Ravi Shankar Disciple Debate: Rishab Sharma's Team Responds

A dispute has emerged between Anoushka Shankar and the representatives of musician Rishab Rikhiram Sharma concerning the nature of his discipleship under the late sitarist Ravi Shankar. Anoushka stated in a recent interview that Rishab, though talented, was not Ravi Shankar's last or youngest disciple, attributing his intensive learning to one of her father's senior disciples, with only informal lessons from Ravi Shankar himself.

In response, Rishab's team released a detailed account, asserting that a formal Ganda Bandhan ceremony took place on January 3, 2012, following a personal request from Ravi Shankar. They claim that after reviewing a performance recording, Ravi Shankar accepted Rishab as a Shishya, intending to nurture his talent with supervision from Pandit Parimal Sadaphal. The team further alleges that on February 10, 2012, Ravi Shankar publicly introduced 13-year-old Rishab as his youngest disciple, marking his final public appearance in India.

This divergence in accounts has sparked considerable discussion within the Indian classical music community. Both parties acknowledge Rishab's significant talent, but there remain differing interpretations regarding the extent and formality of his tutelage under the legendary maestro, creating a nuanced debate around his legacy.