieth century’s most extraordinary lives. He had an uncanny habit of being an eyewitness to historic events all around the world.
He was born in India when the nation was struggling to evict the British, toured Weimar Germany as a child star just as Hitler was rising to power, danced at Carnegie Hall and partied at the Cotton Club, met Clark Gable and Joan Crawford in Hollywood, sang for Gandhi and was blessed by India’s great poet Rabindranath Tagore—all this before he was eighteen.
Only then did he switch his focus from dance to music.
He came to national acknowledgment at the time of India’s independence, toured the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War, was invited to America in 1956 thanks to the CIA, and moved to California just in time for the Summer of Love.
He shone a spotlight on Bangladesh’s liberation struggle, played inside the Kremlin in the midst of glasnost, and served as a member of India’s parliament.
Ravishankar he was!! The phenomenon.
This book sets out to investigate a sequence of issues:
1) How did Ravi Shankar first become a national star in India, and then achieve global approbation for Indian music?
2) Why was he such a thriving evangelist for it?
3) Why did he also provoke so much criticism?
And the puzzle that lies at the heart of the man and the artist, and of this biography: what was it that drove him on his unending quest?
In the 670 odd pages you discover, in the words of the Bard himself:
As I hope
For quiet days, fair issue, and long life,
With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den,
The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion
Our worser genius can, shall never melt
Mine honour into lust, to take away
The edge of that day's celebration,
When I shall think or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd
Or Night kept chain'd below.
A fabulous experience!!
Author: Oliver Craske
Publisher: Faber & Faber; Main edition (30 July 2020); Penguin Random House
Language: English
Hardcover: 672 pages
Item Weight: 1 kg 40 g
Dimensions: 15.3 x 3.9 x 23.4 cm
Country of Origin: India
Importer: Penguin Random House
Price: 701/-
This is the chronicle of a mastermind.
This genius made it his life’s assignment to spread sympathy and love of Indian classical music.
His name means ‘the sun’. In 1997, the Times of India acclaimed him as “The Sun who Rose in the West,” but the newspaper had a short memory. Before he began touring abroad as a sitar player, his rank was already unequaled in India.
He was inexhaustible, ferociously original and a terrific conversationalist.
As the country shrugged off its colonial shackles, he told Indians to be proud of their cultural riches. Through his record releases, concerts, film scores and theatrical productions, and for the most part through radio, which had blossomed late in India, he led the way in creating, for the first time, a mass market within India for the nation’s classical melody.
When he took it up himself in the 1920s and 1930s, it was a selected art form that was struggling to survive on the waning patronage of maharajas and rich landowners.
First he played a leading role in its revitalization in India as a national classical art form. Subsequently, from the mid-1950s onward, he took it abroad to the world’s principal concert halls, festival stages and airwaves.
He had a rare gift for making new audiences delight to a formerly alien music.
It was as if the incense sticks that smoldered during his concerts were slow-burning fuses setting off chain reactions across the worlds of rock, pop, jazz, folk and Western classical music.
By the end of 1967, it was clear that he was having a global effect.
He was Billboard’s Artist of the Year, the guru to a Beatle, and—alongside his legendary tabla accompanist Alla Rakha—the show-stealing sensation of the Monterey Pop Festival. He was in the middle of a six-month run at the top of the classical album charts, and had just performed a duet with Yehudi Menuhin in the United Nations General Assembly, East meeting West in a symbolic encounter.
Hollywood had commissioned him to write a film score, and a feature documentary was being made about him. John Coltrane had named his son Ravi, the Doors were attending his music school, and Marc Bolan had been inspired to remodel himself.
Demand was so high that a dozen Ravi Shankar albums were released that year alone in America. “Due to the influence of Shankar, the music of the East is no longer strange to the occidental ears,” proclaimed Billboard.
If the mid-1960s passion for all things Indian was only provisional, his force outlasted the craze.
Over time he became a one-man spokesperson of not only a system of music, but an entire culture. As an icon of India, he ranks not far below Gandhi or the Taj Mahal. At one stage there were three Indian restaurants named after him on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue alone (none with his endorsement).
He also lived one of the twentieth century’s most extraordinary lives. He had an uncanny habit of being an eyewitness to historic events all around the world.
He was born in India when the nation was struggling to evict the British, toured Weimar Germany as a child star just as Hitler was rising to power, danced at Carnegie Hall and partied at the Cotton Club, met Clark Gable and Joan Crawford in Hollywood, sang for Gandhi and was blessed by India’s great poet Rabindranath Tagore—all this before he was eighteen.
Only then did he switch his focus from dance to music.
He came to national acknowledgment at the time of India’s independence, toured the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War, was invited to America in 1956 thanks to the CIA, and moved to California just in time for the Summer of Love.
He shone a spotlight on Bangladesh’s liberation struggle, played inside the Kremlin in the midst of glasnost, and served as a member of India’s parliament.
Ravishankar he was!! The phenomenon.
This book sets out to investigate a sequence of issues:
1) How did Ravi Shankar first become a national star in India, and then achieve global approbation for Indian music?
2) Why was he such a thriving evangelist for it?
3) Why did he also provoke so much criticism?
And the puzzle that lies at the heart of the man and the artist, and of this biography: what was it that drove him on his unending quest?
In the 670 odd pages you discover, in the words of the Bard himself:
As I hope
For quiet days, fair issue, and long life,
With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den,
The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion
Our worser genius can, shall never melt
Mine honour into lust, to take away
The edge of that day's celebration,
When I shall think or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd
Or Night kept chain'd below.
A fabulous experience!!
June 28, 2020
It is impossible to quantify the impact that Ravi Shankar has had on popular music, yet alone Hindustani culture. As a bridge of the Indian Classical to the Western world there is no rival. Written for Shankar’s centenary, "Indian Sun" shows us the very earthy passionate and ambitious man behind the facade. With his desire to modernise yet protect his precious culture Shankar was often contradictory, being both a purist and a fusionist. This is a masterly treatment of a complicated giant’s life. It is not a hagiography. Brilliantly definitive and breathtakingly personal, it is a devoted psychological study of a unique creator. I loved it. This is how good biography is done.
April 29, 2021
It's not hyperbole to suggest that Ravi Shankar may have been the most influential musician of the 20th century. Though many (particularly younger) folks in the West may not be familiar with him directly, it would be hard to avoid having heard music from those who studied with him, including George Harrison, John Coltrane, Philip Glass, and his own daughter Norah Jones. He had a knack for showing up at portentous and monumental occasions, ranging from the Weimar Republic to Prohibition-era NYC to Soviet Russia to Woodstock. As an instructor, influencer, cultural ambassador, political activist, humanitarian, composer, and virtuosic sitarist, Shankar's 92 years were filled with significance... enough to fill nearly 700 pages of a biography! A fascinating read, if a little long-winded at times.
September 22, 2023
What an e~p~i~c biography 😲 I enjoyed hearing about his earlier intensive practice routines with his guru and the later parts involving Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar, whose performance I'm really excited about seeing next month, which is what got me into listening to this 22h audiobook.
🎶
Audiobook Notes
24: Late Style / 21:08:22
Fri, Sep 22 | 10:33:43 AM
Philip glass helping to clean up the record rights and label
24: Late Style / 21:07:42
Fri, Sep 22 | 10:32:55 AM
Ravi had been exploited for years smh
24: Late Style / 20:55:37
Fri, Sep 22 | 10:21:43 AM
🥺😥 he needed to share the series of s. abuse he experienced as a child before he died, to Sukanya
23: A Student of Music / 20:41:21
Fri, Sep 22 | 8:45:36 AM
Why didn’t he want to play after Lenny Kravitz?
23: A Student of Music / 20:40:58
Fri, Sep 22 | 8:44:58 AM
His and Anoushka’s sitars broken in transit ahhh
23: A Student of Music / 20:28:12
Thu, Sep 21 | 11:59:29 PM
German classical guitarist, Huckey Ikomenn (sp?)
23: A Student of Music / 20:27:41
Thu, Sep 21 | 11:58:39 PM
Sitar vs guitar
22: The Inner Light / 19:54:17
Thu, Sep 21 | 11:18:52 PM
Anoushka surprised, jealous, overhearing Norah shouting at Ravi (no one ever did that)
22: The Inner Light / 19:52:46
Thu, Sep 21 | 11:17:09 PM
How Norah and Anoushka met each other [awkwardly when Anoushka picked up the phone and introduced herself]
22: The Inner Light / 19:42:35
Thu, Sep 21 | 11:06:48 PM
From sitar to guitar
22: The Inner Light / 19:40:03
Thu, Sep 21 | 11:04:21 PM
Lol Ravi watching mission impossible movie
21: Shanti Mantras / 18:44:51
Thu, Sep 21 | 7:29:42 PM
Sukanya was really good at business and helped organize his finances and time
21: Shanti Mantras / 18:42:26
Thu, Sep 21 | 7:27:09 PM
Haha father and daughter going to see Wayne’s World
21: Shanti Mantras / 18:40:33
Thu, Sep 21 | 7:25:31 PM
The beginning of Anoushka learning sitar from scratch. Ravi didn’t have experience teaching a child like this.
20: Heart Strain / 18:09:58
Thu, Sep 21 | 6:46:40 PM
He made each woman feel very special
20: Heart Strain / 18:09:17
Thu, Sep 21 | 6:45:48 PM
186 is not even the correct number. It’s just the ones Kamala knows about omg
20: Heart Strain / 18:09:03
Thu, Sep 21 | 6:45:11 PM
Kamala kept a tally of Ravi’s past girlfriends = 186 of them, omg
20: Heart Strain / 18:07:37
Thu, Sep 21 | 6:43:58 PM
Sukanya was married. That’s why Ravi didn’t see Anoushka as much as Norah. No one really knew that she was his daughter.
20: Heart Strain / 18:05:00
Wed, Sep 20 | 5:32:28 AM
Aww Ravi had a little sitar made for Norah though she never really picked up on Indian music
19: Parallel Lives / 17:03:47
Mon, Sep 18 | 7:00:55 PM
“Why did he choose to have two children at this stage in his life (age 58-61) by two different mothers on two different continents?” Perhaps the arrival of his grandchild in 1975, perhaps facing his own mortality and wanting to give new life
19: Parallel Lives / 16:58:33
Mon, Sep 18 | 6:53:26 PM
Pregnant with Anoushka Shankar. Made it clear he couldn’t be involved as a parent but she knew, she wanted his child bc she was never in love like that with anyone else
19: Parallel Lives / 16:56:18
Mon, Sep 18 | 6:51:32 PM
Sakanya, beginning their affair
19: Parallel Lives / 16:57:16
Mon, Sep 18 | 6:51:27 PM
Pregnant with Norah Jones
19: Parallel Lives / 16:43:56
Mon, Sep 18 | 11:43:49 AM
🤦🏻♀️ masseuse who talked to Ravi about Ravi without realizing it was him
19: Parallel Lives / 16:40:45
Mon, Sep 18 | 11:40:22 AM
Anoushka Shankar reference
19: Parallel Lives / 16:34:17
Mon, Sep 18 | 11:32:54 AM
Mira Bai
19: Parallel Lives / 16:15:19
Mon, Sep 18 | 9:48:45 AM
Ravi’s day, wishfully, when he has a whole day to himself: be as lazy as possible, wake up early but relax more, the first thing he does is take a bath and meditate, have breakfast, teach students then practice for a couple of hours, read classical literature or light novels as much as possible, see good films. Reality is different though.
18: Dream, Nightmare, and Dawn / 15:53:38
Sun, Sep 17 | 2:36:05 PM
And when he met Sukanya (sp?) Rajan
18: Dream, Nightmare, and Dawn / 15:53:15
Sun, Sep 17 | 2:35:38 PM
When Ravi meets Sue Jones. Norah Jones’s mom
13: Propagandist-in-Chief / 10:51:29
Thu, Aug 17 | 9:24:34 PM
Guitarist
13: Propagandist-in-Chief / 10:27:30
Thu, Aug 17 | 9:35:18 AM
The EAST WEST COLLABORATION with Menuhin to Britten
13: Propagandist-in-Chief / 10:25:39
Thu, Aug 17 | 9:33:03 AM
Time Is, a film meditating on time
13: Propagandist-in-Chief / 10:20:53
Wed, Aug 16 | 8:55:55 AM
Beatlemania
12: Coast to Coast / 09:52:59
Sun, Aug 13 | 10:39:38 AM
Aww the two women, his lovers, became lifelong friends
12: Coast to Coast / 09:02:54
Sat, Aug 12 | 2:52:29 PM
New sitar masterpiece handcrafted , became his instrument during performance for next three decades
11: A Compromise to Suit Other Purposes / 08:35:16
Fri, Aug 11 | 12:59:16 PM
lol his love letters with an exclamation mark shaped like a penis
11: A Compromise to Suit Other Purposes / 08:25:45
Fri, Aug 11 | 7:42:42 AM
Fundraiser type of skills
9: Like Driving Through a Mist / 06:56:59
Tue, Aug 8 | 8:47:57 AM
Anaïs Nin!!! Gotta revisit this part in her diary. Find which volume. Sometime after 1956.
9: Like Driving Through a Mist / 06:52:47
Tue, Aug 8 | 8:25:49 AM
Oh yeah, the Laughlins, who founded New Directions, helping arrange Ravi’s visit to NY/America
9: Like Driving Through a Mist / 06:40:33
Tue, Aug 8 | 8:12:59 AM
The importance of showmanship and stage craft. He knew. It’s not just Art, but it’s the look, the presentation, the atmosphere and vibrations you create. That’s what contributed to his success for western audiences.
9: Like Driving Through a Mist / 06:37:09
Tue, Aug 8 | 7:06:14 AM
Jacqueline Du pré in these…yoga classes?
9: Like Driving Through a Mist / 06:31:01
Tue, Aug 8 | 6:59:53 AM
How Ravi travels on planes with sitar. He likes to book an extra seat for “Mr. Sitar” hehe
8: Going Solo / 06:30:02
Tue, Aug 8 | 6:58:07 AM
Inspiring, despite the circumstances, that he is able to take such risks
8: Going Solo / 06:29:04
Tue, Aug 8 | 6:56:28 AM
Vladimir Nabakov’s cousin, Nikolas, secretary of cultural freedom, who organized Ravi’s tour or something
8: Going Solo / 06:20:21
Tue, Aug 8 | 6:45:42 AM
Ravi and Annapurna’s marriage breakdown, very dramatic
4: The Path of Most Resistance / 03:28:46
Sun, Aug 6 | 2:06:11 PM
The Ravi Shankar model/design of the sitar
4: The Path of Most Resistance / 03:06:14
Sun, Aug 6 | 10:27:28 AM
A ragamala is a…”garland”? of ragas
4: The Path of Most Resistance / 02:58:34
Sun, Aug 6 | 10:20:54 AM
His routine devoted to music: waking around 4am, after 4-5 hours of sleep, washed, drinking cup of tea, and worked on scale exercises on the sitar until 6a, then a bath, morning worship, breakfast of two boiled eggs and piece of bread. Return to sitar until 7a. Then go to Baba for a lesson lasting between ½ hour to 3 hours. Then more practice. Lunch and siesta. Then maybe another lesson. He practiced at least 8 hours a day. 12-14h was not uncommon. Even 16h!!!
4: The Path of Most Resistance / 02:57:08
Sun, Aug 6 | 10:14:32 AM
Nine standard emotions or “rasas” (sp?) detailed in 2,000 year old Sanskrit text called natyashastra (sp???)
4: The Path of Most Resistance / 02:52:59
Sun, Aug 6 | 10:09:56 AM
Physically assaulting students but the complicated relationship with Baba
3: The Call of Music / 02:21:14
Sat, Aug 5 | 7:16:30 PM
Omg his father was murdered
2: Dancing Comes First / 01:58:44
Sat, Aug 5 | 5:18:14 PM
The beginning of being drawn to the sitar
2: Dancing Comes First / 01:51:40
Sat, Aug 5 | 5:10:56 PM
Benjamin Britten mention
2: Dancing Comes First / 01:42:58
Sat, Aug 5 | 5:02:06 PM
Dev das, vivid picture of Bengali people.
2: Dancing Comes First / 01:32:54
Sat, Aug 5 | 4:51:07 PM
Sitting on Segovia’s lap when he visited
1: Benares / 01:05:40
Sat, Aug 5 | 4:23:02 PM
S. Abuse from uncle as a young boy
Introduction: An Unending Quest / 00:10:16
Sat, Aug 5 | 3:17:00 PM
Description of “raga”
🎶
Audiobook Notes
24: Late Style / 21:08:22
Fri, Sep 22 | 10:33:43 AM
Philip glass helping to clean up the record rights and label
24: Late Style / 21:07:42
Fri, Sep 22 | 10:32:55 AM
Ravi had been exploited for years smh
24: Late Style / 20:55:37
Fri, Sep 22 | 10:21:43 AM
🥺😥 he needed to share the series of s. abuse he experienced as a child before he died, to Sukanya
23: A Student of Music / 20:41:21
Fri, Sep 22 | 8:45:36 AM
Why didn’t he want to play after Lenny Kravitz?
23: A Student of Music / 20:40:58
Fri, Sep 22 | 8:44:58 AM
His and Anoushka’s sitars broken in transit ahhh
23: A Student of Music / 20:28:12
Thu, Sep 21 | 11:59:29 PM
German classical guitarist, Huckey Ikomenn (sp?)
23: A Student of Music / 20:27:41
Thu, Sep 21 | 11:58:39 PM
Sitar vs guitar
22: The Inner Light / 19:54:17
Thu, Sep 21 | 11:18:52 PM
Anoushka surprised, jealous, overhearing Norah shouting at Ravi (no one ever did that)
22: The Inner Light / 19:52:46
Thu, Sep 21 | 11:17:09 PM
How Norah and Anoushka met each other [awkwardly when Anoushka picked up the phone and introduced herself]
22: The Inner Light / 19:42:35
Thu, Sep 21 | 11:06:48 PM
From sitar to guitar
22: The Inner Light / 19:40:03
Thu, Sep 21 | 11:04:21 PM
Lol Ravi watching mission impossible movie
21: Shanti Mantras / 18:44:51
Thu, Sep 21 | 7:29:42 PM
Sukanya was really good at business and helped organize his finances and time
21: Shanti Mantras / 18:42:26
Thu, Sep 21 | 7:27:09 PM
Haha father and daughter going to see Wayne’s World
21: Shanti Mantras / 18:40:33
Thu, Sep 21 | 7:25:31 PM
The beginning of Anoushka learning sitar from scratch. Ravi didn’t have experience teaching a child like this.
20: Heart Strain / 18:09:58
Thu, Sep 21 | 6:46:40 PM
He made each woman feel very special
20: Heart Strain / 18:09:17
Thu, Sep 21 | 6:45:48 PM
186 is not even the correct number. It’s just the ones Kamala knows about omg
20: Heart Strain / 18:09:03
Thu, Sep 21 | 6:45:11 PM
Kamala kept a tally of Ravi’s past girlfriends = 186 of them, omg
20: Heart Strain / 18:07:37
Thu, Sep 21 | 6:43:58 PM
Sukanya was married. That’s why Ravi didn’t see Anoushka as much as Norah. No one really knew that she was his daughter.
20: Heart Strain / 18:05:00
Wed, Sep 20 | 5:32:28 AM
Aww Ravi had a little sitar made for Norah though she never really picked up on Indian music
19: Parallel Lives / 17:03:47
Mon, Sep 18 | 7:00:55 PM
“Why did he choose to have two children at this stage in his life (age 58-61) by two different mothers on two different continents?” Perhaps the arrival of his grandchild in 1975, perhaps facing his own mortality and wanting to give new life
19: Parallel Lives / 16:58:33
Mon, Sep 18 | 6:53:26 PM
Pregnant with Anoushka Shankar. Made it clear he couldn’t be involved as a parent but she knew, she wanted his child bc she was never in love like that with anyone else
19: Parallel Lives / 16:56:18
Mon, Sep 18 | 6:51:32 PM
Sakanya, beginning their affair
19: Parallel Lives / 16:57:16
Mon, Sep 18 | 6:51:27 PM
Pregnant with Norah Jones
19: Parallel Lives / 16:43:56
Mon, Sep 18 | 11:43:49 AM
🤦🏻♀️ masseuse who talked to Ravi about Ravi without realizing it was him
19: Parallel Lives / 16:40:45
Mon, Sep 18 | 11:40:22 AM
Anoushka Shankar reference
19: Parallel Lives / 16:34:17
Mon, Sep 18 | 11:32:54 AM
Mira Bai
19: Parallel Lives / 16:15:19
Mon, Sep 18 | 9:48:45 AM
Ravi’s day, wishfully, when he has a whole day to himself: be as lazy as possible, wake up early but relax more, the first thing he does is take a bath and meditate, have breakfast, teach students then practice for a couple of hours, read classical literature or light novels as much as possible, see good films. Reality is different though.
18: Dream, Nightmare, and Dawn / 15:53:38
Sun, Sep 17 | 2:36:05 PM
And when he met Sukanya (sp?) Rajan
18: Dream, Nightmare, and Dawn / 15:53:15
Sun, Sep 17 | 2:35:38 PM
When Ravi meets Sue Jones. Norah Jones’s mom
13: Propagandist-in-Chief / 10:51:29
Thu, Aug 17 | 9:24:34 PM
Guitarist
13: Propagandist-in-Chief / 10:27:30
Thu, Aug 17 | 9:35:18 AM
The EAST WEST COLLABORATION with Menuhin to Britten
13: Propagandist-in-Chief / 10:25:39
Thu, Aug 17 | 9:33:03 AM
Time Is, a film meditating on time
13: Propagandist-in-Chief / 10:20:53
Wed, Aug 16 | 8:55:55 AM
Beatlemania
12: Coast to Coast / 09:52:59
Sun, Aug 13 | 10:39:38 AM
Aww the two women, his lovers, became lifelong friends
12: Coast to Coast / 09:02:54
Sat, Aug 12 | 2:52:29 PM
New sitar masterpiece handcrafted , became his instrument during performance for next three decades
11: A Compromise to Suit Other Purposes / 08:35:16
Fri, Aug 11 | 12:59:16 PM
lol his love letters with an exclamation mark shaped like a penis
11: A Compromise to Suit Other Purposes / 08:25:45
Fri, Aug 11 | 7:42:42 AM
Fundraiser type of skills
9: Like Driving Through a Mist / 06:56:59
Tue, Aug 8 | 8:47:57 AM
Anaïs Nin!!! Gotta revisit this part in her diary. Find which volume. Sometime after 1956.
9: Like Driving Through a Mist / 06:52:47
Tue, Aug 8 | 8:25:49 AM
Oh yeah, the Laughlins, who founded New Directions, helping arrange Ravi’s visit to NY/America
9: Like Driving Through a Mist / 06:40:33
Tue, Aug 8 | 8:12:59 AM
The importance of showmanship and stage craft. He knew. It’s not just Art, but it’s the look, the presentation, the atmosphere and vibrations you create. That’s what contributed to his success for western audiences.
9: Like Driving Through a Mist / 06:37:09
Tue, Aug 8 | 7:06:14 AM
Jacqueline Du pré in these…yoga classes?
9: Like Driving Through a Mist / 06:31:01
Tue, Aug 8 | 6:59:53 AM
How Ravi travels on planes with sitar. He likes to book an extra seat for “Mr. Sitar” hehe
8: Going Solo / 06:30:02
Tue, Aug 8 | 6:58:07 AM
Inspiring, despite the circumstances, that he is able to take such risks
8: Going Solo / 06:29:04
Tue, Aug 8 | 6:56:28 AM
Vladimir Nabakov’s cousin, Nikolas, secretary of cultural freedom, who organized Ravi’s tour or something
8: Going Solo / 06:20:21
Tue, Aug 8 | 6:45:42 AM
Ravi and Annapurna’s marriage breakdown, very dramatic
4: The Path of Most Resistance / 03:28:46
Sun, Aug 6 | 2:06:11 PM
The Ravi Shankar model/design of the sitar
4: The Path of Most Resistance / 03:06:14
Sun, Aug 6 | 10:27:28 AM
A ragamala is a…”garland”? of ragas
4: The Path of Most Resistance / 02:58:34
Sun, Aug 6 | 10:20:54 AM
His routine devoted to music: waking around 4am, after 4-5 hours of sleep, washed, drinking cup of tea, and worked on scale exercises on the sitar until 6a, then a bath, morning worship, breakfast of two boiled eggs and piece of bread. Return to sitar until 7a. Then go to Baba for a lesson lasting between ½ hour to 3 hours. Then more practice. Lunch and siesta. Then maybe another lesson. He practiced at least 8 hours a day. 12-14h was not uncommon. Even 16h!!!
4: The Path of Most Resistance / 02:57:08
Sun, Aug 6 | 10:14:32 AM
Nine standard emotions or “rasas” (sp?) detailed in 2,000 year old Sanskrit text called natyashastra (sp???)
4: The Path of Most Resistance / 02:52:59
Sun, Aug 6 | 10:09:56 AM
Physically assaulting students but the complicated relationship with Baba
3: The Call of Music / 02:21:14
Sat, Aug 5 | 7:16:30 PM
Omg his father was murdered
2: Dancing Comes First / 01:58:44
Sat, Aug 5 | 5:18:14 PM
The beginning of being drawn to the sitar
2: Dancing Comes First / 01:51:40
Sat, Aug 5 | 5:10:56 PM
Benjamin Britten mention
2: Dancing Comes First / 01:42:58
Sat, Aug 5 | 5:02:06 PM
Dev das, vivid picture of Bengali people.
2: Dancing Comes First / 01:32:54
Sat, Aug 5 | 4:51:07 PM
Sitting on Segovia’s lap when he visited
1: Benares / 01:05:40
Sat, Aug 5 | 4:23:02 PM
S. Abuse from uncle as a young boy
Introduction: An Unending Quest / 00:10:16
Sat, Aug 5 | 3:17:00 PM
Description of “raga”
March 14, 2021
Fabulous. I have known of Ravi Shankar all my life but this book is so revealing and inspiring. I bawled in the final chapter. What a man!
April 24, 2020
It is 100th birth anniversary of the greatest cultural ambassador India has ever had. 9 decades of performing as a dancer, musician, a teacher & as a mentor. In my view, no one summed up 'What is India? Who is Indian?' better than Pandit Ravi Shankar did through his life.
Any biographical book can be judged on accessibility it provides the reader to the protagonists' life. In that regard the book does a great job in capturing moments from Panditji's life. It does start with a quote by Panditji, 'How can you write a fair & unbiased story of my life while I am alive?'. In the same vein, the author has worked on the book for 6 years, post passing away of Panditji. It has done a great job at potraying Panditji as human showing all his flaws & greatness with similar detail. One thing the book fails to do, is creating an intimate character sketch of Panditji, giving an insight into his world view. A lot of times, the author does throw his hands up in the air by quoting Panditji, 'I did not know why I did that'. This is where it lags, compared to Walter Isaacson's character sketches in his biographies. All that said, this might probably be the best document of the great life lived. The book successfully captures all the phases of Panditji's life. If you understand Indian classical music, you would love it even more (I do not).
I was intrigued to pick this book, as I was keen on understanding how does an artist live his life. Who better than an artist, who was the third best known Indian name after Gandhi & Nehru, in a world post Indian independence? Who better than an artist idolized by the Beatles, Coltrane, Philip Glass & Yehudi Menuhin? Who better than an artist who created music till the day he died? Who better than an artist, who played with oxygen tube for breathing? It was a great journey to have reminisced the great soul through the book. Thank you Pandit Ravi Shankar!
Any biographical book can be judged on accessibility it provides the reader to the protagonists' life. In that regard the book does a great job in capturing moments from Panditji's life. It does start with a quote by Panditji, 'How can you write a fair & unbiased story of my life while I am alive?'. In the same vein, the author has worked on the book for 6 years, post passing away of Panditji. It has done a great job at potraying Panditji as human showing all his flaws & greatness with similar detail. One thing the book fails to do, is creating an intimate character sketch of Panditji, giving an insight into his world view. A lot of times, the author does throw his hands up in the air by quoting Panditji, 'I did not know why I did that'. This is where it lags, compared to Walter Isaacson's character sketches in his biographies. All that said, this might probably be the best document of the great life lived. The book successfully captures all the phases of Panditji's life. If you understand Indian classical music, you would love it even more (I do not).
I was intrigued to pick this book, as I was keen on understanding how does an artist live his life. Who better than an artist, who was the third best known Indian name after Gandhi & Nehru, in a world post Indian independence? Who better than an artist idolized by the Beatles, Coltrane, Philip Glass & Yehudi Menuhin? Who better than an artist who created music till the day he died? Who better than an artist, who played with oxygen tube for breathing? It was a great journey to have reminisced the great soul through the book. Thank you Pandit Ravi Shankar!
September 5, 2021
This is a phenomenal (newly published) book, was supposedly planned for the 100th birth-centenary celebration of Ravi Shankar (1919-2019) but Covid played spoilsport.
First of all, its amazingly written by a Indophile British author, who was very close to the later maestro while he was alive.
Ravi Shankar's legacy has almost been invisible to the post 1980's Indian generation (my generation) The generation prior to that knew him, since he was the most famous Indian on the world-stage.
Reading this book, not only help me understand the great Sitar player, but also the time & place he was born into. The Banaras of the 1920s, then the Europe & America of the 30's when he was touring with his elder brother Uday Shankar's dancing troupe. The 40's and the WW-I/II and partition & the the 50's of Maihar, princely state of Madhya Pradesh where he learnt his music from the great Bengali Alauddin Khan.
His early years as All India Radio Delhi's Director, playing sitar for foreign ambassadors & then his concert tours to Russia, Iran, Afghan, Iraq & America.
His association with the Beatles in the 60's & how the world of Drugs/Hare Rama Hare Krishna & how the Sitar became synonymous with Indian music.
The two Bollywood movies he composed music for 'Anuradha' & 'Meera' & how the Bollywood musicians of the era would attend his concert to pick up his classical music for inspiration.
I never knew that that the All India Radio signature tune, the DoorDarshan logo music as well as the music for Iqbal's Sarein Jahan Se Achcha was all set by him.
The high point of his amazing life (for me) was his meeting with Tagore, in the 30's. Gandhi on the other hand, when meeting him in the 40's asked 'Well we don't need music, as much as we need food to feed our hungry masses first'.
A great read for all the Indian music afficiados.
First of all, its amazingly written by a Indophile British author, who was very close to the later maestro while he was alive.
Ravi Shankar's legacy has almost been invisible to the post 1980's Indian generation (my generation) The generation prior to that knew him, since he was the most famous Indian on the world-stage.
Reading this book, not only help me understand the great Sitar player, but also the time & place he was born into. The Banaras of the 1920s, then the Europe & America of the 30's when he was touring with his elder brother Uday Shankar's dancing troupe. The 40's and the WW-I/II and partition & the the 50's of Maihar, princely state of Madhya Pradesh where he learnt his music from the great Bengali Alauddin Khan.
His early years as All India Radio Delhi's Director, playing sitar for foreign ambassadors & then his concert tours to Russia, Iran, Afghan, Iraq & America.
His association with the Beatles in the 60's & how the world of Drugs/Hare Rama Hare Krishna & how the Sitar became synonymous with Indian music.
The two Bollywood movies he composed music for 'Anuradha' & 'Meera' & how the Bollywood musicians of the era would attend his concert to pick up his classical music for inspiration.
I never knew that that the All India Radio signature tune, the DoorDarshan logo music as well as the music for Iqbal's Sarein Jahan Se Achcha was all set by him.
The high point of his amazing life (for me) was his meeting with Tagore, in the 30's. Gandhi on the other hand, when meeting him in the 40's asked 'Well we don't need music, as much as we need food to feed our hungry masses first'.
A great read for all the Indian music afficiados.
October 5, 2020
Wonderful! An extraordinary life spanning near a century and much of our globe is meticulously and gracefully rendered, and Ravi's complex personal journey is also sympathetically conveyed. Author Oliver Craske knew the man personally and professionally and had unlimited access to archives and interviews with over 130 subjects, including Shankar's surviving wife and daughters. Still, it could have been no easy task to cover so much in a compelling manner, and the more than 600 pages unfold and play out for the reader in cinematic splendor. Importantly also, missteps and flaws are given honest treatment without ever being sensationalized.
I don't recall when exactly I heard the music of Ravi Shankar for the first time. Aside from the lovely melodies and sometimes catchy rhythms, it sounded alien to me. Every time I heard it, I found myself waiting in vain for it to pull together into something I was more familiar with. But I will never forget the first time I heard it without expectation, and found it speaking a visceral language I was actually quite familiar with. I danced and sang in a way that was just as much me as anything else I'd ever felt. It took an extraordinary kind of musician to so effectively bridge that to me across so many geographical, cultural, political, and racial boundaries and I am eternally grateful.
This book tells the amazing story of a boy who travelled the world, returned home, strove to learn and master one of the deepest forms of expression of his homeland, then set out to communicate it to the world over. And that's just the beginning!
I don't recall when exactly I heard the music of Ravi Shankar for the first time. Aside from the lovely melodies and sometimes catchy rhythms, it sounded alien to me. Every time I heard it, I found myself waiting in vain for it to pull together into something I was more familiar with. But I will never forget the first time I heard it without expectation, and found it speaking a visceral language I was actually quite familiar with. I danced and sang in a way that was just as much me as anything else I'd ever felt. It took an extraordinary kind of musician to so effectively bridge that to me across so many geographical, cultural, political, and racial boundaries and I am eternally grateful.
This book tells the amazing story of a boy who travelled the world, returned home, strove to learn and master one of the deepest forms of expression of his homeland, then set out to communicate it to the world over. And that's just the beginning!
April 3, 2024
Oliver Craske's "Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar" is a captivating exploration of a musical legend. Craske, with unprecedented access to Shankar's archives, paints a vivid picture of the sitar maestro's remarkable journey.
The book delves deep, starting with Shankar's lonely childhood in Varanasi and tracing his rise to international fame. We see him blossom under his brother's dance troupe, then dedicate himself to mastering the sitar under the tutelage of legendary teacher Allauddin Khan. Craske doesn't shy away from Shankar's personal complexities, including his relentless work ethic and his complicated relationships.
What truly shines is Craske's ability to illuminate the meeting point of East and West through Shankar's music. We witness Shankar's role in reviving Indian classical music and his groundbreaking collaborations with Western artists like George Harrison. These encounters not only brought the sitar to a global audience but also transformed the landscape of popular music.
"Indian Sun" isn't just for music aficionados. Craske's engaging writing style makes it accessible to anyone interested in cultural exchange, artistic dedication, and the life of a truly captivating figure. The book is rich with anecdotes, insightful analysis of Shankar's music, and quotes from those who knew him best, including his daughters Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones.
While the sheer volume of detail might feel overwhelming at times, Craske's masterful storytelling keeps you engaged. "Indian Sun" is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand Ravi Shankar's legacy and the profound impact he had on the world of music.
The book delves deep, starting with Shankar's lonely childhood in Varanasi and tracing his rise to international fame. We see him blossom under his brother's dance troupe, then dedicate himself to mastering the sitar under the tutelage of legendary teacher Allauddin Khan. Craske doesn't shy away from Shankar's personal complexities, including his relentless work ethic and his complicated relationships.
What truly shines is Craske's ability to illuminate the meeting point of East and West through Shankar's music. We witness Shankar's role in reviving Indian classical music and his groundbreaking collaborations with Western artists like George Harrison. These encounters not only brought the sitar to a global audience but also transformed the landscape of popular music.
"Indian Sun" isn't just for music aficionados. Craske's engaging writing style makes it accessible to anyone interested in cultural exchange, artistic dedication, and the life of a truly captivating figure. The book is rich with anecdotes, insightful analysis of Shankar's music, and quotes from those who knew him best, including his daughters Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones.
While the sheer volume of detail might feel overwhelming at times, Craske's masterful storytelling keeps you engaged. "Indian Sun" is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand Ravi Shankar's legacy and the profound impact he had on the world of music.
August 14, 2022
I hadn't realized the extent to which so much of the music I love was influenced by Ravi Shankar. Obviously the Beatles, but also Phillip Glass and the other minimalists, and John Coltrane (named his son Ravi!) Drones, a higher focus on rhythm, and re-centering the position of classical composers as also being performers all came from Indian classical music, and Indian classical music came to the west via Shankar.
I'm so glad to live in a time AFTER Ravi Shankar, where we take for granted having access to music from all over the world. It just makes me think music was so constrained sonically before the 60s - all the Beatles had to do was add a sitar to "Norwegian Wood" to be considered revolutionaries. Now pop music has so many different sounds that very little is weird.
I was also struck by:
- being a transcultural performer is so much about personality and ability to package your culture approachably
- having a high profile spurs creativity - Shankar was always having new musical ideas, up until he died. This is much easier when all the best musicians in the world want to collaborate you and share ideas - they give you ideas. A virtuous cycle
- the tension between him and the hippies is funny - he appreciates their support, but also continuously tells them not to smoke and drink at his concerts, and to stop associating his music with tripping
- I did not know he was raped as a child
Nora Jones is the daughter of Ravi Shankar - this will never cease to be one of my favorite music fun facts.
I'm so glad to live in a time AFTER Ravi Shankar, where we take for granted having access to music from all over the world. It just makes me think music was so constrained sonically before the 60s - all the Beatles had to do was add a sitar to "Norwegian Wood" to be considered revolutionaries. Now pop music has so many different sounds that very little is weird.
I was also struck by:
- being a transcultural performer is so much about personality and ability to package your culture approachably
- having a high profile spurs creativity - Shankar was always having new musical ideas, up until he died. This is much easier when all the best musicians in the world want to collaborate you and share ideas - they give you ideas. A virtuous cycle
- the tension between him and the hippies is funny - he appreciates their support, but also continuously tells them not to smoke and drink at his concerts, and to stop associating his music with tripping
- I did not know he was raped as a child
Nora Jones is the daughter of Ravi Shankar - this will never cease to be one of my favorite music fun facts.
September 15, 2023
Let me start by saying that the author clearly was biased, so I would not call this a balanced view of Ravi Shankar. While Craske does concede that Shankar had his faults, the author apologizes for Shankar's faults through his childhood trauma. It is clear that Craske wanted to prove that 1) Shankar was indeed a classical sitar player and classical Indian composer and 2) Shankar made many 'revolutionary' changes to music. He does this by going into great detail of music composition, notation etc. Obviously, some of the info was necessary to understand the difference between Indian and Western musical notation and composition, but not in the amount of detail Craske found necessary. In my opinion, he ruined the ending of this book because of his digression to hit the reader over the head with musical finite details. One of the last chapters is a moving narrative of Shankar's death, and the aftermath of feeling, which Craske spends a good 5-10 minutes (no idea how many pages) explaining the musical nitty gritty of his last piece (an opera, I believe) played in public. Lots of name dropping (Western and Indian.)
I could say much more about this book and I think the last chapters saved it from a 1star review. I have two takeaways. Firstly, Craske worshipped Shankar. Cool. Unfortunately, the biggest takeaway from this book: I admired Ravi Shankar more before I listened to Indian Sun.
Unless you are a huge admirer and like to read about celebrity lives, just read the wikipedia page (very sorry Craske.)
I could say much more about this book and I think the last chapters saved it from a 1star review. I have two takeaways. Firstly, Craske worshipped Shankar. Cool. Unfortunately, the biggest takeaway from this book: I admired Ravi Shankar more before I listened to Indian Sun.
Unless you are a huge admirer and like to read about celebrity lives, just read the wikipedia page (very sorry Craske.)
March 10, 2024
Indian Sun: A Deep Dive into Ravi Shankar's Life and Legacy
Oliver Craske's "Indian Sun" isn't just a biography of Ravi Shankar, the sitar maestro who brought Indian classical music to the world stage. It's a rich tapestry depicting the complexities of the man himself and the confluence of East and West through music.
Craske, with unprecedented access to Shankar's family archives, paints a vivid picture. We see Shankar's formative years traveling with his brother's dance troupe, his intense sitar training, and his role in reviving Indian classical music. The book then delves into his pioneering international career, where he became synonymous with Indian culture.
"Indian Sun" is praised for its depth. Craske offers insightful musical analysis that's still accessible to general readers. He doesn't shy away from Shankar's flaws, portraying him as a passionate and ambitious man with a restless personal life. This balanced approach separates the book from pure hero worship.
Some reviewers find the book lengthy, but many see this as a strength, providing a comprehensive look at Shankar's life and impact. We see not just the musician, but the cultural ambassador navigating a complex world.
If you're a music lover, especially with an interest in Indian classical music, "Indian Sun" is a must-read. It's a definitive biography that sheds light on Ravi Shankar's brilliance and the lasting influence he left behind.
Oliver Craske's "Indian Sun" isn't just a biography of Ravi Shankar, the sitar maestro who brought Indian classical music to the world stage. It's a rich tapestry depicting the complexities of the man himself and the confluence of East and West through music.
Craske, with unprecedented access to Shankar's family archives, paints a vivid picture. We see Shankar's formative years traveling with his brother's dance troupe, his intense sitar training, and his role in reviving Indian classical music. The book then delves into his pioneering international career, where he became synonymous with Indian culture.
"Indian Sun" is praised for its depth. Craske offers insightful musical analysis that's still accessible to general readers. He doesn't shy away from Shankar's flaws, portraying him as a passionate and ambitious man with a restless personal life. This balanced approach separates the book from pure hero worship.
Some reviewers find the book lengthy, but many see this as a strength, providing a comprehensive look at Shankar's life and impact. We see not just the musician, but the cultural ambassador navigating a complex world.
If you're a music lover, especially with an interest in Indian classical music, "Indian Sun" is a must-read. It's a definitive biography that sheds light on Ravi Shankar's brilliance and the lasting influence he left behind.
October 4, 2020
Exhaustive and richly layered book on life, experiences and achievements of an artiste, musician and sadhak in the truest sense. By the time i reached the 1950's and he was only 35, Pandit Ravi Shankar had been part of his brother;'s Uday Shankar's dance troupe and traveled across the world multiple times. Spent 7 years with Baba Alauddin Khan in Maihar just immersed in learning the Sitar, been part of the radio revolution in India, planting the seed of his mastery in the west. And then the 50's and 60's where with the counter culture movement, Indian Classical Music becomes part of mainstream and gets associated with the Flower power movement. Through all this Pandit ji is collaborating with musicians from the world of Jazz, Western Classical Music. From Concerto's, Opera, Ballet, Film Score - east west, east east collaboration, Oliver weaves this life in such a rich detailed way including his emotional depths - failed relationships with father, the women in his life, his absence as a father and the ensuing pain as scales artistic success and excellence. The audio book on audible was immersive because his life story was simply extraordinary.
July 22, 2025
Such an incredible life. Definitely one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. His entire life is probably too much to cover in one book.
An international touring career spanning from the pre-war 1930s to the 2010s, his many musical relationships and collaborations (including with Western musicians like George Harrison, John Coltrane, Phillip Glass, Yehudi Menuhin), his many romantic relationships, his difficult childhood including horrible sexual abuse, his complicated relationship with his guru and guru’s son, his tragic relationship with his own son, his two daughters who are both musical greats (Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones)…. If the book feels like it charges ahead through what may have been heart breaking or unprecedented moments, I think that’s because it was probably the only way to get through it all. At times it reads more like an official biography/lengthy wiki page, but not sure how else it could have been done without expanding into a multi-volume set.
An international touring career spanning from the pre-war 1930s to the 2010s, his many musical relationships and collaborations (including with Western musicians like George Harrison, John Coltrane, Phillip Glass, Yehudi Menuhin), his many romantic relationships, his difficult childhood including horrible sexual abuse, his complicated relationship with his guru and guru’s son, his tragic relationship with his own son, his two daughters who are both musical greats (Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones)…. If the book feels like it charges ahead through what may have been heart breaking or unprecedented moments, I think that’s because it was probably the only way to get through it all. At times it reads more like an official biography/lengthy wiki page, but not sure how else it could have been done without expanding into a multi-volume set.
November 29, 2022
A splendid biography of a messy, triumphant, soulful superstar of music. Like so many others, I owe my introduction to the music of India to George Harrison and Ravi Shankar. Shankar rode that wave of international attention and at the time I thought the Beatles were the gods of music who had deigned to shine a light on Ravi. But the truth is that Ravi was of a different order altogether. He had been a patient ambassador of Indian classical music for years before the Beatles came along, and continued playing long after they were history. His life is clearly and elegantly described in this thoroughgoing work, and it is hard to see the need for another biography after this one. The story of this driven, haunted, joyous master of the sitar and Indian music is complex and much more multilayered than I suspected. Highly recommended.
July 3, 2021
I first heard Ravi Shankar in the film Pather Panchali by Sajit Ray (one of my favorite foreign films--The Apu Trilogy). Then I heard him in Monterey Pop 1967. He plays an extended raga for the last 15 or 20 minutes of the film (as the musical backdrop to a lot of hippiness). I had no idea of his life.
This was a fascinating book. I listened to some of Shankar's music on Spotify while I was listening to this book on Audible. It would be great if they could have connected the two! That would be a great niche product for books about musicians. As soon as the book remarks about an important piece of music, that would be brought up on Spotify. Million dollar idea, kids!
This was a fascinating book. I listened to some of Shankar's music on Spotify while I was listening to this book on Audible. It would be great if they could have connected the two! That would be a great niche product for books about musicians. As soon as the book remarks about an important piece of music, that would be brought up on Spotify. Million dollar idea, kids!
July 14, 2023
Ravi is utterly fascinating, much more complex as an individual than I would have foreseen. And also way more influential than I could have imagined: his impact on The Beatles alone would have been enough, but he had a seismic impact on 60s rock in general, but that's just one part of his legacy of promoting Indian Classical Music. Film scores, dance, opera, Western collaborations, radio, ballet...he did it all. He ALSO influenced some of the great jazz artists of all time...I mean, I could go on forever.
Very well researched and highly readable. I'll be digging into Ravi's back catelogue for a while.
Very well researched and highly readable. I'll be digging into Ravi's back catelogue for a while.
April 6, 2024
This was one of the best biographies I have ever read. Growing up in India I was no stranger to Indian music and Ravi Shankar. However this book has increased my appreciation of both many many folds. Truly what a talented person Ravi Shanker was. The author has masterfully presented the life of Ravi Shanker without getting in the way. Just like the Indian raga. It has a mesmerizing lingering effect long after you finished reading. While reading the book I would watch YouTube videos of the events mentioned in the book and I would recommend doing that to deepen the enjoyment of the book. The author has a spotify list of the music on the books website and that was also very good.
September 26, 2024
Every. Last. Detail.
No stone is left untouched in this man’s journey. The author goes into great detail about Ravi’s intimate life and music. I was most excited to read about his relationship with George Harrison and Norah jones. But it took several hundred pages to get there.
There is a saying that all roads go through Rome. All musical roads went through Shankar at one time. That man influenced so many modern musicians, we don’t talk about that enough. For the longest time I thought bands like the Beatles the doors and The Rolling Stones were heavily influenced by the blues, which they were, but Ravi had a significant impact on them as well.
No stone is left untouched in this man’s journey. The author goes into great detail about Ravi’s intimate life and music. I was most excited to read about his relationship with George Harrison and Norah jones. But it took several hundred pages to get there.
There is a saying that all roads go through Rome. All musical roads went through Shankar at one time. That man influenced so many modern musicians, we don’t talk about that enough. For the longest time I thought bands like the Beatles the doors and The Rolling Stones were heavily influenced by the blues, which they were, but Ravi had a significant impact on them as well.
January 2, 2026
Amazing read. I started in July so it has taken me around 6 months to get through. I’ve enjoyed every minute, it’s testament to the love Oliver Craske had for Ravi on a personal level how thorough and varied a job he did of this biography. He balances technical / musical / exacting information really well with more emotional / relationship based and spiritual aspects of Ravi’s life, which made it really engaging. It’s opened up a whole world for me, which is Indian Classical Music. Definitely got a sense of who Ravi was as a person and as a musician and artist, and find the way he moved through the world very inspiring.
February 27, 2025
Being fascinated about Indian classical music for years now, this book has definitely defined my views on it. Ravi Shankar's ability to master such a complex world proves that he was one of the greatest musicians to have ever lived. The book may drag on in the middle when talking about his business ventures and ups and downs when working with AIR and I feel one may need to have sufficient background knowledge on music theory when the book goes into the symphonies and orchestrations composed by Shankar. Nevertheless, a brilliantly written book and an excellent insight into not just the vast musical side of Ravi Shankar, but also his traumatic yet comical side.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2021
What more could I possibly add to the opinions of so many others who came under Ravi's benevolent influence? He was a musical magnet for the 20th C. in the same way Beethoven had been for the 19th. He can never be forgotten, nor necessarily replaced. And if he does choose to 'come back' as "a better musician" I do hope it will be to a planet to which will still be welcomed all members of the human race.
May 14, 2024
Book was intriguing enough. Got to learn what motivated the man and what were his weaknesses as well. He indeed lived a life full of varied experiences. Interesting to see someone in India live their life as such. Felt like it was a constant struggle between eastern values and western influences/temptations.
Personally I would have liked more discussion on the music and its details.Lack of that left a bit to be desired
Personally I would have liked more discussion on the music and its details.Lack of that left a bit to be desired
April 11, 2020
A fascinating biography of a fascinating man. Yes, it's dragged down by the touring schedules and minutiae so sharpen your page skipping on this- it's a very long book that could have been better edited, but all in all I really enjoyed this and am fantasising about a trip to India sooner than later.
May 20, 2020
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Long a fan of Ravi Shankar (and his daughter Anoushka), I was happy to receive this book. It is very detailed, includes a lot about his tour schedules, etc., but is also such a joy to read about the life of this talented Indian musician and dancer. Well worth the read.
Long a fan of Ravi Shankar (and his daughter Anoushka), I was happy to receive this book. It is very detailed, includes a lot about his tour schedules, etc., but is also such a joy to read about the life of this talented Indian musician and dancer. Well worth the read.
September 21, 2021
This book in my opinion, is essential coursework when it comes to someone wanting to learn about Indian classical music. I cannot stress how important this book is. There were some parts of the book where I hoped there was more detail or more anecdotes, but it is a brilliant book nonetheless. Where there was detail, oh my dear lord, I loved it. I could feel, in the author's words, the sense of urgency that Raviji felt, about taking Indian music to western audiences, the creativity he was filled to the brim with, and the passion he felt for his work.
What did I learn from this book- hardwork, hardwork, and more hardwork and they're not all one and the same thing. This book tells you, the hardwork his music demanded from him, the hardwork his ambitions and goals demanded of him, and the hard personal life he had, and what role his work played in how it played out.
The narrator as opposed to the book, left much to be desired. I so wish it had been someone from India, to hit the nail on pronounciations of the names of raags, of people etc.
What did I learn from this book- hardwork, hardwork, and more hardwork and they're not all one and the same thing. This book tells you, the hardwork his music demanded from him, the hardwork his ambitions and goals demanded of him, and the hard personal life he had, and what role his work played in how it played out.
The narrator as opposed to the book, left much to be desired. I so wish it had been someone from India, to hit the nail on pronounciations of the names of raags, of people etc.
January 5, 2024
Well written biography. Albeit as it nears the end, it is filled with tiring details of the tours and programs of Ravi Shankar. What I would ( as an active student of mysic) have loved to read instead was Ravi Shankar's regimen of riyaaz and his messages to students for improvement in their music.
Other than that the book offers a pretty candid image of the great virtuoso of our times.
Other than that the book offers a pretty candid image of the great virtuoso of our times.
July 17, 2023
A beautifully written and astonishingly detailed account of an amazing life! Oliver Craske has done for Ravi Shankar what Mark Lewisohn is doing for The Beatles: he has given him the ultimate tribute in an honest and definitive telling. Cannot recommend highly enough!
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