Legendary Santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma left for his heavenly abode at 84 in Mumbai. Reportedly, he had a cardiac arrest and was 84 years old. While he was suffering from renal ailments, he was due to perform in Bihar next week.
The Padma Vibhusan recipient belonged to Jammu and Kashmir and is believed to be the first artist who played Indian classical music on santoor that is a folk instrument belonging to Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of the maestro. He tweeted, “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.”
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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 10, 2022