Indian classical music has a strong following abroad: Anoushka Shankar

“India does have a lot of governmental support for classical music and the arts, but it is not about that. Where are the concert halls? Where are the venues? Where are the radio stations? Where are the TV channels? That’s where the problem lies a lot more than how many people listen to it,” she said.

So, what, in her opinion, is the solution?

“If people within the classical music world could get some help in how to develop visibility in other media, whether it is streaming concerts live on subscription channels online for example… Anything that does it without diluting content is a priority,” she said, while adding that private funding and donorship can also propel the music’s growth.

“We rely on corporate sponsorship here. It has its place, but some private donors would be really helpful,” she added.

For centuries, art and music have helped establish a spiritual connection between humans irrespective of their race or ethnicity. Anoushka says that music helps us to “reconnect to exalted, higher places” that are beyond all arguments.

“Music is where you can put words and belief systems aside and just connect heart-to-heart. You and I know, two people can connect from the heart… If you are not talking politics, you are not talking religion, you can still connect,” she said.

“Music has always played a role because it helps reconnect back to more exalted, higher places beyond all other arguments and I think that’s something that it is really important.”