Sitarist Anoushka Shankar has addressed a long-standing perception surrounding fellow musician Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, clarifying that he was never formally a disciple of her father, the legendary Ravi Shankar. Rishab has often been described as the maestro's "last" or "youngest" disciple, a label that has appeared in several interviews and public discussions over the years, and this whole row stirred a controversy.
Who is Rishab Rikhiram Sharma?
Rishab Rikhiram Sharma is an Indian sitar player and composer known for presenting classical music in a modern, youth-friendly style. Coming from a family associated with musical instrument craftsmanship, he began learning early and has performed widely in India and abroad. Through concerts, festivals and digital platforms, he has gained popularity for making the sitar more accessible to younger audiences. His shows often include simple explanations of ragas and instruments, blending storytelling with performance.
He also launched the initiative Sitar For Mental Health, where he uses music to promote emotional healing and awareness. Through special sessions and concerts, he highlights the calming and therapeutic aspects of Indian classical music.
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His statements on Ravi Shankar
Rishab has frequently spoken about his association with legendary sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, saying he draws inspiration from the maestro’s musical lineage and philosophy.
In an interview with WION, he said, “I have to say it’s my Guru, Pandit Ravi Shankar. Whatever I know is because of him and his disciples who taught me after his demise. They showed me his way and it was not that they just taught me his compositions, but they taught me how to think like him. Guruji always said, ‘Don’t copy me, but think like me, understand my thought process,’ and I feel like I have adapted and incorporated that into my music. Probably that is why a lot of people say that my music reminds them of Guruji."
Anoushka Shankar clarifies
However, claims that he was Ravi Shankar’s “last and youngest disciple” have led to debate. Ravi Shankar’s daughter, Anoushka Shankar, clarified in a conversation with Humans Of Bombay that Sharma was never formally initiated as her father’s disciple.
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She said, “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."
She added, “We knew him from childhood because he was the son of our instrument maker Sanjay Rikiram 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."
