Hailed from old Jammu City
JAMMU/MUMBAI, May 10:
Santoor virtuoso Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma, who took the stringed instrument to the global stage and successfully straddled the worlds of classical and film music, died here today 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 here, 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 was the first to play classical music on Santoor, the folk instrument of Jammu and Kashmir.
Born at Pacci Dacci, in Jammu, in 1938 to the singer Uma Dutt Sharma started teaching him vocal music and tabla when he was just five. Pandit Uma Dutt Sharma who did “extensive research” on Santoor started teaching Santoor to Shiv Kumar Sharma at the age of 13. When in 1985, Pandit Sinv Kumar gave his first public performance in Bombay in 1955 and he made Uma Dutt Sharma’s dream come true.
He is survived by his wife Manorama and sons Rahul, also a santoor player, and Rohit.
Durga Jasraj, daughter of the late classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj and a close friend of Sharma, said Sharma fainted in the bathroom and was “gone in a fraction of a second”.
“I have lost my second father. I have been trying to coordinate all the other arrangements but what happened is that he fainted in the bathroom in the morning and that was a cardiac arrest and he could not be revived.
“We called for the ambulance and everything but he was gone in a fraction of a second. In a way, he went peacefully at home,” she said.
Sharma’s secretary added that the mortal remains will be kept at the Pali Hill home. At 10 am on Wednesday, the body will be shifted to the Abhijit Cooperative Housing Society in Juhu for “public darshan” till 1 pm.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind were among those who condoled Sharma’s death.
“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,” the Prime Minister said.
The President said 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,” the President 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.
“The world of music has lost one of its greatest maestros. Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma not only introduced Santoor at global level but also enriched film music with his melody. I am particularly bereaved since I shared a personal rapport with Pandit Ji who hailed from Jammu,” Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh tweeted.
“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.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah wrote, “Very sad to hear about the passing of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. A legend in his lifetime, he popularised the santoor like no one before him. A proud son of the soil, he made his mark globally. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace.” (PTI)
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