________________
Jain Education International
LIVE THE DREAM
KAVIT HARIA interviews percussion crazy Kevin Shah
M
aking music is one of the most exciting and empowering activities, especially when you get to go all creative and just play whatever you want! That's exactly what Kevin Shah does, and now he has just landed himself the biggest dream of his life - a place at the world's top music institute, Juilliard.
Indian culture has always been about being an accountant, businessman, a medical professional or simply anything that can just bring lots of money in. What is not understood is that there are so many opportunities flooding into our path every single day, ready for the taking. Kevin applied to university in America to study political science and a year later, he said, "all I really knew was about drumming! I didn't want to be a political scientist or anything else. What mattered to me were my drums." Kevin raised his game by really seeking out what he wanted and is now a student at the world's top music institute.
Kevin is a great percussionist and when speaking with him, he told me that when he was in college, most of his friends went into medicine, economics or engineering. He said, "I was the only one to pursue music. You could say in some ways I was rebelling. The more people thought what I was pursuing was uncharacteristic for an Indian, the more I wanted to prove them wrong."
When Kevin moved to America from
For Personal & Private Use Only
India at the age of six, he was eager to fit in and through the local Jain Centre he was able to experience the intertwined life of an American and Indian Jain. He said, "The biggest lessons I learned from Jainism had to do with faith, hard work, self-control and patience." He told me that most. of the Jain principles came into play when marching with the Santa Clara Vanguard. "What most people don't see is the work that goes into it," he said. "It is a very physical activity - so much so that we spent a couple weeks before we toured just conditioning." Every morning Kevin would work out, run and partake in vigorous exercises before spending the rest of the day playing and marching. He said, "I was always a little chubby and not very athletic so doing this was a huge challenge for me. It was a real test of my inner strength."
There were many days in his training when he really wanted to quit, but he said that he would only be letting himself down if he didn't get through. "During that time I thought about all the Jain concepts, how the body is just a burden on the soul. For me to succumb to my body's complaints (just like during fasting) would be a lack of strength. Eventually, my body started doing what I told it to do- and I finished the summer 60 lbs lighter," he said.
Kevin ended our conversation by saying, "The only way that I think I've got here is by being humble and working hard - a lesson my parents really ingrained in me. I know I don't go to the temple as much anymore or study any scriptures but all the basic principles of Jainism play a very central role in who I am today."
This interview was a real inspiration.. I could not help but reflect on all those people out there who think that pursuing a creative career is not right for an Indian-stop and think! Is it all about what type of career you are in and whether you are making money, or about how you integrate your faith in your life?
Kevin can be contacted at kevinsshah@gmail.com
Kavit Haria is Jain Spirit's Youth Section UK Assistant. He is crazy about the drums too and joyfully spends days creating rhythm.
www.jainelibrary.org
