Eminent Santoor player and internationally celebrated Indian music composer Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma who popularised the Santoor at a global level passed away due to a cardiac arrest on May 10. He was 84.
He was suffering from kidney-related ailments for the past six months. He was undergoing dialysis as well. He had been active till the end and was due to perform in Bhopal next week. He received the Padma Shri in 1991, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those who condoled Sharma’s death.
Many stalwarts from the Indian classical music fraternity also expressed their grief and sorrow after the demise of the legendary Santoor player. Renowned Mohanveena exponent and recipient of Padma Vibhushan award Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt was distressed at the loss of the renowned Santoor maestro. He said, “Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma pushed the boundaries of what could be done with the santoor. His demise is a huge blow to Indian classical music. He always used to encourage me. I feel that the next generation will learn a lot from the path he has shown.”
Bhajan Samrat Anup Jalota said, “Whatever Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma has done for the music fraternity that would never be forgotten. Santoor which was played as part of folk music in Jammu and Kashmir got International recognition due to his effort. Without him no music concert could have been imagined. Such artists are born only once. No one would be able to take his place. Today, thousands of people are learning to play the santoor because they want to be able to create music like he did. He was extremely wonderful and humble human being.Whenever I used to see him I could feel the depiction of Lord Krishna. “
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma was born in Jammu in 1938 and is believed to be the first musician to have played Indian classical music on the santoor, a folk instrument from Jammu and Kashmir. Pt Shivkumar Sharma received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986. He is also the recipient of an honorary citizenship of the city of Baltimore, USA, in 1985.
He composed music with flute legend Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia for an array of films such as “Silsila”, “Lamhe”, “Chandni” and “Darr”.
He is survived by his wife Manorama, and sons Rahul and Rohit.