Ravi Shankar Quotes

Powerful Ravi Shankar for Daily Growth

About Ravi Shankar

Ravi Shankar (April 7, 1920 – December 11, 2012), born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury in the Indian state of Bengal, was a renowned sitar maestro, composer, and music producer who played a pivotal role in bringing Indian classical music to global audiences. Born into a family steeped in music, Shankar began his musical journey at an early age under the tutelage of his brother Ustad Joresh Chandra Bhattacharya. In 1938, he moved to Mumbai (then Bombay) and studied under the legendary musician Allauddin Khan. Shankar's career took off in the late 1940s when he performed for Radio Ceylon, Sri Lanka. His performances captivated audiences worldwide and led to a series of concerts across Europe and America. In 1956, he made his American debut at Carnegie Hall, New York, marking a significant milestone in the global recognition of Indian classical music. Shankar was instrumental in introducing George Harrison of The Beatles to Indian classical music. This collaboration led to the popularization of sitar music in Western pop music and culminated in the release of the album "Raga Rock" in 1967, widely regarded as a turning point in world music. In 1971, Shankar co-founded the first annual World Music Festival at the Royal Albert Hall in London with his brother Uday Shankar, aiming to promote cross-cultural understanding through music. He was also a key figure in establishing the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in New Delhi. Throughout his illustrious career, Ravi Shankar received numerous awards and recognitions, including three Grammy Awards and the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. His music transcended cultural boundaries and continues to inspire musicians around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Music is beyond words; it is deeper than the soul."

This quote by Ravi Shankar suggests that music transcends language and delves into realms deeper than our emotions, tapping into something universal and essential within us. Music is a powerful medium capable of stirring complex feelings, evoking memories, or even providing a sense of unity among people. It's an expression that goes beyond the confines of words, touching upon aspects of human experience that language may struggle to articulate. Essentially, music can speak directly to our souls in ways words can't always convey.


"The more you practice, the luckier you become."

This quote by Ravi Shankar suggests that consistent effort, dedication, and practice in a skill or activity can lead to increased "luck" or opportunities. In essence, he's saying that as we invest time and energy into mastering something, we become more proficient and better equipped to seize serendipitous chances or situations, thereby creating our own "luck."


"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy."

This quote by Ravi Shankar suggests that music transcends human knowledge and understanding, reaching a level beyond traditional wisdom and philosophy. He implies that music is not just an art form or entertainment, but a profound means of expressing truths that words may struggle to convey. Music has the power to evoke emotions, connect individuals, and even influence culture, making it a unique and powerful tool for communication and self-discovery.


"When you express music, first what happens is that you express yourself. After some time, you discover that you are expressing something larger than yourself."

This quote by Ravi Shankar suggests that when an individual engages in the act of creating music, they initially reveal their personal emotions or thoughts. However, over time, the artist discovers that the music transcends their personal self, reflecting something greater, perhaps universal truths or human experiences. It emphasizes the transformative power of artistic expression, where the creative process allows for self-discovery and tapping into deeper, collective wisdom.


"There is no end to music. If you stop trying there is a void."

The quote by Ravi Shankar emphasizes that the pursuit of music should be ongoing, as it brings life and meaning to our existence. The absence of music or the cessation of learning and creating music creates an empty space or "void" in one's life. Music is not confined or finite but continues to evolve and expand, reflecting human experiences, emotions, and creativity, making it a vital part of our lives that should never be abandoned.


I have my own spiritual guru, and I'm so happy, and I feel so satisfied that I might appreciate many other famous gurus, but, you know, I am not attracted that way because I have found the person.

- Ravi Shankar

Own, Other, Guru, My Own

My secret ambition was always to provide music for animation films: something with an Indian theme, either a fairy tale or mythological tale or on the Krishna theme. I still have a very deep desire, but these sorts of chances don't always come.

- Ravi Shankar

Deep, Secret, Very, Mythological

Many people, especially young people, have started listening to sitar since George Harrison, one of the Beatles, became my disciple.

- Ravi Shankar

Listening, Young, Became, Disciple

I try to give to my music the spiritual quality, very deep in the soul, which does something even if you are not realizing it or analyzing it - that's the duty of the music.

- Ravi Shankar

Give, Very, Which, Realizing

There are thousands of ragas, and they are all connected with different times of the day, like sunrise or night or sunset. It is all based on 72 of what we call 'mela' or scales. And we have principally nine moods, ranging from peacefulness to praying, or the feeling of emptiness you get by sitting by the ocean.

- Ravi Shankar

Sunrise, Nine, Times, Principally

I don't appreciate avant-garde, electronic music. It makes me feel quite ill.

- Ravi Shankar

Music, Appreciate, Avant-Garde

In India, I have been called a 'destroyer.' But that is only because they mixed my identity as a performer and as a composer. As a composer I have tried everything, even electronic music and avant-garde. But as a performer I am, believe me, getting more classical and more orthodox, jealously protecting the heritage that I have learned.

- Ravi Shankar

Been, Classical, Mixed, Avant-Garde

Ah, 'Pather Panchali' was the most inspiring film that I wrote music for, and it was so spontaneously done. I saw the film, composed on the spot, along with myself and only four other musicians, and everything was done within 4-1/2 hours, I think an all-time record anywhere.

- Ravi Shankar

Other, Spontaneously, All-Time

My brother had a house in Paris. To it came many Western classical musicians. These musicians all made the same point: 'Indian music,' they said, 'is beautiful when we hear it with the dancers. On its own, it is repetitious and monotonous.'

- Ravi Shankar

Own, Dancers, Classical, Indian Music

In the U.K., classical music is composed by individuals and written down. Indian music is based on certain sequences called ragas. When I perform live, 95% of the music is improvised: it never sounds the same twice.

- Ravi Shankar

Written Down, Classical, Indian Music

In the olden days, I believe Mozart also improvised on piano, but somehow in the last 200 years, the whole training of Western classical music - they don't read between the lines, they just read the lines.

- Ravi Shankar

Last, Read, Classical, Mozart

I do think that my Indian classical audiences thought I was sacrificing them through working with George; I became known as the 'fifth Beatle.' In India, they thought I was mad.

- Ravi Shankar

Think, Through, Became, Beatle

I enjoy seeing other Indian musicians - old and young - coming to Europe and America and having some success. I'm happy to have contributed to that.

- Ravi Shankar

Some, Other, Having, Indian

I have great difficulty sitting in the middle of the night and writing. Everything I do comes spontaneous. Sometimes it takes a long time; sometimes it comes just like that.

- Ravi Shankar

Night, Middle, Like, Spontaneous

The music that I have learned and want to give is like worshipping God. It's absolutely like a prayer.

- Ravi Shankar

Music, Give, Worshipping, I Have Learned

My music has a very spiritual background, a sanctity that is almost like worship.

- Ravi Shankar

Music, Very, Almost, Worship

'Ravi' means 'sun.' It's a Sanskrit original word. And 'Shankar' is another name of Shiva, one of the holy trinity god that we worship.

- Ravi Shankar

Original, Holy, Means, Worship

I appreciate very much Vilayat Khan, the sitar player, and Bismillah Khan, the shehnai player; and among the tabla players, of course, Alla Rakha, Kishan Maharaja, and all these people.

- Ravi Shankar

People, Players, Very, Khan

I was invited for the first Woodstock. Actually, I started the programme.

- Ravi Shankar

Invited, Started, Actually, Woodstock

I was admired by all these hippies, and it was wonderful playing at Monterey and Woodstock, performing for half a million people.

- Ravi Shankar

Hippies, Admired, Half, Woodstock

I believe in one thing: that anyone who is able to do something good for someone, I mean, should be praised.

- Ravi Shankar

Believe, One Thing, Praised, Something Good

Everybody has a right to like or dislike anything or anyone. From a flower to a flavor to a book or a composition but it is very sad that in our country we actually fight over such things in an unseemly manner.

- Ravi Shankar

Country, Over, Very, Flower

I think musicians and actors have all these problems, because of the popularity and the opportunity.

- Ravi Shankar

Think, Popularity, I Think, Problems

I love the work of Matisse and Picasso, but I don't have enough millions to own one. And I don't really believe in owning art, anyway.

- Ravi Shankar

Love, Work, Art, Picasso

I will keep playing as long as my body lets me, and as long as I'm wanted by my listeners. Because music is the only thing that keeps me going.

- Ravi Shankar

Will, Going, Listeners, Keeps

To me, you know, from my childhood I always had a fascination for United States.

- Ravi Shankar

Always, United States, Fascination

One single raga can be performed for two hours, three hours.

- Ravi Shankar

Single, Two, Hours, Performed

I started out as a dancer, but gradually became more interested in music.

- Ravi Shankar

Music, Dancer, Became, Gradually

In our culture we have such respect for musical instruments, they are like part of God.

- Ravi Shankar

Culture, Like, Musical, Instruments

Pop changes week to week, month to month. But great music is like literature.

- Ravi Shankar

Music, Week, Literature, Pop

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