Categorical Information Service
HYDERABAD: Sitarist, music producer and psychological well being advocate, Rishab Rikhiram Sharma introduced ‘Sitar for Psychological Well being’ to India after touring the world. As part of the India leg of the tour, Rishab carried out in Hyderabad this weekend. Whereas a serious chunk of the inhabitants nonetheless walks on eggshells relating to psychological well being care, there was a spike in testimonies of battling nervousness and despair. Such a narrative is Rishab’s. In dialog with CE, Rishab talks about his journey from studying a guitar as a passion to enjoying sitar for others and his sanity.
Reminiscing about his childhood, he recollects how he was barred from touching sitar. In his house, because it was thought of holy. “I’ve been going to the shop and the manufacturing unit with my father; it was an thrilling childhood that I went by way of. Initially, I wasn’t allowed to choose up the sitar and attempt to play it as a result of it has a variety of respect, a minimum of in our household. And my dad at all times hyped it up and mentioned it’s important to have self-discipline, like showering earlier than touching the sitar; it’s a really unique factor in our house.
Naturally, I used to be intimidated by this,” shares Rishabh. His father, Sanjay Rikhiram, was his first guru. Regardless of being born right into a household of luthiers, Rishab didn’t get to play and even contact the Sitar till he was confirmed worthy, “As I used to be intimidated by the sitar, I picked up the guitar because it was a cool instrument whereas I used to be rising up, it nonetheless is, however I feel sitar is manner cooler now.
I was fairly good with the guitar, so sooner or later, this damaged sitar got here from the cargo. My dad by no means retains devices in a damaged state, so he fixes them. Even when it wasn’t going to another person, it needed to be in good situation. So he left it on the wall to dry after fixing it. So I shyly requested him, ‘baba, can I do this instrument, as it’s already damaged, and the way far more can I break it? And nobody was going to purchase a damaged sitar in any case’. He mentioned okay, as he was in a very good temper. After I picked up the sitar and performed it, I figured it out inside minutes, and performed some acquainted tunes because it was much like the guitar. My dad was astonished. He was like how are you doing this? He was impressed. So he began my classes the following day. Lastly, that’s how my sitar journey started.”
As everybody pertains to music on some or the opposite stage, Rishab believed it may very well be one of many coping mechanisms. “Even once I was at school, if I used to be having a nasty time or day, I might come again house and observe,” Rishab says as he talks about his journey to play sitar for psychological well being. “I misplaced my grandfather through the pandemic, and I couldn’t cope. At the moment, I didn’t even get out of my room. I barely ate. I had a few episodes of tension, however with my mates’ and household’s suggestion, I sought counseling. Throughout one of many conversations with my counselor, I used to be prompt to have remedy work and discover some good coping mechanisms.
As I discussed my background, I realised I hadn’t performed a lot sitar recently. Once I went to remedy, I used to speak and course of my concepts, and I used to really feel higher; then I got here again house to observe sitar, and I felt significantly better,” says Rishab. As he strived to heal, he started enjoying sitar for himself, however as there have been no gigs or live shows, enjoying throughout the 4 partitions was fairly demotivating. With the assistance of social media, going dwell with sitar helped Rishab to remain motivated. “I assumed I may very well be fruitful and assist myself battle my nervousness. I performed some meditative items on Instagram dwell.
And I saved on doing these classes, however initially, nobody got here regardless of having 4k followers; solely three individuals joined. I might get a praise every now and then. After some time, increasingly individuals joined and caught round for the entire session. And after the session, I obtained lengthy dms and really sort phrases of appreciation; some had been profound and considerate messages, whereas others shared how my music helped them relax, as some individuals had been grieving as they misplaced their mother and father to Covid-19. I had no phrases, I used to be doing this for myself, and I realised this was serving to others too. I realised that music is a two-way road; it’s simply not about me anymore, I discovered these messages so inspiring and heart-touching, they usually saved me going. I’ve change into much more constant in these classes; if not for me, I wished to be there for them. Slowly we constructed a neighborhood.”
On asking how he stayed related to the gen-z, with a lowered consideration span now, “Everyone seems to be on social media as of late and has to pitch and promote themselves in these two-three seconds. I’ve by no means nervous about that. I analysed social media and understood the algorithms, so I posted snippets of my ragas as a touch to my work. At present, I’m doing lo-fi sitar beats and collaborations with jazz artists, and I feel modernising conventional music is a troublesome activity to seize the Indian essence. Nonetheless, they’re additionally fashionable of their manufacturing approach, which appeals to the gen-z. Psychological well being is my little child, and I wish to generate extra of this and de-stigmatise and discuss it. It isn’t straightforward for me to indicate up and discuss what I went by way of; it’s at all times a painful course of. However the dialog is crucial. And solely by way of dialog, we are able to de-stigmatise psychological well being and generate consciousness. That’s my little effort, and I feel my effort and being on the market appeals to gen-Z. I really feel like I’m doing one thing cool and fruitful,” concludes Rishabh Rikhiram.
