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Ravi Shankar Receives Asia Society 'Cultural Legacy Award'

Daughter Anoushka, Composer Philip Glass share recollections

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Highlights: Asia Society gives Indian musician/composer Ravi Shankar its Cultural Legacy Award on Nov. 1, 2010. (3 min., 54 sec.)
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Highlights: Asia Society gives Indian musician/composer Ravi Shankar its Cultural Legacy Award on Nov. 1, 2010. (3 min., 54 sec.)

Daughter Anoushka, Composer Philip Glass share recollections

NEW YORK, November 1, 2010 - Asia Society presented Indian sitar maestro Ravi Shankar with a Cultural Legacy Award tonight, recognizing a relationship that stretches back more than 50 years to when the Society sponsored Shankar's first U.S. concert appearances.

Asia Society President Vishakha Desai noted, "He was literally the very first Asian artist that this institution presented right after being founded in 1956."

Shankar was unable to accept the award in person due to illness, but graciously thanked the Asia Society via a short video message from his home in California.

His daughter Anoushka Shankar, herself a sitarist of note, accepted the award on his behalf. Describing her father's career, Anoushka Shankar noted, "He had an extraordinary zeal and passion for his music that drove him across the world," before concluding, "He's still like that—at ninety."

Composer Philip Glass delivered the introductory remarks with some touching anecdotes about his long friendship and musical collaboration with Shankar, whom he referred to as a "mentor" and the "conduit... of a fantastic tradition." 

The award ceremony was followed by a special screening of the re-release and DVD premiere of the 1971 film Raga: A Film Journey into the Soul of India. Through rare footage of the late 1960s and early '70s, the film, narrated entirely by Shankar, traces his journey to America and Britain, as well as his emotional return to India to visit his guru, the great Bengali multi-instrumentalist and composer Ustad Allauddin Khan. 

Raga also sheds light on Shankar's early beginnings as a dancer in his older brother Uday Shankar's dance troupe, and his later collaborations with renowned Western musicians Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison. Shankar candidly reflects on his deep love for his motherland, the complexity of Indian classical music, and the challenges of getting Westerners to perform it properly. 

Reported by Preeti Bhuyan

siddharth | 08:29:11 12:23pm

asia society is very usefull >>>>>>...

Linda Breitel Paez | 04:18:11 10:58am
I am so pleased to learn of these accolades. I first heard Ravi perform in my undergraduate days when he came to Chatham College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I was enthralled with his music and talent then and still am.
Dr.Swaroop Mitta | 01:25:11 03:41pm
It is a great pleasure to hear pandit ravi shankar being honored by asia society,very fittingly.He deserves many more accolades and his contribution to indian music is immeasurable and his music straddles all geographical boundaries,race , ethnicity and cultures. Iplay the sitar myself ,follow his school and is truly inspirational.We all look forward to many more years of wonderful music as,i am sure his creative well has not dried up.
anonymous | 11:02:10 11:43pm
One of my all time favourite musicians is Ravi Shankar, It is good to see that Anoushka is following in the steps of her illustrious father. His wife Suhanya should not be forgotton, who accompanied the maestro on his several visits in India and abroad and gave him the added emotional support that he needed. It is so refreshing to read about about. Keep up the good work Asia Society. Arun
anita | 11:02:10 10:40pm
I read with pride your notes on Ravi Shankar, the Maestro! I have had the pleasure of listening to him and I must say he is truly God's gift to humanity. Asia Society, continue to track and honour these legends.
priya | 11:02:10 10:37pm
Pandit Ravi Shankar is truly a 'legend'. I have had the privilege of attending a few of his concerts. He is a well known, much loved and revered musician. May Guruji live forever. Asia Society has had the privilege of honouring him. Good luck.
anonymous | 11:02:10 08:55pm
Lovely piece about a lion of Indian classical music! I hadn't realized that Shankar started his career in the arts as a dancer. Thanks for sharing.
joyce priest | 11:02:10 07:16pm
A true genius spanning generations. Picked up this article in Sydney, Australia. Thank you. Joyce Priest
Jon | 11:02:10 06:56pm
What an inspiration this man is, even at Ninety. Thank you for sharing.
Dr.Krishna Dronamraju | 11:02:10 03:45pm
I am happy to see Asia Society honoring India's Ambassador of Music, Ravi Shankar. It is a pleasure to recall memories of Ravishankar over the years. First time I saw him in Calcutta in 1958. He was, of course, much younger 50 years ago in his 30s, and I was even younger in my early 20s. What struck me was his energy which seemed to be flowing from his eyes. We both had plenty of dark hair. Later we both moved to the U.S. and I enjoyed his performances at various university campuses, one notable one at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in 1964. Beatles also got involved. More recently, I enjoyed his concerts and also his daughter Anoushka's. Although looking frail I admired his activities, keeping busy with both mental and physical activities.

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