Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma’s name is synonymous with santoor. And I got an opportunity to celebrate the musical odyssey of this great legend at Siri Fort Auditorium one misty winter evening last year. Though I don’t remember the date, the pure ecstasy of his soul stirring music is still vivid in my mind.

The celebrated maestro of Hindustani classical music weaved magic at the auditorium by his spellbinding performance of the folk-based Raga Pahadi on the santoor.

I happened to take his interview for the newspaper I was working for at that time and it was a great experience for me not only to hear him live but also being able to have a first hand insight to his personality and life.

Starting his musical saga when he was just five years old, he is a complete musician with training in vocal music, tabla and other instruments.

His guru was father Uma Dutt Sharma, a renowned vocalist, disciple of Bade Ramdasji of the Banaras gharana and Raj Pandit at the court of the Maharaja Pratap Singh of Jammu & Kashmir.

 “He brought out santoor out of the valley of Kashmir and gave it a place in the classical music scenario. It is because of his inspiration that I decided to concentrate on playing the santoor,” Shiv Kumar Sharma said.

Shiv Kumar Sharma added the finishing touch to his father’s endeavour and transformed the folk instrument into a full-fledged solo concert instrument in Indian classical music.

“It was called shata-tantri veena in the earlier times or the veena of 100 strings. It was an accompaniment to a specific type of singing called Sufiana Mausiqui. With the Persian influence, it got its present name santoor,” he explained.

Similar musical instruments are found in several parts of Europe and Central Asia with different names such as Santoori in Greece, YangChin in China, Hack Bret in Germany and Symbelon in Hungary.

“It might have traveled with the gypsies to these countries,” added Sharma.

Initiallty, santoor was not accepted as a classical musical instrument in India but with the passage of time and initiative of this great legend, it reached its present place of pride.

Though it might not be as popular as it should have been, I feel that this is what you call music and melody for the soul.