A controversy surrounding sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma has intensified after musician Anoushka Shankar questioned claims that he was a disciple of her father, the late sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. Amid the debate, an old video has resurfaced in which Ravi Shankar appears to introduce Rishab as his student during a public event.
Rishab, known for his contemporary presentation of Indian classical music and distinctive performances often featuring henna-decorated hands while playing the sitar, has gained a large following online. The recent remarks by Anoushka, however, triggered discussions about his association with the legendary musician.
Video shows Ravi Shankar introducing Rishab as his student
The resurfaced clip is reportedly from a 2012 event at Delhi’s Kamani Auditorium. In the video, Ravi Shankar is seen addressing the audience while introducing a young Rishab Rikhiram Sharma.
“I have just had this new, wonderful young boy become my student and I have just given him a few lessons. He’s going to play for you. I hope he goes much further and that I can teach him much more. Please bless him. Thank you,” Ravi Shankar says in the clip.
During the same event, the host also referred to Rishab as Ravi Shankar’s disciple. “Ladies and gentlemen, Rishabh is the youngest gandabandh disciple of Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar, he has been a disciple of Panditji for the last 15 days. What an honour for him to pay homage to his grandfather Bishan Dass Rikhiram on his birthday in front of his Guru”, she said.
Watch the video here:
The performance took place during a programme honouring Rishab’s grandfather Bishan Dass Rikhiram.
Anoushka Shankar’s remarks spark debate
In an interview with Humans of Bombay, Anoushka Shankar said there was a misunderstanding regarding Rishab’s association with her father. While acknowledging his talent, she stated that Ravi Shankar was not formally his guru.
According to her, “Rishab is really talented and he is clearly speaking to people in a really wonderful way. I think there is some misunderstanding about his guruship. He learnt very intensively with someone very dear to me, one of my father’s senior disciples Parimal Sadaphal, and he had a couple of lessons with my father, very informally, with Parimal uncle also in the room.”
Anoushka also noted that their families had known each other for years because Rishab’s father, Sanjay Rikhiram Sharma, was an instrument maker associated with the family. “We knew him from childhood because he was the son of our instrument maker Sanjay Rikhiram Sharma. So somehow that has gone blown up into some story of him being his last disciple or the youngest disciple, which isn’t true. But he is super talented and deserves all success with or without that story”, she said.
Also Read | 'My father was never his guru': Anoushka Shankar clears air on Rishab Rikhiram Sharma's 'disciple' claim
Rishab’s team responds
Following Anoushka’s comments, Rishab’s team issued a statement maintaining that the sitarist had been formally accepted as a disciple by Ravi Shankar.
The statement said, “On 3rd January 2012, at the Ravi Shankar Centre (Saraswati Pooja Hall), a private meeting was held at the express request of Pandit Ravi Shankar between 13-year-old Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, his parents Sanjay and Manjul Sharma, his brother Mukul Sharma, Pandit Parimal Sadaphal, Shruti Sadamal, and Panditji with his wife Sukanya Shankar. This followed a personal call from Panditji to Sanjay Sharma on 2nd January, requesting Rishab’s presence for the Ganda Bandhan ceremony the next day.”
Legacy of the Rikhiram family
Rishab comes from the Rikhiram family of instrument makers based in Delhi. The family business was founded in 1920 by Pandit Rikhi Ram Sharma and has produced sitars for several renowned musicians.
Their instruments have been used by legendary artists, including Pandit Ravi Shankar and members of The Beatles. Today, the business continues under the third and fourth generations of the family.
