Happy Birthday Ravi!!!

[cryforashadow]

Happy Birthday to Ravi Shankar who turns 85 years young. He was born on April 7, 1920.

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/gallery/2001/11/30/george08.jpg

[Legs]

Happy birthday Ravi!

[FPSHOT]

Ravi is a very very special inspiring man :smile1: I am reading his Autobiography which George made happen and where he writes in a lot too, and it's such a pleasure to read about this wonderful man

Happy Birthday, may you be in this life with us for many more years..

[FPSHOT]

http://www.chembur.com/anecdotes/ghrs.jpg

and

http://www.ravishankar.org/photos/photo07.jpg

and this one is always special to me

http://www.newsindia-times.com/2002/03/08/ravi2.jpg

[Sally]

Happy Birthday Ravi!

[AnyRoad69]

it is a mistake when you celebrated One Day before.

But ok Happy Birthday-Hare krishna

[FPSHOT]

Who's celebrating?

[luvsthebeatles]

Happy birthday Ravi!

[adayinthelife]

Happy birthday to an incredible man!

Here's a very nice piece he wrote after George died.

ENCINITAS, Calif. -- I feel I have been cheated by George. Why did he have to go so soon at such a young age when I really wanted to go first?

In moments like this, it is so hard to express the feeling of emptiness and sadness within. Like a film flashing by, everything comes to my mind since I met him more than 30 years ago. His childlike quality, his shy but naughty little smile, his passion for all the music he loved and the serious quest for religion, particularly the old Vedic Hindu tradition, always amazed me as well as attracted me.

The down-to-earth quality in George was something I could relate to with such joy. He would crack up when I told him all my jokes; we had such fun! We always competed with each other in punning. When I told him that I was known as a "pundit" because of my punning, he said something hilarious, connecting the old Hindu scriptures of the four Vedas (Rigveda, Samveda, Atharvaveda and Yajurveda). He said: "Do you know the four Wether brothers? They are Ric, Sam, Arthur and George Wethers."

The only solid lessons on sitar he had from me were in the summer and autumn of 1966, which he couldn't pursue as much as we both wanted. He was very talented and would have become a great sitar player if only he could have given some time. His love, knowledge and understanding of Indian music developed immensely over the years. I gave him a copy of the book "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Swami Yogananda, and my brother, Rajendra, gave him a book by Swami Vivekananda. He had such thirst for the knowledge and wisdom of Indian traditions. In many ways he was more Indian than many Indians.

Though I had been performing all over the world since 1954, my association with George attracted a whole young generation to sitar and to me from the mid-1960s. Even though I didn't make any records jamming with him or any other pop or rock star, I was treated like a superstar, being the Beatle George's guru. Then came Monterey, Woodstock and finally the big Bangladesh concert, which he totally handled in producing. Because of George we had Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell and other eminent musicians.

After a year or so, when he spent time with me in Varanasi at my house, he suggested we make a couple of records and perhaps tour the United States. We did the first recording in the A&M Studios for his Dark Horse label. It was then that he met dear Olivia (whom he married in 1978). In the summer of 1974 the second album was recorded ("Festival of India") at his own studio. I'll never forget those couple of months when we worked on this album. I did all the compositions on the M4 while traveling from London to his home in Henley. George created such an atmosphere with such love and regard. We would start rehearsals in a beautiful large hall with a view to his lovely garden. We would have Indian food and snack between rehearsals.

The recording was finished with simultaneous editing, which George was doing himself, always asking me to hear when he was satisfied. After this period of creative joy we went to tour the United States, giving more than 30 performances. George had a special 737 Boeing jetliner completely refurbished for us to travel in.

What touched me so much was his worry about my health and well being. He would tell me always not to travel and exert myself so much. Then from the role of disciple and friend he became more of a son to me, especially after my own son Shubho died in 1992. He would fly and be with me whenever I was in the hospital or not well with my heart problems. His love and concern touched me deeply.

I'll never forget how much love, care and time he gave to another project he did for me while staying in our house here in Encinitas. He went through all the details, right from choosing all the artwork, to writing the notes, to producing the four-CD boxed set "In Celebration," selections from my 40 years of sitar performances and compositions. The last wonderful musical experience I had with him was when we made the CD "Chants of India." We did some songs in Madras and the major part at his own studio in his mansion at Henley. His nearness and attention in producing the record always inspired me so. Even the complex compositions came out of me so spontaneously.

Another one of many funny incidents was when George, Olivia and their son, Dhani, came to India in 1995 and spent a few weeks. We went to Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur. In Bombay, Delhi and Calcutta people recognized George and created a stampede, which George hated. But we had no such problem in Rajasthan and he enjoyed it so much. On our last stop, Udaipur, while we were walking in the busy main streets shopping ornaments of silver, colourful materials, dresses, turbans, having tea and snacks all of a sudden there was a big crowd which surrounded us. I was terrified thinking they had recognized George, but it was actually me they were after. Then the funniest thing happened. George, realizing the situation, immediately became my bodyguard. "Move, move. No, no. Don't bother Panditji." And cordoning me with both his hands, he brought me to our waiting car and saved me from those autograph hunters. The others were already seated, and when the car started, we burst out laughing.

My daughter Anoushka and my wife, Sukanya, also were so attached to him. He had a beautiful and loving wife in Olivia and a wonderful son in Dhani. He had a magnanimous heart and always cared so much. He was a fearless and beautiful soul always conscious of God. I loved him dearly. Though he is gone physically, he will always be alive and vibrant in my heart.

[chaitanya]

Janam Din Bahut Bahut Mubarak Ho !!! :birthday:
Very very Happy Birthday !!! :birthday:

[lennonluvr9]

Happy early Birthday Ravi! :party: :balloon:

[cryforashadow]

it is a mistake when you celebrated One Day before.

But ok Happy Birthday-Hare krishna

I read it in a "tommorows birthdays" colum, so I just did it while I was thinking about it. but it doesn't realy matter.

Hare Krishna
Peace & Love
etc.

[beatlebangs1964]

Janam Din Bahut Bahut Mubarak Ho !!! :birthday:
Very very Happy Birthday !!! :birthday:

Joyeaux anniversaire!

[BeatleChick]

Happiest of birthdays to you, Ravi! You are a most beautiful soul, and the world is lucky to have you. Thank you for everything that you have done over the years, and I hope that you have a most wonderful one! Loved seeing you in concert a few years ago--one of the most cosmic experiences of my life so far!

All the best to you!

:party: :birthday: :balloon:

[BeatlesScruff]

Yes!! Happy birthday, Rav!! :)

Tiff Lennon

[beatlelover45223]

Happy Birthday Ravi :balloon: :fish: :balloon:

[Hari's Chick]

Welcome to Crackerbox Palace, adayinthelife, and thanks for the post. That was beautiful to read again. What a speaker Ravi is...

Happy Birthday to Ravi!!!

"I remember thinking, I’d love to meet somebody who will really impress me, and that’s when I met Ravi. Which is funny, cause he’s this little fella with this obscure instrument, from our point of view, and yet it led me into such depths."~ George

Thank you Ravi, for helping influence George toward the beauty of Indian music (and for gifting him with Yogananda's book as well!). Your musical influence has been a constant source of joy in many ways, reaching us through your most famous student. God bless you!

:rainbow1: :rainbow1: :rainbow1: :rainbow1: :rainbow1:

[DizzymissLizzy909]

it is a mistake when you celebrated One Day before.

But ok Happy Birthday-Hare krishna

Posting something one day early really isn't a bad thing, besides not everyone can visit the forum every day and it was something cryforashadow wanted to post. :smile1:

Happy birthday Ravi, and thank you for your inspiration to George over the many years. :sun:

[ILUVHARIIN1974]

Here's a picture chronology of Hari & Ravi together:
http://www.simplyshadyhari.com/gh_rs.jpg
http://www.simplyshadyhari.com/881ad835.jpg
http://www.simplyshadyhari.com/ravihari.jpg
http://www.simplyshadyhari.com/hariravi1.jpg
http://www.simplyshadyhari.com/haripattie1972.jpg
http://www.simplyshadyhari.com/harivrindivan.jpg
http://www.simplyshadyhari.com/george7.jpg
http://www.simplyshadyhari.com/rexhariravi.jpg
http://www.simplyshadyhari.com/Shan_70.jpg
http://www.simplyshadyhari.com/photo07.jpg
http://www.simplyshadyhari.com/Image33.jpg
God Bless You Ravi may this be a special day for you!

[AnyRoad69]

Had forget different time belts are.

[beatlelover45223]

:smile1: thanks for the lovely pictures AnyRoad69

[Celebrian]

Happy Birthday Ravi! :clap3:

[Siobhan]

Happy belated birthday Ravi!

Thanks everyone for the pictures. There are some beautiful ones there :smile1: