"The world's leading sitar player and elder statesman of Indian culture, Ravi Shankar spent his teenage years as a dancer in the glamorous world of 1930s Paris and New York. After studying in India with classical Hindustani music master Allauddin Khan, Ravi's early career culminated in a successful tour of Soviet Russia in 1954 with the huge, prestigious first cultural delegation sent by Jawaharlal Nehru.".

"In 1956 he made the momentous move to the West, becoming the first Indian artist to bridge the cultural gap and encourage appreciation of Indian music in Europe and America. As an established international musician, Ravi combined time in India with frequent trips abroad for concerts, recordings and festivals. In 1966 his meeting with George Harrison began a lasting friendship and collaboration out of which this landmark of a book has been born.".

"Raga Mala features a collection of photographs and documents drawn almost entirely from personal archives, and contributions from a wide circle of friends including Yehudi Menuhin, Zubin Mehta and Philip Glass. The crazy days of sixties superstardom, of Monterey, Woodstock and the Concert for Bangladesh are recalled with both relish and a touch of distant relief.".

"Bringing the story up-to-date, Ravi reflects on the 50th anniversary of Indian independence, forecasts the path Indian music may take in years to come, and reveals his belated conversion to a more settled family life."--BOOK JACKET.