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Annapurna Devi: The Untold Story of a Reclusive Genius
Legendary musician Annapurna Devi's life has been shrouded in mystery. Daughter of the unparalleled Allauddin Khan of Maitra and the first wife of Pandit Ravi Shankar, she conquered the summit of Indian classical music, only to later renounce public life to spend her entire life as a recluse in the confinement of her house. Until the age of sixteen, Annapurna Devi was confined to her family home at Maihar, where her father was a court musician and guru to the maharaja. During this period, she devoted herself exclusively to the deepest study and practice of Indian classical music under the strict tutelage of her father. After her estrangement from her husband Pandit Ravi Shankar, Annapurna Devi went ever deeper into self-imposed seclusion.
The only people whom she met and communicated with were her disciples who used to visit her for music lessons, which included some of the greatest musicians our era has seen, including Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Bahadur Khan, Aashish Khan, Dhyanesh Khan, Nityanand Haldipur and Basant Kabra, to name a few. Full of anecdotes and untold stories, this is her life story as told by her to her disciples over a period of time, giving valuable insights into their Guru Ma's personality, music and teachings.
The only people whom she met and communicated with were her disciples who used to visit her for music lessons, which included some of the greatest musicians our era has seen, including Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Bahadur Khan, Aashish Khan, Dhyanesh Khan, Nityanand Haldipur and Basant Kabra, to name a few. Full of anecdotes and untold stories, this is her life story as told by her to her disciples over a period of time, giving valuable insights into their Guru Ma's personality, music and teachings.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published April 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 24, 2022
Day by day the way our culture is changing it is inevitable that our classical music is sinking into the deepest part of oblivion. I am not educated enough in music yet I can understand the importance of those beautiful creations of the great maestros. This book in on such an artiste who chose reclusion over stardom, who chose her sadhna over money and fame. A seeker in the true sense, a legendary musician Annapurna Devi's life is shrouded in mystery. The daughter of Acharya Allauddin Khan of Maihar, sister of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and the estranged wife of Pandit Ravi Shankar, however she was much more than that. Extremely talented and headstrong but following a failed attempt to save her marriage she renounced public life and spent her days as a recluse.
This is a biography on the enigmatic personality, Annapurna Devi. This book takes a deep dive into the life of this reclusive genius, exploring the unexplored relams of music magicians. Not only it gives an in-depth details of her life but also brief encounters of other renowned artistes as well. A book that feels like flashback to golden eras of music. The whole book is devided into various short chapters barely one to five pages thus furnishings a very concise look although the book is 350 pages long but it doesn't feel like so because of the nature of the chapters.
While reading we come across both hilarious and serious situations. The book is adorned with wise quotes. Writing is very simple. In one liner, it is much less about bragging classical music and much more about living a life by sadhana, a pure devotion and tenacity of Annapurna Devi's life. There's so many things to learn from this book, so many lessons to adopt as a human being.
This is a biography on the enigmatic personality, Annapurna Devi. This book takes a deep dive into the life of this reclusive genius, exploring the unexplored relams of music magicians. Not only it gives an in-depth details of her life but also brief encounters of other renowned artistes as well. A book that feels like flashback to golden eras of music. The whole book is devided into various short chapters barely one to five pages thus furnishings a very concise look although the book is 350 pages long but it doesn't feel like so because of the nature of the chapters.
While reading we come across both hilarious and serious situations. The book is adorned with wise quotes. Writing is very simple. In one liner, it is much less about bragging classical music and much more about living a life by sadhana, a pure devotion and tenacity of Annapurna Devi's life. There's so many things to learn from this book, so many lessons to adopt as a human being.
March 26, 2022
// Annapurna Devi by Atul Merchant
Reading about Annapurna Devi was a learning process. Atul Merchant takes us into the world of a reclusive legend who barely appeared in the public eye. Much of her life was a mystery, only a handful of her close acquaintances being aware of her charming personality. Having gone through certain tragedies, much has been written about her relationship with her husband, Pandit Ravi Shankar. Atul Merchant thought it only fair to put forth the life of his Guru Ma whom he came to respect and adore in complete transparency. This birthed the book that I've now read.
Atul goes way back, starting from her legendary father who was a renowned musician. Allauddin Khan was well respected and revered in the musical community and he trained his children, Ali Akbar Khan and Annapurna Devi from a very young age. He was a strict teacher. We watch Annapurna Devi transform into a talented young lady who later went on to make her name in the music industry. Her marriage with Pandit Ravi Shankar was perhaps her biggest tragedy. It pulled her down, turning her into a private person who stopped giving public performances.
As Atul explains the relationship she shared with her famous students, he writes about how this woman was compassionate and genial. Although this book was meant to focus on Guru Ma, I couldn't help but feel that it leaned more towards her father. I could feel her being sidelined. This book has been knowledgeable but I wish there was more about her in the pages.
If you're a music enthusiast, I have a feeling that this may just be your cup of tea.
Reading about Annapurna Devi was a learning process. Atul Merchant takes us into the world of a reclusive legend who barely appeared in the public eye. Much of her life was a mystery, only a handful of her close acquaintances being aware of her charming personality. Having gone through certain tragedies, much has been written about her relationship with her husband, Pandit Ravi Shankar. Atul Merchant thought it only fair to put forth the life of his Guru Ma whom he came to respect and adore in complete transparency. This birthed the book that I've now read.
Atul goes way back, starting from her legendary father who was a renowned musician. Allauddin Khan was well respected and revered in the musical community and he trained his children, Ali Akbar Khan and Annapurna Devi from a very young age. He was a strict teacher. We watch Annapurna Devi transform into a talented young lady who later went on to make her name in the music industry. Her marriage with Pandit Ravi Shankar was perhaps her biggest tragedy. It pulled her down, turning her into a private person who stopped giving public performances.
As Atul explains the relationship she shared with her famous students, he writes about how this woman was compassionate and genial. Although this book was meant to focus on Guru Ma, I couldn't help but feel that it leaned more towards her father. I could feel her being sidelined. This book has been knowledgeable but I wish there was more about her in the pages.
If you're a music enthusiast, I have a feeling that this may just be your cup of tea.
July 19, 2025
The book is very well written with apt quotations from thinkers. I have been learning bansuri in 6 A Akashganga for last 9 years from Pt. Nityanand Haldipur( out of which I had witnessed the last 2 years of Ma's life). I can assure the readers that this book offers the closest possible insight to the persona of the reclusive genius. A monumental task to collate the memories from various students, harmonize them and weave them into a consistent fabric, speaks of the effort and tenacity of the author. Book was well edited. Good read overall.
1 star less - As always, with all biographical works of musical geniuses as a student of Music I was left hungry for how the genius practiced, what were their practice schedules and routines like, what were the contents of their practice, lessons for students on how to practice etc. Her expectations from students as it relates to practice would have been precious. So one star less for this from a student.
2nd star less - The author has placed himself as a self appointed judge on many matters, be it senior artists, be it Rooshikumar, be it his senior gurubhais or be it Maa herself. I am OK with not being a blind guru bhakt , but I would have avoided getting carried away with unilateral judgements especially in a public forum like a book.
1 star less - As always, with all biographical works of musical geniuses as a student of Music I was left hungry for how the genius practiced, what were their practice schedules and routines like, what were the contents of their practice, lessons for students on how to practice etc. Her expectations from students as it relates to practice would have been precious. So one star less for this from a student.
2nd star less - The author has placed himself as a self appointed judge on many matters, be it senior artists, be it Rooshikumar, be it his senior gurubhais or be it Maa herself. I am OK with not being a blind guru bhakt , but I would have avoided getting carried away with unilateral judgements especially in a public forum like a book.
May 2, 2023
Mr. Atul Merchant’s efforts to bring to light the life of Annapurna Devi have to be appreciated. However, this is a most tedious read. The undertone appears supercilious, with a patchy narrative that jumps all over repeatedly until it becomes desultory reading the same thing over and over again. The book ends up devoting more time to personalities around the protagonist rather than Annapurna Devi herself.
Grammar does not appear to be the writer’s (or the Editor, Matt’s) strong suit and glaring errors abound. The first person narration by a growing cast of characters ends up confusing the reader as to who is contributing at any given point.
It was interesting to learn details of Ma’s life and contributions to music. But the repeated belabouring of her relationships became tedious after the first 50 pages! The author has also, rather adroitly, focused the spotlight on himself while finding faults in, and cleverly running down his “gurubhais” and others like Rooshi Pandya.
Finally, the author has inserted chapters (mercifully no more than a few pages, each) that have nothing to do with Annapurna Devi’s life. Denegrating historical figures to showcase “Indianness” and religious undertones is reflective of a mean-spirited shallow mind, someone who missed absorbing the higher aura of a spiritual being he had the good fortune to be associated with, for such a long period.
The author’s contribution deserves no rating; I just wish to honour and respect Annapurna Devi and a few quotable statements attributed to her, for instance:
Quote
- Art ought to be a sadhana; an endeavour for perfection. What is the point of running after popularity when most of what is popular is mediocre.
- “Baba used to say, when you are on the stage, be like an owl. No matter how luminous the lights may be, no matter how colourful the crowd may be, turn a blind eye to them. Who you shut your eyes to the external world, only then will your inner eyes open to see within. Play for the one within you. Because the one within you is the one within all. Whenever you play a rag, begin by worshipping it. Imagine it to be a deity. Pray for her mercy on you, that she may manifest herself through you. Let the music emerge out of the purest feelings of your heart. Let your music be an oblation - a holy offering to God.
Unquote
Grammar does not appear to be the writer’s (or the Editor, Matt’s) strong suit and glaring errors abound. The first person narration by a growing cast of characters ends up confusing the reader as to who is contributing at any given point.
It was interesting to learn details of Ma’s life and contributions to music. But the repeated belabouring of her relationships became tedious after the first 50 pages! The author has also, rather adroitly, focused the spotlight on himself while finding faults in, and cleverly running down his “gurubhais” and others like Rooshi Pandya.
Finally, the author has inserted chapters (mercifully no more than a few pages, each) that have nothing to do with Annapurna Devi’s life. Denegrating historical figures to showcase “Indianness” and religious undertones is reflective of a mean-spirited shallow mind, someone who missed absorbing the higher aura of a spiritual being he had the good fortune to be associated with, for such a long period.
The author’s contribution deserves no rating; I just wish to honour and respect Annapurna Devi and a few quotable statements attributed to her, for instance:
Quote
- Art ought to be a sadhana; an endeavour for perfection. What is the point of running after popularity when most of what is popular is mediocre.
- “Baba used to say, when you are on the stage, be like an owl. No matter how luminous the lights may be, no matter how colourful the crowd may be, turn a blind eye to them. Who you shut your eyes to the external world, only then will your inner eyes open to see within. Play for the one within you. Because the one within you is the one within all. Whenever you play a rag, begin by worshipping it. Imagine it to be a deity. Pray for her mercy on you, that she may manifest herself through you. Let the music emerge out of the purest feelings of your heart. Let your music be an oblation - a holy offering to God.
Unquote
March 12, 2022
'An artiste ceases to be a seeker the moment he achieves stardom. Stardom is the ultimate test imposed by Sharda Ma on her seekers. Very few are able to pass this test...Awards and felicitations can trigger spiritual objection. The easiest way to spiritually destroy a person is by felicitating him. The claps, applause, praises, rewards, awards are sure to inflate an artist's ego to monstrous levels and trigger his spiritual downfall'
~Annapurna Devi
This book gives us a glimpse into the life of Maa Annapurna Devi, a legendary musician of our country, daughter of Acharya Allauddin Khan who trained her in Indian classical music and estranged wife of Pandit Ravi Shankar. However after a failed marriage, she secluded herself and her life became a kind of mystery to us. The author has thrown light on her simple yet divine life and also included interviews with her to get to know her better.
The book talks about how she worshiped music and believed in the fact that music can connect your soul to God. She treated it more as Sadhna rather than focusing on fame unlike most of the artists these days. This book gives a detailed insight to readers about the history of music in our country and also talks about other music legends of that era.
After her estrangement from Pt. Ravi Shankar, she decided to seclude herself from the world and the only people she interacted with were her disciples who came for music lessons. The book doesn't rave about classical music and it's greatness or stuff but throws major light on its spiritual aspect. I was myself a music student in school and I've learnt Sitar, so I found this book to be very resonating. I found it quite relatable and it was a delight reading this book. Books like these should be read by more people so that we get to know about some hidden gems of our country that don't come in limelight often.
Also, I was reminded time and again of the webseries "Bandits Bandits" while reading this book. If you're a fan of that show, you should definitely read this book, it has a similar vibe to it. If you're a fan of Indian classical music and want to explore its roots, this one is a great pick for you!
~Annapurna Devi
This book gives us a glimpse into the life of Maa Annapurna Devi, a legendary musician of our country, daughter of Acharya Allauddin Khan who trained her in Indian classical music and estranged wife of Pandit Ravi Shankar. However after a failed marriage, she secluded herself and her life became a kind of mystery to us. The author has thrown light on her simple yet divine life and also included interviews with her to get to know her better.
The book talks about how she worshiped music and believed in the fact that music can connect your soul to God. She treated it more as Sadhna rather than focusing on fame unlike most of the artists these days. This book gives a detailed insight to readers about the history of music in our country and also talks about other music legends of that era.
After her estrangement from Pt. Ravi Shankar, she decided to seclude herself from the world and the only people she interacted with were her disciples who came for music lessons. The book doesn't rave about classical music and it's greatness or stuff but throws major light on its spiritual aspect. I was myself a music student in school and I've learnt Sitar, so I found this book to be very resonating. I found it quite relatable and it was a delight reading this book. Books like these should be read by more people so that we get to know about some hidden gems of our country that don't come in limelight often.
Also, I was reminded time and again of the webseries "Bandits Bandits" while reading this book. If you're a fan of that show, you should definitely read this book, it has a similar vibe to it. If you're a fan of Indian classical music and want to explore its roots, this one is a great pick for you!
April 16, 2022
The book is a biography well written. The recluse that she was, we wouldn't have known much about Annapurna Ji had it not been for this book. The authenticity comes from the fact that the writer was personally associated with her for few decades.
Though the theme is primarily Annapurna Ji, we get to know much about her father, a colossal figure in the music world and so also her brother.
We get peeks of dedication in music; what it entails and what are the demands involved in teaching / learning music the traditional Indian way. Normally, we are bewildered with the end result; this artist performs so well, this Ustad Ji or this Pandit Ji plays so well. What we often ignore is the years of sadhana undergone by them and also the dedication of the teacher.
Another aspect of dedication is the complete submission of the taught to the guru.
We normally have biographies revolving around the great deeds, feats and heroism of the persona. Here we have descent coverage of the problems and the last days too. Most of the people who were associated with the great lady have been found to be slightly reclusive in later part of their respective lives but probably that is destined for many great souls.
We get to see the command of the author on the science of music, history of music and Sanskrit through various chapters of the book.
Apparently, the cover and any brief review gives the impression of the book being serious. Trust me, it is easy reading once one gets into it. More than this generation, I suggest, all should suggest it as a compulsory reading for the next generation.
Though the theme is primarily Annapurna Ji, we get to know much about her father, a colossal figure in the music world and so also her brother.
We get peeks of dedication in music; what it entails and what are the demands involved in teaching / learning music the traditional Indian way. Normally, we are bewildered with the end result; this artist performs so well, this Ustad Ji or this Pandit Ji plays so well. What we often ignore is the years of sadhana undergone by them and also the dedication of the teacher.
Another aspect of dedication is the complete submission of the taught to the guru.
We normally have biographies revolving around the great deeds, feats and heroism of the persona. Here we have descent coverage of the problems and the last days too. Most of the people who were associated with the great lady have been found to be slightly reclusive in later part of their respective lives but probably that is destined for many great souls.
We get to see the command of the author on the science of music, history of music and Sanskrit through various chapters of the book.
Apparently, the cover and any brief review gives the impression of the book being serious. Trust me, it is easy reading once one gets into it. More than this generation, I suggest, all should suggest it as a compulsory reading for the next generation.
April 2, 2022
This book bring to life the untold story of Annapurna Devi through ever heard testimonials of the closed ones. About breaking silence on how a successful musician working round the clock had to renounce her professional life to spend days as a monk isolated from the crowd. This tries to reveal the various unknown stories of her life how poor choices, damaged trusts led her way out of the professional path.
The narration style is am engaging and positive takeaway from this is life can go downward spiraling but gather the courage to pull it up not just looking for others happiness.
Now coming to musical journey, I couldn't relate myself much with it as I have zero to no sense of music.
In fact Annapurna Devi being highly decorated musician during her times this sheds light on the personal life through multiple stories divided into several chapters. The images gives additional retrospective into tje personal life.
The narration style is am engaging and positive takeaway from this is life can go downward spiraling but gather the courage to pull it up not just looking for others happiness.
Now coming to musical journey, I couldn't relate myself much with it as I have zero to no sense of music.
In fact Annapurna Devi being highly decorated musician during her times this sheds light on the personal life through multiple stories divided into several chapters. The images gives additional retrospective into tje personal life.
July 7, 2022
At first, it read like a string of colored beads, each bead a different chapter, that didn’t share much with the bead before, or the bead after. A bunch of short stories from different walks of life with sometimes overlapping pieces of information, a reader could, on the rare occasion, find repetitive.
But it’s only when you lend yourself the patience to go through the book - each chapter in the order written - will you reward yourself with the gift of hindsight.
The gift of understanding that music has been explored to depths unknown; that our lives are for us to live through every emotion, and feel and understand it; that ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are extreme shades of a rather ‘wholesome’ existence.
Ma’s interpretation of Baba’s teachings, her perception of what music tells us, and her detached rationalization of each moment in life couldn’t have been put better together, if not as a string of some colored beads.
A precious read!
But it’s only when you lend yourself the patience to go through the book - each chapter in the order written - will you reward yourself with the gift of hindsight.
The gift of understanding that music has been explored to depths unknown; that our lives are for us to live through every emotion, and feel and understand it; that ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are extreme shades of a rather ‘wholesome’ existence.
Ma’s interpretation of Baba’s teachings, her perception of what music tells us, and her detached rationalization of each moment in life couldn’t have been put better together, if not as a string of some colored beads.
A precious read!
April 30, 2023
There’s mystery around every legend, if such legend is a woman, it creates so many layers and speculations also. Unfortunately, many live on such silence and speculate as per their convenience.
The balance Atul Merchant brought to the book is phenomenal. It showed Annapurna Devi, the human, artist, mother, wife and above all a real disciple of her guru Ustad Allarahakha Khan.
There are many stories, movies and interviews which boasted that, they are wiring her life story. But a one-to-one personal account with Guru Ma by her students, successful and not so, the way they depicted her and wrote an honest account made me understand why she is is really a PERSON EMBODIED MUSIC AND COMPASSION.
I felt only Indian Marriage System has that power to subjugate a woman of such substance to a relative obscure identity as long as she lived…!!
Its an amazement to read that such people existed...it feels absolutely divine.
#SaiREviews #SaiPadma
April 13, 2024
I got to know about a lot of trivia about Baba Alauddin Khan, Ali Akbar Khan, and of course, Annapurna Devi by reading this book. I understand the book is a collection of fragmented stories and hence it's difficult to weave a consistent narrative through it but that also made the book slightly less enjoyable than it would have otherwise been. The rating is for the treatment of the subject matter, not the subject matter itself. The writing leaves a lot to be desired, but since this is not a literary book, I didn't mind it as much.
Read if you want to know random facts and incidents related to Annapurna Devi's life. What I enjoyed the most surprisingly, was the infusion of some traditional Vedic quotes at the beginning of some of the chapters. If you're a practitioner or connoisseur of Indian Classic Music, you might enjoy this one.
Read if you want to know random facts and incidents related to Annapurna Devi's life. What I enjoyed the most surprisingly, was the infusion of some traditional Vedic quotes at the beginning of some of the chapters. If you're a practitioner or connoisseur of Indian Classic Music, you might enjoy this one.
September 21, 2024
Gives a perspective on how deep can an artist purse an art and it is a revelation to me. This is a book about people who really are artists in truest sense who perform to something beyond mere mortals like the elements of the nature or god. It is also the greatest display of sincerity i know of in any craft or profession.
I got interested in indian classical music because of this book. Because i wanted to see how fruits of such efforts put into making music taste like,and it truly gave me lot of joy, it is a hobby of mine now.
I got interested in indian classical music because of this book. Because i wanted to see how fruits of such efforts put into making music taste like,and it truly gave me lot of joy, it is a hobby of mine now.
October 10, 2024
This book gives us entry to the world of sadhana. It makes us realise that being a genius is not as glamorous as it seems to be. Unprecedented success exacts sacrifices. Annapurna Devi had to create a world of her own to rise to the stature of Guru Ma. The real world could never understand her. Her life portrays that human being is fallible despite its greatness. He is prone to the shortcomings like greed, envy and penchant for fame.
Chapterisation of the book could have been better. Otherwise, it is a good read.
Chapterisation of the book could have been better. Otherwise, it is a good read.
March 11, 2022
Story of a sage
Maa Annapurna devi was a sage who attained through her devotion to music.
India has so many such legends about whom very ppl are aware... Kudos to author to bring some glimpse into her life.
Maa Annapurna devi was a sage who attained through her devotion to music.
India has so many such legends about whom very ppl are aware... Kudos to author to bring some glimpse into her life.
March 15, 2025
My expectations from this book was different. I wanted to read how Annapurna Devi is special and more importantly how her music is so aesthetic,pure and special. Unfortunately this book did not elaborate on this aspect. The book is highly anecdotal and hagiographic.
August 19, 2025
absolutely marvelous book! this book gave me insights into the mind and life of Annapurna Devi, affectionately called "maa".
Maa's life, even if spent in seclusion, was nothing short of monumental.
her rigour and dedication for her music is inspiring and infectious.
Maa's life, even if spent in seclusion, was nothing short of monumental.
her rigour and dedication for her music is inspiring and infectious.
December 18, 2023
An honest account with some fantastical essays, but gives a very good light on many personalities that I've thought a lot about.
September 30, 2024
I'd read about Annapurna Devi a few years ago through the wonderful article by Aalif Surti in Mumbai Mirror (https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/o...). This is an important book that further provides an intimate, moving, and occasionally delightful recollections about the life of Annapurna Devi, as well as the Maihar Gharana.
Both the Mumbai Mirror article and this book are important works that further expose how male hubris and "genius" are often accompanied by abuse and exploitation.
The downsides: The book rambles about completely tangential and unrelated topics. For instance, the chapter on the origins of classical music in India was tangential, lacking in argumental rigour, and devoid of references. I also thought the chapter of the psychiatrist psychoanalysing Annapurna Devi without her being his patient was odd, and served no real functional purpose. There's also an instance of off-hand transphobia which was off-putting.
Both the Mumbai Mirror article and this book are important works that further expose how male hubris and "genius" are often accompanied by abuse and exploitation.
The downsides: The book rambles about completely tangential and unrelated topics. For instance, the chapter on the origins of classical music in India was tangential, lacking in argumental rigour, and devoid of references. I also thought the chapter of the psychiatrist psychoanalysing Annapurna Devi without her being his patient was odd, and served no real functional purpose. There's also an instance of off-hand transphobia which was off-putting.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews