Norah Jones is shocked by how difficult it is to play the sitar: Anoushka Shankar

Anoushka Shankar who is presently out of the country confirms that she is planning an memorial for her dad the late Pandit Ravi Shankar in Delhi when she returns. Read on...

We hear you are planning to have a memorial for your dad?
We’re planning to hold a  memorial at the beginning of March. The details are being worked out. We’re not able to do any immediate memorial service in India for him. So this is our belated effort.

Do you feel feel a sense of responsibility about carrying his legacy forward?
Yes, and no. I never thought of it as a responsibility before. But now I do feel there’s a legacy to be passed on and shared with others. I am conscious that there are generations after me who haven’t grown up with the iconic figure of  my father in their lives.

Has the passing away of Panditji brought you and your sister closer?
Over the years we’ve been incredibly close. I am grateful to have a sister like Norah to share all of this with. It would have been more difficult to go though this phase alone.

How much of a sitar player is Norah?
She is not! You should ask her this. But she doesn’t play the sitar. In fact she is quite shocked by how difficult it is to play the sitar.

Do you think Panditji’s disciples are capable of carrying on his legacy?
I don’t know if  ‘capable’ is the right word. Once you put it that way you’re putting up future generations for unnecessary scrutiny.

In other words no one should be thinking of measuring up to him?
Yeah, by the virtue of being his disciples we’re  carrying on his legacy. Beyond that, there is little one can do.