Rishab Rikhiram Sharma recognised as Pandit Ravi Shankar’s disciple, confirms official statement

Rishab Rikhiram Sharma with Pandit Ravi Shankar

• Rishab Rikhiram Sharma became Pandit Ravi Shankar's disciple
• Introduced as Panditji's youngest disciple in 2012
• Rishab trained with Pandit Parimal Sadaphal post-2013.

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Rishab Rikhiram Sharma has recently become a global sensation as he captivates audiences with his songs and Sitar music. He is said to be the last student of Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Sanjay Sharma clarified that Rishab had not taken official guidance under any Guru, and that since he was ten years old, most of his learning had been self-directed through online study. Rishab had gotten supervision mainly from him and his school music teacher, Salim Kumar, for contests and school activities.

After evaluating Rishab's potential, Panditji noted that such a skill needed systematic development and stated his readiness to formally accept Rishab as his pupil with the approval of his family, adding that he would still mentor him even if he had been taught by a different Guru.

Pandit Ravi Shankar specifically requested that 13-year-old Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, his parents Sanjay and Manjul Sharma, his brother Mukul Sharma, Pandit Parimal Sadaphal, Shruti Sadamal, and Panditji with his wife Sukanya Shankar have a private meeting at the Ravi Shankar Centre (Saraswati Pooja Hall) on January 3, 2012.

Pandit Ravi Shankar Graces Sanjay Rikhi Ram Vadya Parampara Event And Endorses Rishab Rikhiram Sharma

This came after Panditji personally called Sanjay Sharma on January 2nd to ask Rishab to attend the Ganda Bandhan ceremony the next day. Panditji asked Rishab about his previous musical training throughout the encounter.

In an interview with Humans of Bombay, Sukanya Shankar mentioned that while they were in the United States, she had shown Panditji a YouTube video of Rishab performing Raag Tilak Kamod on February 10, 2011, at a Sanjay Rikhi Ram Vadya Parampara event in New Delhi.

On the morning of January 3, after listening to the audio once more, Pandit Ravi Shankar made the decision to accept Rishab as a Shishya with the intention of directly developing his ability. The formal class lasted many hours, during which he invited Rishab to perform the same raag, listened intently, then demonstrated and corrected the composition.

Panditji explained that Pandit Parimal Sadaphal would oversee structured training with recurring remote progress evaluations, even if he would not always be in person.

Panditji wrapped the traditional red thread around Rishab's wrist and discussed Kartavya Vidya at the ceremonial Ganda Bandhan ceremony, which marked the end of the session. He emphasised that although the thread may break physically, the spiritual Guru-Shishya bond lasts a lifetime.

In front of Sukanya Shankar, the Sharma family, other disciples, and the crowd, Pandit Ravi Shankar publicly introduced 13-year-old Rishab Rikhiram Sharma on stage as his youngest disciple on February 10, 2012, during a Sanjay Rikhi Ram Vadya Parampara event at Kamani Auditorium. This was Panditji's last public engagement in India before moving to the United States to live abroad.

In addition to announcing that Rishab would play Raga Pancham Se Gara, which he had studied under Panditji's tutelage, Panditji also officially unveiled the electric sitar "rikEsitar," which was created by Sanjay Sharma. Their teacher-student relationship was openly and clearly acknowledged during the on-stage introduction. After Pandit Ravi Shankar died in December 2012, Sukanya Shankar asked Rishab to join other students from Panditji's lengthy teaching family to perform at the maestro's memorial service on March 10, 2013, in Nehru Park.

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Under the direction and instructions of Pandit Ravi Shankar, who has remained a mentor to this day, Pandit Parimal Sadaphal carried on Rishab Rikhiram Sharma's training starting in 2013.

Rishab has studied under a number of distinguished artists in addition to Pandit Parimal Sadaphal, including Shubhendra Rao, Ustad Rais Khan, Pandit Arun Bharat Ram, Ustad Aashish Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, and Parthosarthy Chatterjee. Rishab moved to New York City at the age of 17 to continue his musical development while pursuing his undergraduate education at The City University of New York, where he majored in Music Production and Economics.