- It is a well known fact that India in the 20th Century has produced three world class artists of international repute who have inspired many artists and intellectuals throughout the world. They are Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), Film laureate Satyajit Ray (1921-1992) and Music laureate Zubin Mehta (1936-). I have been lucky and fortunate enough to have met two of the three legends, Ray and Mehta.
The most memorable moment of my life was 12th May 1982, when I met the Grand Master of World Cinema Satyajit Ray (Manik-da a pet name used by people who knew him). The meeting which took place at a private residence was going to be my third and the last in London. However, Since we both shared a common interest in the arts, I made use of this moment to my best advantage. Sitting right next to the great man was like a dream come true. We both talked for nearly an hour on cinema and music and as we talked, my admiration for him grew even deeper for his profound knowledge of music, literature and above all, world cinema. My only regret is I did not have a tape recorder at the time to record this memorable conversation. Nonetheless, I did make full use of the time with the Guru from whom I have learnt a lot in life and this I shall always treasure.
The other significant encounter was with another fellow Indian, Maestro Zubin Mehta who is regarded as one of the greatest living conductors in the world today. The only Indian to occupy such a position in the mainstream Western Classical music. Zubin is now virtually a household name in Europe. I first met Maestro Mehta in the year 1995 at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The meeting was brief, during the interval. However, I met him again in March 1997 in a very congenial atmosphere at the Barbican Arts Centre in London. I had the invitation to watch the rehearsal which Zubin Mehta was doing for his friend Mestislav Rostropovich, another giant in the field of music and a great admirer of Satyajit Ray. After the rehearsal, I went up to Maestro Mehta and introduced myself and he recognised me, having met him earlier. I chatted with him in his mother tongue (Gujarati), of which I have some knowledge. These moments will always remain with me.
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