Profile of Parul

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

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among those unacquainted with Indian music, he has been musically the most active artiste. His efforts at fusing Eastern and Western music widened the horizons of music and their success proved that music has no barrier.
Born in Varanasi in U.P. in a learned family of Bengali Brahmins, Ravi Shankar grew up in an atmosphere of art. His elder brother Uday Shankar, the well known Kathak exponent was head of the Company of Hindu Dancers and Musicians involved in popularising Indian dance abroad. At the age of ten, Ravi Shankar went to Paris as a member of the troupe and performed both as a dancer and musician. When he was 15, USTAD ALLAUDDIN KHAN joined them as soloist. Allauddin Khen was the leading disciple of Ustad Wazir Khan of Rampur, who was a direct descendant of the legendary 16th century saint musician Miya Tansen, founder of the most respected Beenkar Gharana, a school of music steeped in the purist tradition. Says Ravi Shankar, "Allauddin Khan Sahib was a master of awesome virtuosity and innovative genius who bridged the many styles and techniques of Hindustani music.” During Allauddin Khan's year-long stay with the troupe, Ravi Shankar remained his guide, interpreter, helper and special companion and in turn was greatly inspired by this 'grand old man of Indian music' as he reverently called. The master saw the talent in young Ravi and expressed the willingness to train him, but also emphasised the need for Ravi Shankar to abandon the easy fame of his artiste's life in Europe and go to the small village in India where he led a rigorous, student life. ::! !
Keen on honing his abilities, Ravi Shankar dedicated himself to the learning of music. The master was a strict disciplinarian and student life was hard. There was a time when the young disciple, unable to bear the rigours imposed on him, left his guru's home to return his own. He got as far as the station before realising his mis
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