Shankar, Ravi. “Homage to Mahatma Gandhi.” Deutsche Grammoph, 2004.
This classical Indian music track was improvised by Shankar during a live recorded radio broadcast just three days after Gandhi’s assassination in 1948 (www.artistdirect.com). It both mourns and celebrates Gandhi’s life at the sudden end of his nearly 17-year campaign against British rule in India. Much like the interweaving melodies of Shankar’s requiem, Gandhi's message was simple yet potent. He fought for the poor and the oppressed by empowering them to stand up for their rights. His practices have been analyzed and served as a source for numerous other leaders, leaving a legacy that certainly holds true to the satygraha principle.
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Perfect choice for a final track since Shankar had some crossover into American culture and since it is an homage, the spirit of which you are trying to capture through the profile. The only problem was that I only got to hear a tiny snippet. I'd like to hear it all.
ReplyDeleteThe down side: it has a little bit of a biography feel, since you ended with his death. Profiles don't need to do birth to death. But the track smartly reminds readers of your dominant impression through "fought" "oppressed" "empowering" "satyagraha.