Santoor virtuoso Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, who took the stringed instrument to the global stage and successfully straddled the worlds of classical and film music, died in Mumbai on Tuesday following a heart attack. He was 84.
Sharma, one of India’s most well-known classical musicians, died between 8 and 8.30 am at his Pali Hill residence in Mumbai, his secretary Dinesh said. He had been active till the end and was due to perform in Bhopal next week. He was also suffering from renal ailments. “He had a severe heart attack in the morning… He was active and was to perform in Bhopal next week. He was on regular dialysis but was still active,” a family source said. He is survived by his wife Manorama and sons Rahul, also a santoor player, and Rohit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday offered condolences to eminent Santoor player Pandit Shivkumar Sharma’s family after his demise saying, his music will continue to
enthral the coming generations. “Our cultural world is poorer with the demise of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma Ji. He popularised the Santoor at a global level. His music will continue to enthral the coming generations. I fondly remember my interactions with him. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” PM Modi said in a tweet.
President Ram Nath Kovind also condoled Pandit Shivkumar Sharma’s demise and said his recitals would leave connoisseurs of Indian classical music spellbound. “Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma’s recitals would leave connoisseurs of Indian classical music spellbound. He popularized Santoor, the traditional musical instrument from J&K. Sad to learn that his Santoor is now silenced. Condolences to his family, friends and countless fans everywhere,” Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted.
A Padma Vibhushan recipient, 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. As one half of musician duo Shiv-Hari, he composed music with flute legend Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia for an array of films such as Silsila, Lamhe, Chandni and Darr.
The tributes poured in. “Sad to know about the demise of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, eminent Santoor player and internationally celebrated Indian music composer. His departure impoverishes our cultural world. My deepest condolences,” tweeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Sarod player Amjad Ali Khan said Sharma’s death was a personal loss for him. “The passing away of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharmaji marks the end of an era. He was the pioneer of Santoor and his contribution is unparalleled. For me, it’s a personal loss and I will miss him no end. May his soul rest in peace. His music lives on forever! Om Shanti,” Khan wrote in a tweet.
Ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas and veteran actor Shabana Azmi also condoled Sharma’s death. “We have lost a gem today Padma Vibhushan Shri Shiv Kumar Sharma ji Santoor virtuoso a big loss to the Indian classical music,” Udhas wrote on Twitter. “Deeply saddened to hear that maestro Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma has passed away. His mellifluous music will remain in our hearts ofcourse but tinged by the pain of his loss. My deepest condolences to the family,” tweeted Azmi.
Music composer and singer Salim Merchant remembered Sharma as one of the “greatest musicians of our times”. Sharma received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986, followed by the Padma Shri in 1991, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001.
Maharashtra Governor of Bhagat Singh Koshyari expressed condolences on the demise of renowned Santoor maestro Padma Vibhushan Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma.
“The news of the demise of Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma is shocking. Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma was instrumental in taking Santoor and Indian classical music to the global stage. Pt Sharma was a great artist, Guru, researcher, thinker and above all a kind-hearted human being. Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma mentored many disciples and enriched the world of music with his multifarious contributions. I pay my respectful homage to Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma and convey my deepest condolences to Pt Rahul Sharma and to other members of the bereaved family,” said Koshyari.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed grief over the demise of the greatest maestros and said, “The world of music has lost one of its greatest maestros. Pt #ShivKumarSharma not only introduced Santoor at global level but also enriched film music with his melody. I am particularly bereaved since I shared a personal repport with Pandit ji who hailed from Jammu.”