Santoor Maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma Passes Away Aged 84

Mumbai: Santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma has passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age of 84 in Mumbai. He had been suffering from kidney-related issues for the last six months and was on dialysis.

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, one of India’s most celebrated classical musicians, passed away at his residence on Pali Hill in Mumbai between 8 and 8:30 am, his secretary Dinesh told news agency Press Trust of India.

He remained active till the end and was scheduled to perform in Bhopal the following week. He was also suffering from kidney disease.

“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 told Press Trust of India.

He is survived by his wife Manorama and sons Rahul, also a santoor player, and Rohit.

A Padma Vibhushan recipient, Pt 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.

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“.

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