Hi there everyone,

I thought I'd forward this little article. I felt quite affected by George's
death - I feel like he was quite a large influence on my music, as I started out
as a Beatles fan and got into Indian music having heard sitar and tabla in
George's songs. This article is forwarded from the Earthlingz email group.

Love
Shen
Aum Mani Padme Hum


Message: 4

Date: Sun, 09 Dec 2001 22:16:37 +0900

From: Chris Case
Subject: Ravi Shankar Remembers George Harrison

Remembering George Harrison: Full of Love and Fun

December 9, 2001

By RAVI SHANKAR

ENCINITAS, Calif. -- I feel I have been cheated by George.

Why did he have to go so soon at such a young age when I

really wanted to go first?

In moments like this, it is so hard to express the feeling

of emptiness and sadness within. Like a film flashing by,

everything comes to my mind since I met him more than 30

years ago. His childlike quality, his shy but naughty

little smile, his passion for all the music he loved and

the serious quest for religion, particularly the old Vedic

Hindu tradition, always amazed me as well as attracted me.

The down-to-earth quality in George was something I could

relate to with such joy. He would crack up when I told him

all my jokes; we had such fun! We always competed with each

other in punning. When I told him that I was known as a

"pundit" because of my punning, he said something

hilarious, connecting the old Hindu scriptures of the four

Vedas (Rigveda, Samveda, Atharvaveda and Yajurveda). He

said: "Do you know the four Wether brothers? They are Ric,

Sam, Arthur and George Wethers."

The only solid lessons on sitar he had from me were in the

summer and autumn of 1966, which he couldn't pursue as much

as we both wanted. He was very talented and would have

become a great sitar player if only he could have given

some time. His love, knowledge and understanding of Indian

music developed immensely over the years. I gave him a copy

of the book "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Swami Yogananda,

and my brother, Rajendra, gave him a book by Swami

Vivekananda. He had such thirst for the knowledge and

wisdom of Indian traditions. In many ways he was more

Indian than many Indians.

Though I had been performing all over the world since 1954,

my association with George attracted a whole young

generation to sitar and to me from the mid- 1960's. Even

though I didn't make any records jamming with him or any

other pop or rock star, I was treated like a superstar,

being the Beatle George's guru. Then came Monterey,

Woodstock and finally the big Bangladesh concert, which he

totally handled in producing. Because of George we had Bob

Dylan, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell and other eminent

musicians.

After a year or so, when he spent time with me in Varanasi

at my house, he suggested we make a couple of records and

perhaps tour the United States. We did the first recording

in the A&M Studios for his Dark Horse label. It was then

that he met dear Olivia (whom he married in 1978). In the

summer of 1974 the second album was recorded ("Festival of

India") at his own studio. I'll never forget those couple

of months when we worked on this album. I did all the

compositions on the M4 while traveling from London to his

home in Henley. George created such an atmosphere with such

love and regard. We would start rehearsals in a beautiful

large hall with a view to his lovely garden. We would have

Indian food and snack between rehearsals.

The recording was finished with simultaneous editing, which

George was doing himself, always asking me to hear when he

was satisfied. After this period of creative joy we went to

tour the United States, giving more than 30 performances.

George had a special 737 Boeing jetliner completely

refurbished for us to travel in.

What touched me so much was his worry about my health and

well being. He would tell me always not to travel and exert

myself so much. Then from the role of disciple and friend

he became more of a son to me, especially after my own son

Shubho died in 1992. He would fly and be with me whenever I

was in the hospital or not well with my heart problems. His

love and concern touched me deeply.

I'll never forget how much love, care and time he gave to

another project he did for me while staying in our house

here in Encinitas. He went through all the details, right

from choosing all the artwork, to writing the notes, to

producing the four-CD boxed set "In Celebration,"

selections from my 40 years of sitar performances and

compositions. The last wonderful musical experience I had

with him was when we made the CD "Chants of India." We did

some songs in Madras and the major part at his own studio

in his mansion at Henley. His nearness and attention in

producing the record always inspired me so. Even the

complex compositions came out of me so spontaneously.

Another one of many funny incidents was when George, Olivia

and their son, Dhani, came to India in 1995 and spent a few

weeks. We went to Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur. In Bombay,

Delhi and Calcutta people recognized George and created a

stampede, which George hated. But we had no such problem in

Rajasthan and he enjoyed it so much. On our last stop,

Udaipur, while we were walking in the busy main streets

shopping - ornaments of silver, colourful materials,

dresses, turbans, having tea and snacks - all of a sudden

there was a big crowd which surrounded us. I was terrified

thinking they had recognized George, but it was actually me

they were after. Then the funniest thing happened. George,

realizing the situation, immediately became my bodyguard.

"Move, move. No, no. Don't bother Panditji." And cordoning

me with both his hands, he brought me to our waiting car

and saved me from those autograph hunters. The others were

already seated, and when the car started, we burst out

laughing.

My daughter Anoushka and my wife, Sukanya, also were so

attached to him. He had a beautiful and loving wife in

Olivia and a wonderful son in Dhani. He had a magnanimous

heart and always cared so much. He was a fearless and

beautiful soul always conscious of God. I loved him dearly.

Though he is gone physically, he will always be alive and

vibrant in my heart.$B (B

Ravi Shankar, the Indian sitar virtuoso, is completing his

last full-scale concert tour.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/09/arts/music/09SHAN.html?ex=1008902913&ei=1&en=c\
cf102fd946b1f00
--

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