Few months before his sad demise, Ravi Shankar enquired about the classical music scene in India while he was in the US, said santoor player Pt Satish Vyas.
"I met him exactly two months back in the US and spent an evening with him. He was keen to know about the Indian music scene. He asked me whether concerts are being held here and classical music is getting corporate support," Vyas told PTI.
"He was concerned that classical music should continue in a big way in India. He still wanted to do something valuable for classical music," Vyas added.
Vyas was closely associated him for many years after meeting Ravi Shankar first in 1980 to ask him to perform at the Gunidas Sangeet Sammelan.
"Despite being such a towering personality, he was so humble. He used to crack jokes and was a jovial person," he said.
Vyas said Ravi Shankar is the face of Indian music outside and put Indian classical on the world map.
"When I travel to other countries I carry my Santoor with me. At the airports, customs people ask me what is in the box and I tell them it's an Indian classical instrument. They ask me, 'Is it the same instrument that Ravi Shankar plays?' Such is his fame," said Vyas.