Sitarist and composer Anoushka Shankar has called for a change in the mindset of people to end sexual abuse of women and for lifting the veil of secrecy in such cases.
“Violence against women in the country is getting more focus these days due to greater media attention,” Ms. Shankar told The Hindu . She is here to perform on the opening day of Kerala Tourism’s seven-day Nishagandhi festival that begins on Wednesday.
“The veil of secrecy should be lifted and it is nothing to be ashamed of,” she said, calling for creating awareness to check crime against women. Education could a play a greater role in bringing down such cases, she noted.
Earlier, the five-time Grammy award nominee announced that her next album Land of Gold on the theme of the refugee crisis in the world would be released in March.
On her album Home that fetched her the fifth Grammy nomination, Ms. Shankar said it was composed as a tribute to her father, the late Ravi Shankar. It features two ragas, one of which, Raga Jogeshwari, was her father’s creation.
“Indian classical music is my first language… I was very privileged to have the greatest exponent of this form of music living in my house, to watch him approach his art and for him to be willing to teach me,” she said.