India, Oct. 14 -- The last page of your book Master of the 7 Swars mentions that your journey with Hindustani classical music began as a child with you repeating what your teacher sang without "understanding its meaning or relevance". What kept you going when you were unable to understand what you were asked to do as a student?

In the first grade, I was fascinated with the xylophone in our classroom. I would strike keys at random and sing "Sa re ke sa re ga ma ko lekar gaate chale.", my favourite song at the time. Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle sang it for Gulzar's film Parichay (1972). My teachers, impressed by my enthusiasm, encouraged me to pursue music seriously.

My parents invited a music teacher home to guide me. I remember the sme...