Anoushka Shankar says Air India cracked her sitar, sparking outrage over airline mishandling of instruments
Grammy-nominated sitarist Anoushka Shankar has called out Air India after discovering deep cracks in her sitar following a recent flight reigniting long-standing concerns among musicians about the treatment of fragile instruments on airlines.
In a video posted to Instagram, Shankar’s is seen holding up the damaged sitar. “This was my first time flying Air India in a long time… after 15 or 17 years, this is the first time anything like this has happened to my instrument,” she said.
For an artist whose music is inseparable from her instrument, the shock cuts far deeper than the wood.
A Painful Discovery Despite Precautions
Shankar emphasized that she always travels with a special hard case built to withstand the rigor of international touring and even paid Air India’s handling fee to ensure extra care. Yet, when the case was opened, the sitar emerged cracked.
“How have you done this? I have special cases, you charge a handling fee and yet you’ve done this?” she asked in the video visibly frustrated.
In her caption, she wrote that she was “devastated and truly disturbed,” adding that the disappointment stung even more because she had chosen Air India after many years. “It seems an Indian instrument can’t be safe with them,” she remarked, noting that she has flown on “thousands of flights” with other airlines without even a tuning peg shifting out of place.
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Waves of Support Online for Shankar who’s Awaiting an Airline Response
Within minutes, the comments section of Shankar’s post turned into a chorus of support and disbelief. Fellow musicians, fans, and industry peers expressed frustration over an issue that many have personally faced.
Musician Anvita Shankar wrote, “This is unbelievable. How terribly @airindia must’ve handled the sitar for this to happen inside those secure hard cases!!?? I’m so sorry.”
Composer Vishal Dadlani added, “God, that’s heartbreaking! I’m so sorry.”
As Shankar’s post continues to gather attention, Air India has yet to make a public statement addressing the incident. For now, the musician’s damaged sitar stands as a stark reminder of the fragility not just of instruments, but of the trust musicians place in the carriers they rely on.
Previously in other news, Rahul Ram of Indian Ocean had raised concerns over terrible management at the Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat.
