Pandit Ravi Shankar, from whom the guitarist came from abroad in disguise to learn music, left dance and became a sitar player

If you ever think of a sitar player, the first name that comes to mind is Pandit Ravi Shankar. Ravi Shankar was born on April 7, 1920 in Varanasi. He spent his youth performing across Europe and India as a member of his brother Uday's dance troupe. Because of this, he is called India's first international musician. He brought the sitar out of India and brought it to the world stage and gave it recognition.

But do you know that before learning music, Ravi Shankar was a well-known dancer. In 1938, he left dance to learn sitar playing from the famous court musician Ustad Alauddin Khan. This week is his 12th death anniversary. He died on 11 December 2012. On this occasion, we will know some interesting stories related to Pandit Ravi Shankar

why did you leave music

Ravi Shankar's brother Uday had once heard the music of Alauddin Khan sahab of the Maihar Gharana. He agreed to take Khan with him on a Europe tour. On this tour Ravi Shankar learnt a lot from him and expressed his desire to learn more. But the Maharaja of Maihar put a condition. He said that he would teach him sitar only if he stopped dancing completely.

Gave music education to the guitarist of the Beatles band

By the 1960s, Ravishankar had become a big name globally. The famous Beatles band was also crazy about his music. The band's guitarist George Harrison was very impressed with Ravishankar's sitar playing. He came to India to learn sitar from him. Ravishankar had advised him to come in disguise for his visit to India so that people would not recognize him. To teach music, Ravishankar took Harrison to Srinagar, where he stayed in a houseboat and taught him sitar.

Created Doordarshan's signature tune

After this, Pandit Ravi Shankar also gave many performances with the Beatles. In 1971, he also organized a charity show with Harrison in Bangladesh. Pandit Ravi Shankar was also associated with All India Radio. When Mahatma Gandhi died, Ravi Shankar was asked to play sitar without the music of tabla to pay tribute to him. Then Ravi Shankar played Ga, Ni, Dha Raga. For this, he used the third, seventh and sixth notes. He named this raga Mohankauns. Because the tune of Gandhi's name came out of this raga. He created the signature tune of Doordarshan.

Read More: Devoleena gave a befitting reply to those who called her son a terrorist, 'God's name was written on every post