Says Setsuo Miyashita, “In ‘87, I heard Shivji (Shivkumar Sharma) on a Japanese TV channel. It was six minutes of divine music. It completely changed my life.” Sharma was in a concert in Japan and Miyashita watched the performance at his home in Gifu, 50 km from Nagoya city.

“I knew immediately what was my calling. Few years later I came to Mumbai and met Shivji,” says Miyashita, adding, he is the only Japanese disciple of Sharma. “I was a guitarist. Santoor is a very different instrument. Just imagine, the guitar has six strings, while the santoor has 100.”

Bosch’s story is equally inspiring. “When I came in contact with Pt Hari Prasad Chauarsia, I didn’t know just how much power the simple, little flute packs,” she says.

“The incredible melody of the flute can change anyone’s life.” Her parents wanted her to be a teacher. Instead, she pursued Hindustani classical music. “Though Indian music, I got what I was looking for in life.” Of course, her business card says: “Disciple of Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia.”