Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recently shared a video on social media platform X where he could be seen taking Sitar lessons from an Indian instructor.
In the video, he could be seen introducing his instructor to his followers and then trying to play a melodious tune on the plucked stringed instrument, used in Hindustani classical music, and popularised worldwide by its late exponent, Pandit Ravi Shankar.
The Deputy PM said he enjoyed the experience of learning the instrument and knowing more about Indian music heritage.
He wrote on X: “Getting a quick intro to the beautiful tunes of the sitar. Karthigayan here has been learning for a while, and he has been very patient in guiding me through the basic techniques. Enjoyed the experience, and the chance to learn more about the rich classical Indian music heritage!”
Meanwhile, his act earned the appreciation of Indian PM Narendra Modi who wished that the Singaporean leader’s passion for the musical instrument would grow and inspire others.
“May your passion for the Sitar continue to grow and inspire others. Best wishes on this melodious endeavour. India’s musical history is a symphony of diversity, echoing through rhythms that have evolved over millennia. @LawrenceWongST,” Modi wrote on X while sharing Lawrence Wong’s video.
Pandit Ravi Shankar made sitar India’s most famous musical instrument overseas as it gained popularity further with George Harrison of the Beatles, who studied it from Shankar.