Ravi Shankar was full of life and energy, says family

Describing Pandit Ravi Shankar as a friend, philosopher and guide, the sitar legend's family members in Kolkata said he was always full of life and energy, a quality that one required to learn from him.

"We all are shocked by the news. He was more than a family member to us. He was our friend, philosopher and guide," said Mamata Shankar, Ravi Shankar's niece.

Danseuse Tanushree Shankar, also the daughter-in-law of Ravi Shankar, said she had many fond memories of the musician who was always like a friend to her.

"Last January, he saw my performance in Delhi and blessed me, saying it was superb. That itself is enough for me to last a lifetime," she told PTI.

Tanushree, who also runs a dance academy in Kolkata and had married the son of Ravi's brother and dance legend Uday, said the sitar player was always full of life.

"Even after crossing 90 he was like a child and we could joke with him. He was always full of life and energy. That is something we need to learn from him."

Amala Shankar, the widow of Ravi Shankar's brother Uday and famous dancer and choreographer, said he was much like a child, but when he was with his sitar he was transformed.

"He was a very jovial and fun-loving person who always used to love gossips and jokes. But the moment he sat with his sitar, he became a different person altogether. One can feel that with his music he is communicating with the God," she said.

Amala Shankar's daughter Mamata recalled that her father, dance legend Uday, always treated Ravi Shankar as a son.

"He was very fond of him. There was a 20-year gap between the two brothers and therefore he was like a son to him," Mamata said.

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