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Western guitar's entry into the world of Indian classical music as a solo instrument is a symbol of a fruitful interaction between the cultures of the East and the West. It is relatively a recent development. However, it would not have been successful without the efforts and innovation of Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.

Vishwa Mohan Bhatt comes from Jaipur in Rajastan (India), and received his initial training from his elder brother, Shri Shashi Mohan Bhatt, a highly respected teacher and a brilliant sitar player. Since 1983, Vishwa Mohan has been receiving valuable guidance from the great sitar maestro, Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Vishwa Mohan modified the Western acoustic guitar by changing the main strings and adding a number of "sympathetic strings." He then developed his own technique of playing Indian classical music on this modified guitar, which he calls "Mohan Veena". His style of rendering classical and light classical compositions is a fine combination of the "gayaki" (i.e. vocal) and the "tantrakari" (i.e. instrumental) styles. Those who listen him perform will be convinced that his efforts have been richly rewarded. Elijah Wald in the January/February 1995 issue of ACOUSTIC GUITAR says, "With blinding speed and faultless legato, Bhatt is undoubtedly one of the most expressive and versatile slide players in the world."

In 1994 Vishwa Mohan received the GRAMMY AWARD for the Best Album of the Year in the World Music category. The award winning recording, "A Meeting by the River", was the result of musical collaboration between Vishwa Mohan and the well known American slide guitar player, Ry Cooder. His more recent collaborative efforts with American Dobro guitar player Jerry Douglas, with banjo player Bela Fleck, with chinese er'hu player Jie Bing Chen and with the American Country music singer Taj Mahal, have produced a number of recordings that have gained wide acclaim. In 1999 the President of India presented Vishwa Mohan Bhatt with the Sangeet Natak Academy Award.

Vishwa Mohan has performed extensively in U.S.A., Canada, England, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, several Middle Eastern countries as well as the constituent states of the former Soviet Union.

The following are some of his prominent performances: (1) Concert at Madison Square Garden on the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, (2) Performance at the Royal Albert Hall (London) on the celebration of BBC PROMS 100 YEARS, (3) Performance at the Lincoln Center (New York) on the 125th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, (4) Concert in the Festival of International Guitar Stars in Toronto, and (5) Performance at the "Jazz Festival" in Ottawa, Canada.