When the Beatles visited Rishikesh

rajugusain

When the Beatles visited Rishikesh

Raju Gusain
Rishikesh, July 26

The Beatles visited this historic religious town in the '60s attracting worldwide attention. In 1968, photographer Paul Saltzman got the once in a lifetime opportunity to share some memorable moments with John, Paul, George and Ringo at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Ashram on the outskirts of this holy town.
He took over fifty exclusive photographs of this famous band. Saltzman's book, 'The Beatles in Rishikesh', and his website, 'www.The BeatlesInRishikesh.com', are dedicated to this memorable experience. The Canada based Saltzman interacted with this HT Correspondent via the Internet. Some excerpts:
Q: How did you come in contact with the Beatles?
A: While working for the National Film Board of Canada in India, my girlfriend informed me that she had moved in with someone else. I was heartbroken and went to learn meditation at the Maharishi's Ashram in Rishikesh. But I was not allowed to enter the gate because of tight security arranged for the Beatles.
Q: What happened next?
A: I waited outside the Ashram gate, sleeping in a tent, for eight days and during that time a devotee became familiar with me and realized that I was not there to meet the Beatles and was only desperate to learn meditation and seek relief for my heartbreak. On the morning of the 8th day, he came and took me to his meditation room and taught me meditation. When I walked out into the sun, later, I encountered the Beatles, who were accompanied by their wives.
Q: What are your memories of the Beatles' stay in Rishikesh?
A: They were different individuals but each was sincere, down to earth, humorous, kind and welcoming. I spent many hours with them, listening to them talk and sing.
Q: Which member of the group inspires you the most and why?
A: John and George. John for his unique and intense creative vision. George because of his devotion to becoming more conscious and in touch with the divine.
Q: Did you meet the group members again after the Rishikesh visit?
A: No.
Q: Did the Rishikesh visit inspire the Beatles in their creative work? How?
A: Their time at the Ashram was the single most productive capsule of time in their careers. They wrote 48 songs while they were there in Rishikesh.
Q: What inspired you to write 'The Beatles in Rishikesh?
A: The desire to share with the others the photographs that I had taken some 36 years ago and more or less forgotten.
Q: Beatles memorabilia is in great demand. What is the response among Beatles fans to the photographs taken by you in Rishikesh?
A: The response has been wonderful. People come to see the photographs in gallery shows organized in the USA, Canada and UK.
Q: What impact do you think the visit had on Rishikesh? Did it promote the town as a tourism destination?
A: I believe that many western travelers have visited this holy town because of its association with the Beatles.
Q: You have organized photo exhibitions of the 'Beatles in Rishikesh' in many parts of the world. Do you have any plan to host such shows in India?
A: Though I have visited India more than 50 times, I would love to return yet again for this purpose.

(More details: www.TheBeatlesInIndia.com )

Hindustan Times,
New Delhi (Late city edition)
27 July, 2004

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