My journey to the Sitar and Sitars Etc.

Bharat

I first got interested in Indian music, and sitars, in particular, after listening to the Beatles "Revolver" album and then anything and everything recorded, that I could find, that had the "sounds" that seems to "grip" me from the inside completely!

As I found information as to what that "sound" was, I started putting out feelers with the local dj's, and music dealers in the Laredo, Texas area as to where I could get my hands on an instrument that would sound like that. Finally, late in 1968, someone told me that a Mexican rock star by the name of Javier Batiz had a sitar for sale. Sight unseen, and not knowing what I would get, except that Time magazine had a article about "cascading golden nails" and Ravi Shankar, I decided that I wanted "that"..... whatever it was.

Of course, I got a piece of badly damaged junk, salvageable junk, but junk none-the-less.

I was as far away from India, and Indian culture, as you can possibly get. South Texas, Laredo, deep in Mexican-American Spanish culture.  I was clue-less as to what to do with what I got, or how it should really look like, or even what strings I should buy, or even what kind of "pick" to use. It came painted in psychedelic colors, several broken strings, or missing strings, and nothing to guide me. But I had a sitar!!!!!

There were no western classical instrument repair shops in Laredo. We were lucky to have a music store. I took it to the next best place, a neighborhood furniture repairman. He seemed overjoyed at the chance. He found a "Life" magazine article with a picture of Ravi Shankar and from there proceeded to "re-furbish" the sitar. The finished product was amazing. Now all I needed were "strings." Where to get them? Well back to my music store, right? Sitar strings, what the "H???." Get away from me kid, you're bothering me! I kept insisting and insisting, paying for long distance calls so that they could call for inquiries to New York, etc. They found them! "La Bella" sitar strings. Later I would find out that they were not exactly what you wanted, but at the time, they were "strings,” the next thing to "diamonds,” and just as rare to find. I plopped down my money and ordered my first set of sitar strings. Then after getting them, somehow, I don't know how, by trial an error, I figured out what to do with the main and sympathetic strings.

And at the end, I had a sitar. I didn't know how to tune it, but I could produce those "sounds" that drove me crazy. Guitar picks were useless, so I invented my own from a bobby pin curled in half and there it was, not exactly, but close enough. I was in heaven. I played day and night...well, playing is an exaggeration. But, I tried anyway. I took it to school, I took it on my summer vacations in Mexico, it went everywhere that I went. I composed and played my own music for a school film. I played for hours on end, I couldn't get enough. It became part of me.

In 1970, I went to college where I studied for a B.S. degree in Biology, and later attended Medical School. I even composed and played a series of compositions for Sitar and Violin, for a multi-media Biology school presentation. I found a "teacher", learned from him how to tune, use a mizrab, and I have been learning how ever since. The original Batiz refurbished sitar was my companion for 5 years, until I ordered a new one, again sight unseen, from New York. That one became my companion until December 2003 when it was given to my son, as I, now, was the proud owner of a beautiful Surbahar made under Pt. Indrajit Banerjee's supervision. That Surbahar has a sound so powerful, that it seems to resonate right through my chest as I play it.

Through the effort of all those years, I was no longer a stranger to Raga Sangeet, I soaked up as much Indian Music as I could find. I met my spiritual Guru and learned how to sing and play Bhajans. That brought about a spiritual re-birth in me and Babaji gave me an Indian name that would be significant later in my life.  I was to be known as Bharat from then on. At my Guru's request, I was sent to establish Sri Gurudev Ashram in Mexico City in the mid 70's.  My sitar was always at my side.

After passing on the direction of the Ashram to a board of directors, I moved to San Antonio, Texas, and married and have resided there ever since. I became involved with the local Indian community and participated in the opening, the planning and building of the Hindu Temple of San Antonio, dedicated to Sri Ganesh, Sri Venkateshwara, and Sri Mahadeva/Parvati. I have found great and lasting friends in San Antonio, including Drs. Rama Krishna and Kamala Rao, Dr. and Smt. Pemmaraju Rao and a good tablaji and friend, Dr. Vijay Koli and his wife, Dr. Malati Koli, a Bharatnatyam dancer.  Vijay accompanied me on tabla on occasion in the distant past of the 80's. I even attempted Indian classical vocal music with Smt. Nandapurkar.