Last year, Shankar travelled to India to visit a school for children with special needs in the small village of Ayikudy.

After watching the determined, yet impoverished children go about life with a positive outlook, Shankar decided to help them out.

The Indian singer compared the poor children to the resilient lotus flower of her homeland that grows from the swamp to bloom beautifully.

"The lotus (flower) is a nice analogy for the school," said Shankar. "After seeing these kids without an arm or a leg really puts your life in perspective."

Shankar will be the featured performer in a night of classical Indian songs, aka carnatic music, this Saturday (Mar. 26) at the University of Toronto's JJR MacLeod Auditorium. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15-$30. Call 905-812-3055, or 416-913-6555. Partial proceeds from the show go to the Amar Seva Sangam school via the charitable organization Handi-care International.

Shankar's goal is to raise $44,000 to build a shelter for the children. So far she's raised close to $10,000.

The school was founded and run by disabled people, a demographic often looked down upon in India.

"People with disabilities really don't get much respect.

Amar Seva Sangam is run by disabled people who have experienced first-hand (similar prejudice)," said Shankar.

This Saturday, Shankar will be joined on stage by seven musicians playing such percussion instruments as the mridangam, ghatam as well as the violin, panpura and harmonium. For the uninitiated, Shankar describes carnatic music as "both lively and peaceful at the same time."

It's very different from the classical music of Europe.

Carnatic music has more in common with the free-flowing style of jazz than Ludwig van Beethoven.

"In many cases, I improvise and create pieces on the spot," said Shankar.

At the show, Shankar will play the recently composed song Pankaja (which means lotus) and a bhajan (or folk-influenced song) by the 16th century composer Meerabai, the Princess of Rajasthan.

Shankar wants to present a feast for all five senses at the concert and, as people stroll in to the show, they will see enormous, vibrant paintings of Indian women, young girls in flowing, rainbow-hued silk skirts as well as rock candy to taste and the fragrant smell of rosewater to inhale.

For more information visit www.pankaja.ca.

THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS