Anoushka Shankar’s Sitar Damaged: Airline Offers Compensation

Renowned sitarist Anoushka Shankar has shared a hopeful update following the unfortunate damage to her precious sitar during an Air India flight. The acclaimed musician expressed her initial devastation on social media after discovering the instrument had sustained significant damage while in transit. However, she has now confirmed that the airline has stepped up, offering to cover the full costs of the necessary repairs. Shankar noted that this incident was particularly upsetting as it marks the first time in nearly two decades of extensive international travel with her sitar that such damage has occurred. The airline, in response to the public outcry and Shankar’s post, acknowledged the situation, expressing concern and regret. They stated they were investigating the cause of the damage, which involved multiple handlers. Fortunately, a skilled luthier is now working on restoring the sitar, and Shankar is optimistic it can be brought back to playable condition for her upcoming ‘India Chapters’ tour. The incident has also prompted discussions about improved handling procedures for delicate musical instruments during air travel, with hopes that Air India will implement policy changes to prevent future occurrences.