{
  "id": 18830311,
  "title": "For master sitarist Kumar, Deepavali is a celebration of gratitude",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/for-master-sitarist-kumar-deepavali-is-a-celebration-of-gratitude-18830311",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T00:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/11/08/for-master-sitarist-kumar-deepavali-is-a-celebration-of-gratitude"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Master sitarist Kumar Karthigesu finds Deepavali to be a deeply meaningful festival, transcending its typical celebrations of lights, decorations and joyous gatherings. For this master sitarist, the festival symbolizes gratitude for life's blessings and appreciation for the people in his life. Reflecting on its deeper significance at his studio in the Temple of Fine Arts (TFA) in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, Kumar spoke to FMT Lifestyle about the festival's symbolism of light overcoming darkness and good triumphing over evil.\n\nFor Kumar, Deepavali also signifies gratitude for having made it through another year, with its joys and challenges. He highlights the importance of celebrating the goodness of family, shelter, sustenance, good friends, and education. As a devoted sitar player, music is an essential part of his celebrations. During Deepavali, he gravitates towards uplifting ragas that embody the festival's celebratory spirit.\n\nKumar's musical journey began at the age of four when he was encouraged by parents who, though not musicians themselves, surrounded their children with music. He took up the sitar at the age of ten, gradually developing an affinity for the instrument. He explains that while he didn't fully comprehend the sitar's influence at that time, it became a part of him nonetheless.\n\nPlaying the sitar is not solely about technical mastery for Kumar; it is also about expressing emotions. Music, to him, is a means of conveying deep feelings. Although initially intended for a career in engineering in Australia, a sitar performance in 1991 inspired him to follow his teacher to India. This unexpected path eventually led him to establish sitar departments at the TFA in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Singapore, and served as its music department director from 2008 until June 2023. His dedication earned him the Anugerah Karyawan Seni in 2009 and Living Heritage recognition in 2011.\n\nBeyond his technical prowess, Kumar hopes his students understand that dedication matters just as much as natural talent. He emphasizes that one can achieve greatness through hard work, even without inherent talent. Music, for Kumar, possesses the remarkable ability to unite people, transcending language, race, religion, and cultural differences. He recalls performing in Korea with his band AkashA, where their lack of a common language with the audience led to a spontaneous connection through their shared emotions, as the audience bobbed their heads and cheered.\n\nRecently, Kumar's belief in music's unifying power was put to the test when renowned sitarist Anoushka Shankar's Kuala Lumpur concert was cancelled on the eve of the performance. Kumar, along with several of his students who had traveled from Penang, Johor Bahru, and Singapore, received news of the cancellation. However, Kumar, driven by the Temple of Fine Arts' enduring mission, intervened through Shankar's Instagram page. Within hours, the auditorium was prepared for a free, first-come, first-served performance. This gesture reflected TFA's commitment to promoting arts for arts' sake, demonstrating how generosity, goodwill, and a shared love of music can transform disappointment into something beautiful.",
  "summary": "Through music and a remarkable encounter with Anoushka Shankar, Kumar Karthigesu finds much to be thankful for.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}