The story of Ravi Shankar, George Harrison and The Concert for Bangladesh

The story of Ravi Shankar, George Harrison and The Concert for Bangladesh

The Concert for Bangladesh was held on August 1, 1971. Today is August 1, 2021, the 50th anniversary of The Concert for Bangladesh. After 50 years, let's look back at this outstanding event.

Image Courtesy: The Beatles

1971. There is division, hatred, murder, atrocities all over the world. At the White House, Richard M. Nixon. The Vietnam War is going on. It is too late to break up the Soviet Union. The Berlin Wall still stands. That is when the hellish genocide started in East Pakistan. The independence of Bangladesh was declared. The struggle for liberation began everywhere. Lots of people crossed the border and took refuge in India. The food crisis was caused by the devastating Bhola cyclone a few months ago in Bangladesh and West Bengal. The refugee camps have to struggle to provide food and medicine, and millions of people have died of cholera. Brutal killings also take place inside the country.

Pandit Ravi Shankar was then in California. In charge of the Department of Indian Music at the California Institute of Arts.

Although Ravi Shankar was born in Benares, his father was a child of Bangladesh. So even though he was born and raised in Benares and toured Europe and America at a very young age, he was a complete Bengali. By then he had reached the pinnacle of worldwide fame. He has worked as a music composer in Bollywood and also worked with Satyajit Ray. Performed in 1954 in the Soviet Union, 1955 in New York. In the 1950s and 60s, he released several popular albums from American record companies. In 1956 he toured the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. Participated in the tenth anniversary of the United Nations and the UNESCO International Music Festival held in Paris.

He has toured Europe and Australia since 1981. In 196, he met his best friend George Harrison. Setter taught Harrison. Taught Vedic spirituality. He also performed at the 1986 Monterey Pop Festival and the 1989 Woodstock Festival. Ravi Shankar has spread the revolution of Indian music all over the West.

Ravi Shankar was worried when he got the news of the country sitting in California. He told his friend George Harrison about the ongoing war for the first time in early '71. George Harrison sees deep concern for the country in the eyes of a friend.

The Beatles have broken down by then. Harrison was then enjoying a career as a full-fledged solo artist. Although the Beatles broke, Beatlemania is still intact. Fans are taking a look at every work of John, George, Paul and Ringo. For those who don't know exactly how big the Beatles are in Western pop culture in the 1950s and 60s, it is impossible to explain in two or three lines.

George Harrison was then one of the most recognizable faces in the whole world. Harrison's third solo album, All Things Must Pass, was released in 1980 after the Beatles broke up. Global hit to be released! Several songs from the album, including 'My Sweet Lord', 'Wah Wah', 'What Is Life', have been at the top of the charts for a long time. 'My Sweet Lord' is the best-selling song released in the UK in 1970. At the time, George Harrison was also working as a producer; He is writing several popular songs, composing movie music and also making documentaries on his friend Ravi Shankar.

The Beatles' 'Help!' During the filming of the movie, Harrison first became acquainted with Indian classical music. The tunes of setar, tabla and sarad overwhelmed him. He became interested in Indian music and culture. He bought Setar himself and started learning. As a result, Setar's melody is used in the Beatles' song "Norwegian Wood". Indian classical rage blends with Western rock for the first time. Origin is a new genre called 'Raga Rock'.

Harrison listened to Ravi Shankar's set for the first time in a friend's record. A year later, in London, we met these two greats with completely different countries, different cultures and different types of music. A few days later, George Harrison started learning seta from Ravi Shankar. After three months he fled to Bombay. Ravi Shankar taught Harrison to hold the seta, to play. Teach more than that spiritual and spiritual discipline. Indian philosophy spread in Harrison's mind which greatly influenced the rest of Harrison's life. In a very short time a cosmic relationship was formed, which lasted until Harrison's death. Ravi Shankar later said of Harrison, "He was my student, my brother, my son, all combined." Harrison also said, "Ravi Shankar is probably the person who has influenced my life the most."

On posters hanging outside Madison Square Garden; PHOTO PROVIDED BY BRUCE SPIZER

April 1971. George Harrison and Ravi Shankar were both working on the soundtrack of a documentary on Ravi Shankar in Los Angeles. It was at this time that Pakistani journalist Anthony Mascarenhas published his famous report in the Sunday Times of London, highlighting the ongoing atrocities in East Pakistan. Ravi Shankar's worries have almost turned into depression by then. He is mad to do something for the people of the country.

Ravi Shankar first thought of a benefit concert. Thought George Harrison or Peter Sellers, a popular actor and friend of the time, would be there. With good luck, he might get as much as 25,000, all of which he will send to help the refugees. From that thought he told George Harrison about the ongoing war. George Harrison immediately announced that he would do everything possible to help. Ravi Shankar later said,

I was in a very sad mood, having read all this news, and I said, "George, this is the situation, I know it doesn't concern you, I know you can't possibly identify." But while I talked to George he was very deeply moved ... and he said, "Yes, I think I'll be able to do something.

Then George Harrison began to work hard. All known musicians, record companies, film companies telephoned one by one. From a small fundraising event, the whole thing turns into a concert full of superstars! Harrison later said,

'The Concert For Bangladesh' happened because of my relationship with Ravi ... I said, "If you want me to be involved, I think I'd better be really involved," so I started recruiting all these people.

Harrison's early list of potential performers included Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Billy Preston, Jim Keltner, Claus Verman and the Badfinger band. Almost everyone on the initial list agreed to perform. Paul McCartney rejected Harrison's offer because of some Beatles internal problems. And John Lennon agreed at the beginning but decided not to perform in the end.

An Indian astronomer advised Harrison to do the concert in August. The service is scheduled for the entire month of August at Madison Square Garden in New York for only one day, the first day of the month. Therefore, The Concert for Bangladesh was scheduled for August 1, 1971.

In the first week of July, George Harrison recorded his song 'Bangla Desh' in a Los Angeles studio. Produced Ravi Shankar's Benefit Record 'Joi Bangla'. The 'George Harrison – Ravi Shankar Special Emergency Relief Fund' was created with the help of UNICEF. In mid-July, the last page of the New York Times announced, "The Concert For Bangla Desh by George Harrison and Friends."

Exactly how popular George Harrison was has already been said. Now with him Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell, Billy Preston! The most popular rock stars of the time! With the announcement, the news of the concert reached almost everywhere. People started running from far and wide. Tickets sold out in the blink of an eye. In such a frenzy, Harrison was forced to host two shows. There will be two shows of Concert for Bangladesh on 1st August. The first is at half past noon, the second at eight at night.

The rehearsal started on July 26. Everyone who wanted to perform joined the rehearsal one by one. A grand procession of 65 star artists including guitarists, bassists, drummers, choirs and trumpeters took place. The Ringo Star came running from distant Spain. Leon Russell has been with Harrison since the beginning. Apple Corps is responsible for recording the sound and video of the entire concert. The best organizers in New York are in charge of managing the entire program.

With Eric Clapton in trouble. He was then severely addicted to heroin. So addicted that attending rehearsals is almost uncertain. George Harrison was forced to hire another guitarist. But on the very last day, Clapton arrived at the last soundcheck. Bob Dylan also appeared on the last day. Dylan was in the public eye for almost a year after a bike accident. After all this time, Dylan was a little apprehensive to see such a huge event. "Look, it's not my scene," he told Harrison.

Bob Dylan, of course, was right. Nothing like this has ever happened in the history of rock and roll music. The best stars of the time are performing together. That too for free, with the help of a war-torn country! No one has ever thought of such a concert before. George Harrison has never performed in a live concert alone. "At least you've played on your own in front of a crowd before," Harrison told Dylan. I've never done that. ” In the end, Dylan confirmed nothing to Harrison. Even at the last minute, Harrison did not know if Bob Dylan would perform at all.

August 1, 1971. Massive crowd at the gate of Madison Square Garden. Thousands of spectators are slowly entering. About 20,000 spectators attended the two-and-a-half-hour concert. George Harrison started the concert. Ravi Shankar performed first. Sitting next to Setar, he pulled the mic to him and said,

We are not politicians, we are artists, but through our music we would like you to feel the agony and also the pain and lot of sad happenings in Bangladesh.

Then Ravi Shankar started "Bangla Dhun" made from a Bangladeshi folk tune. Impossible peace throughout the entire auditorium. Most of the 20,000 people are listening to classical Indian music for the first time. Ravi Shankar's setar, Allah's tabla, Ali Akbar Khan's Sharad and Kamala Chakraborty's outstanding melody in Tanpura seem to be painting a picture of Bangladesh in the hearts of thousands of viewers. As Ravi Shankar descends from the stage at the end of the performance, fascination in the eyes of thousands of spectators, endless applause throughout the auditorium.

George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Billy Preston, Jim Keltner and Klaus Verman then took to the stage together. The whole Madison Square Garden seemed to explode! All the best superstars of the time together, on the same stage. This is like a dream. George Harrison sang "Wah-Wah", "Something" and "Awaiting on You All". After Harrison, Billy Preston sang his popular "That's the Way God Planned It." Ringo Starr sang his "It Don't Come Easy". Harrison also sang "Beware of Darkness" "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". Leon Russell sang "Jumpin 'Jack Flash" and "Young Blood" by Rolling Stones.

At this point, George Harrison's eyes fell on the line-up list as he picked up an electric guitar with an acoustic guitar in hand. He saw Bob Dylan's name and the question mark. Harrison looked back at the entrance gate with a last-minute uncertainty. He saw Bob Dylan coming up on the stage, overcoming his nervousness. Harrison later said, "He was so nervous - he had his guitar on and his shades. It was only at that moment that I knew for sure he was going to do it." The audience was overwhelmed when they saw Bob Dylan again. The show was a complete success. Dylan sang five of his nineteen-sixty-decade-defining songs: Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry "," Love Minus Zero / No Limit "and" Just Like a Woman ". Along with Dylan, George Harrison and Leon Russell also performed side vocals and two electric guitars.

Image Courtesy: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

After Dylan, Harrison finally sang "Hear Me Lord" and the new song "My Sweet Lord". At the end of the concert, George Harrison sang "Bangla Desh". He sang,

𝑴𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒂𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔

𝑯𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑

𝑩𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔

𝑨𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏

𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒚

𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝑰'𝒎 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖

𝑻𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒖𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔

𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒉, 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒉

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕

𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔

𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔"

The two and a half show ended with great success. The name of Bangladesh spread through the mouths of 20,000 spectators.

At the 8pm show, another 20,000 people attended Madison Square Garden. George Harrison once again presented a very successful show with some changes in the line-up. Everyone relied more on the second show than on the first show. Once again, George Harrison reminded thousands of people about Bangladesh.

The name of Bangladesh spread all over the world in one night. The gate fee for the concert alone generates about  250,000 usd, all of which reaches Bangladesh. The concert was soon released worldwide as a live sound recording album and as a video recording movie, earning about 12.5 million. Ravi Shankar said about the whole matter,

What happened is now history: it was one of the most moving and intense musical experiences of the century.

The Concert for Bangladesh did not bring much financial benefit at that time. The total revenue of US ১২ 12 million reached Bangladesh more than a century later in 1975 due to corruption and tax evasion. In the meantime, there have been floods in Bangladesh, there has been famine, millions of people have died due to lack of food and medicine. Yet there is nothing comparable to the way this one concert has stirred the whole world.

Due to this one event, a lot of money, medicine and food started coming to Bangladesh. People around the world started talking about Bangladesh. Huge public opinion was created for Bangladesh. Reaching a huge amount of media coverage in Bangladesh. If it wasn't for 'Concert for Bangladesh', maybe none of this would have happened overnight. George Harrison said in 1992,

The money we raised was secondary. The main thing was, we spread the word and helped get the war ended. What we did show was that musicians and people are more humane than politicians.

For the first time, 'The Concert for Bangladesh' is a humanitarian call to mix rock and roll. People see how powerful music can be. This is where the benefit event begins. In 1985, a live aid concert was organized in support of the ongoing famine in Ethiopia. Many more benefit concerts including Live Earth, Farm Aid, Self Aid, Live 8 are held one after another on various issues, which has so far ensured food for many children, peace of life for many people.

Ravi Shankar and George Harrison proved that a song is more powerful than a bullet. He showed me how to stand next to people whenever I want. 'Concert for Bangladesh' will be one of the best humanitarian initiatives in history. And the names of Ravi Shankar and George Harrison will be written in gold letters in the minds of fans all over the world.