A quiet but notable discussion has emerged in the Indian classical music community, centered on Anoushka Shankar and sitarist Rishab Sharma, regarding mentorship, lineage, and legacy.
The debate intensified after Anoushka clarified that her late father, the legendary Pandit Ravi Shankar, was not Rishab’s formal guru. Rishab, however, responded with a detailed statement and photographs asserting that he was formally accepted as a disciple of the maestro.
Rishab Sharma Account
Rishab Sharma, from the renowned Rikhi Ram family of instrument makers, has established a strong global reputation, including being the first sitarist to perform a solo set at the White House.
In a statement, Rishab Sharma ‘s team outlined the events that formally established his guru-shishya relationship. On January 3, 2012, a private meeting took place at the Ravi Shankar Centre for a Ganda Bandhan ceremony, a traditional ritual marking the formal acceptance of a disciple. Present were Rishab, his family, Pandit Ravi Shankar, his wife Sukanya Shankar, and senior disciple Pandit Parimal Sadaphal.
The statement notes that prior to this meeting, Sukanya Shankar had shown Pandit Ravi Shankar a YouTube recording of Rishab Sharma performing Raag Tilak Kamod. After reviewing it on the morning of January 3, Pandit Ravi Shankar reportedly decided to accept Rishab as his disciple. During the session, Panditji guided Rishab through the raag, offered corrections, and conducted lessons lasting several hours. The ceremony concluded with the tying of a red thread, symbolizing the spiritual bond of guru and disciple, which Pandit Ravi Shankar described as enduring even if the physical thread broke.
Following this, Pandit Parimal Sadaphal oversaw Rishab Sharma ’s structured training, with periodic guidance from Pandit Ravi Shankar until his passing in December 2012.
Public Introduction and Memorial Performance
On February 10, 2012, at Delhi’s Kamani Auditorium, Pandit Ravi Shankar publicly introduced 13-year-old Rishab Sharma as his youngest disciple during a Sanjay Rikhi Ram Vadya Parampara event. The event also featured the launch of the electric sitar “rikEsitar” and Rishab’s performance of Raga Pancham Se Gara under Panditji’s guidance.
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After Pandit Ravi Shankar’s passing in December 2012, Rishab Sharma was invited to perform at his memorial gathering on March 10, 2013, alongside other disciples. From 2013 onward, Pandit Parimal Sadaphal continued mentoring Rishab, following Pandit Ravi Shankar’s guidance.
Anoushka Shankar’s Clarification
The discussion began after Anoushka addressed the matter in an interview with Humans of Bombay, praising Rishab’s talent while clarifying his association with her father. She stated that Rishab learned intensively with Pandit Parimal Sadaphal, one of her father’s senior disciples, and had a few informal lessons with Pandit Ravi Shankar in Parimal’s presence.
She added that the families’ longstanding familiarity, as Rishab is the son of the Shankar family’s instrument maker, may have led to the perception that he was Pandit Ravi Shankar’s youngest or last disciple. “Somehow that has blown up into a story of him being the last or youngest disciple, which isn’t true. But he is extremely talented and deserves all success regardless of that story,” she said.