Mohan was born in a family of musicians. Music was in his blood. He grew up with musicians. Like his father and other family members, he was initially trained in vocal music and then he tried his hand at the violin. When he was about ten, he started liking sitar. He was also trained in it and played it for about three years.
A German lady came to stay with Mohan's family to learn music from his father. It was then that the guitar entered his life. He began his experiments with that beautiful instrument. "No other instrument now in my life. I want to play the guitar only," said Mohan to himself. Guitar took all his time.
"Guitar! The whole day guitar! Ours is a family where sitar, vocals and classical violin are practised. The guitar does not have the effect which our instruments do and moreover, it's not from India", said one of the family members. "Do you know your father does not approve your love for the guitar?" said his aunty. But his mother came to help him. "Let him follow his heart's desire." she
declared. Then his father started supporting him. He was overjoyed and decided to modify this western instrument. He tried to make it suitable for playing pure Indian classical music. He spent two more years with guitar only.
One evening there was a gathering of close family friends. In this small gathering Mohan's brother, sister and nephews (who were also performing artists) played music on their classical instruments. There was a great appreciation. Mohan, too, expressed his wish to perform. He played on guitar.
After his performance, a relative said, "You need to work very hard with the new instrument." one of the relatives said, "If it were the sitar, you would have been in competition with your brother and sister. You have already spent two years on it, but still this instrument needs more."
After his performance someone said, "The sitar's sound is like a flowing stream. Your
instrument doesn't have that depth."
Yet another said, "Your brother plays the violin; his sur and tal are so beautiful. What are you doing with this instrument?"
Mohan was depressed and cried for the whole night. He had already given two years of his life to this instrument..
"But from the heart, I am made for guitar. There is no instrument for me but the guitar." He thought.
This instrument will become my face to the world. I am sure, I am going to make it big, very big." he was determined.
This experience took place when Mohan was only 16 years of age. It was the turning point of his life. Mohan doubled his riyaaz and practised for about ten hours a day. He also studied other aspects of the guitar. He decided to incorporate the speciality, technique and sound of every instrument into the guitar. He wanted to invent something which gave the sound and tune of the western guitar but could be played like an Indian Veena.
"Not only the sound that my instrument produces is important, but it must also express my vision; what I want to say through the instrument," he said to himself and finally with untiring efforts and understanding of ragas he created the wonderful Mohan Veena. Today, the world knows Mohan as Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, winner of a Grammy award.
I just followed my heart's passion and here I am", said Mohan at the award ceremony in 1993.
