Music for the soul
Many may not know that the Santoor was called shata-tantri veena earlier. Similar instruments are found in Europe and Central Asia with different names. It may have travelled with the gypsies to these countries. Its music is melody for the soul.
I had the urge to go up to him and speak to him and I actually got an opportunity to do so. It was a grand experience for me not only to hear him live but also have a first-hand insight into his personality and life. I was curious to know more about the ‘Santoor’ as I had absolutely no knowledge about it besides the soulful music that I had heard. Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma enlightened me not only about himself but also about the instrument.
Starting his musical saga when he was just five years old, he is now a complete musician with training in vocal music, tabla and other instruments. His guru was father Uma Dutt Sharma, a renowned vocalist, a disciple of Bade Ramdasji of the Banaras gharana and Raj Pandit at the court of Maharaja Pratap Singh of Jammu and Kashmir. Pandit Sharma’s father brought Santoor out of the valley of Kashmir and gave it a place in the classical music scenario. 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 with 100 strings. It was an accompaniment to a specific type of singing called Sufiana Mausiqui. Persian influence gave it the present name, viz, Santoor. Thanks to the legendary musician, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, I had been enlightened! 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 may have travelled with the gypsies to these countries. Initially, Santoor was not accepted as an instrument in Indian classical music but with the passage of time and the initiative of this great legend, it reached its present place of pride. Though it may not be as popular as it should have been, I feel this is what you call music and melody for the soul.
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