PM Modi and President Kovind pay tribute to Santoor maestro Pt Shivkumar Sharma 

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, the Santoor maestro, died of a heart attack in Mumbai on Tuesday morning at the age of 84. He had a performance in Bhopal coming up next week and was also suffering from kidney problems. Wife Manorama and sons Rahul and Rohit survive the veteran musician. Rahul, his son, is also a santoor player. “He had a severe heart attack in the morning,” a family source told PTI. He was active and was scheduled to perform in Bhopal the following week. He was still active despite being on regular dialysis.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the veteran santoor player shortly after the news broke. “Our cultural world is poorer with the demise of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma Ji,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. He made the santoor famous all over the world. Generations to come will be enthralled by his music. I have fond memories of our interactions. Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Om shanthi.”

Ram Nath Kovind, India’s President, also paid glowing tribute to the veteran musician. “Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma’s recitals would leave connoisseurs of Indian classical music spellbound,” the President wrote. He popularised the santoor, a traditional Kashmiri musical instrument. It’s disappointing to learn that his santoor has been silenced. Condolences to his family, friends, and legions of fans around the world.””Shiv Kumar Sharma was a charismatic classical musician who could draw on the canvas of space and silence with the tune, tone, notes, and rhythmic lilt very beautifully,” RPG Enterprises boss Harsh Goenka wrote alongside a photo of the santoor player. He was dubbed the “Sultan of Strings” and was associated with the santoor, a folk instrument. Om Shanti.”

In 1986, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, followed by the Padma Shri Award in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan Award in 2001.

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