Anoushka Shankar Slams Air India After Her Sitar Is Damaged
Anoushka Shankar Slams Air India After Her Sitar Is Damaged
Globally acclaimed sitarist Anoushka Shankar has publicly criticised Air India after discovering severe damage to her sitar following a recent flight. Shankar, who decided to fly with the airline again after several years, expressed deep disappointment when she opened her case to find her cherished instrument mishandled and broken.
The musician took to social media to describe her shock, explaining that the sitar—an instrument of immense emotional and artistic value—had clearly not been handled with the care it required. Shankar stressed that her sitar is not just a professional tool, but a treasured possession crafted with precision, tradition, and sentiment.
Sharing images and details of the damage, she wrote, “Devastated and truly disturbed by @airindia’s treatment of my sitar. How on earth does damage like this happen without willful disregard? It feels especially sad given that I’ve flown Air India after a long time, and it seems an Indian instrument can’t be safe with them—after all the thousands of flights taken on other airlines without even a peg going out of tune.” – Anoushka Shankar Slams Air India After Her Sitar Is Damaged
Shankar explained that she had specifically chosen Air India for this journey, expecting attentive handling of an Indian classical instrument on the national carrier. Instead, the experience has sparked renewed debate about the way airlines manage fragile and high-value items, especially musical instruments.
Her post has amplified concerns within the artistic community, as many performers rely heavily on air travel and face significant professional and financial setbacks when their instruments are damaged. The incident has led to fresh calls for airlines to adopt stricter guidelines, better communication, and specialised training for handling delicate cargo.
Air India has yet to issue a detailed response regarding Shankar’s complaint. Meanwhile, the conversation continues online, with musicians and supporters urging airlines to prioritise the safety of irreplaceable instruments and introduce concrete measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Anoushka Shankar Slams Air India After Her Sitar Is Damaged
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