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Dhani Harrison Reflects On Ravi Shankar And George Harrison In New Post

Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Dark Horse/Clive Arrowsmith

Dhani Harrison, the son of Beatle George Harrison, has paid tribute to Ravi Shankar on what would have been the sitarist’s 100th birthday.

I’m sad to not be playing with Anoushka Shankar and all of Raviji’s former students this month,” Dhani shares.

Dhani, alongside Shankar’s daughters Anoushka and Norah Jones had originally intended to pay tribute to Ravi with a series of concerts in May.

The events were. unfortunately, postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the US and UK.

I guess, due to the state of the world right now,” Dhani reflects, “that is to be for another time.”

Harrison’s son then shares a memory of Ravi Shankar and his father.

How it felt walking down the street or into a room full of musicians flanked by these two,” he relates,  “A feeling I can’t really explain. Sitting across from them at Christmas dinner in India listening to Bing Crosby felt like an acid trip at the time. Albeit an extremely good one. Even now it seems surreal. My 14-year-old mind almost rejected the experience due to a lack of reference. My 41-year-old mind craves a return to that moment.

Dhani then echoes George Harrison’s frequent comment that his relationship with Shankar was something akin to a father, brother and friend.

Raviji was not only like a grandfather/father to me,” he confides, “but he was a dear friend who met me on my level whatever age I was. Unique, magickal and kind. I still struggle to this day to put words to how much I miss them both.”

Posting a photo of the pair to Instagram, Olivia Harrison has also offered her thoughts on Ravi.

Today, April 7th,” she writes, “the centenary of Ravi Shankar — we remember his musicial genius, wisdom, compassion and lifetime dedication to Indian classical music; awakening us to an entirely new and spiritual culture. He was a light in our lives, a teacher, sometimes a father but always a friend.”

In addition to the Harrison family, Ringo Starr has also tipped his hat to his fellow musician.

On this day remembering the great Ravi Shankar,” he Tweets, “he was a beautiful human being and an incredible musician. Peace and love.

After becoming Ravi’s sitar pupil in the 1960s, Harrison would play, produce and promote several of Shankar’s albums.

Shankar would also perform at Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh and on his 1974 US tour.

Ravi would also serve as a gateway to Indian culture and spirituality, something which would have a profound effect on the former Beatle and his family.

George Harrison, who passed away in 2001, revered Ravi, once stating he was “the first person who ever impressed me in my life.”

Born to wealthy orthodox Brahmin family in India in 1920, Shankar reached a large Western audience through his appearance at the Monterey Pop festival in 1967 and his association with Harrison.

Standing aside from his fame in the West, he was a well respected classical musician in India.

Ravi Shankar passed away on December 11, 2012.

View this post on Instagram

Dear friends, In honor of the great Pandit Ravi Shankar’s centennial I thought I would post these pictures for everyone to see. I’m sad to not be playing with Anoushka and all of Raviji's former students this month, I guess, due to the state of the world right now, that is to be for another time. When I looked at these pictures I had to sit quietly and really let my mind go back to a time when I got to be a junior member of this gang. How it felt walking down the street or into a room full of musicians flanked by these two. A feeling I can’t really explain. Sitting across from them at Christmas dinner in India listening to Bing Crosby felt like an Acid trip at the time. Albeit an extremely good one. Even now it seems surreal. My 14-year-old mind almost rejected the experience due to a lack of reference. My 41-year-old mind craves a return to that moment. Raviji was not only like a grandfather / father to me but he was a dear friend who met me on my level whatever age I was. Unique, magickal and kind. I still struggle to this day to put words to how much I miss them both. Ravijii I celebrate you today and everyday with music and with laughter. Many puns and lots of smiles. Gurus bless you. Dhani.

A post shared by Dhani Harrison 🦁🦁🦁 (@dhaniharrison) on

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