Celebrated birthday of Santoor Maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma

‎14-01-2012

Nirvana Academy Celebrated birthday of Santoor Maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma.

Classical music lovers of Jammu were feted to a mesmerizing performance of most talented youngster Naveen Sharma disciple of Pandit Mani Prasad of Kirana Gharana at a classical musical evening organized by Nirvana Academy A Cultural Club at K.L Saigal Hall here today. Programme was organized to celebrate the birthday of International Santoor Maestro Padam Vibushan Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. Naveen Sharma a graduate in vocal music with gold medal started his recital with Badha Khayal “Aaj Sobana banaaya” in raag Puria Kalayan followed by chota Khayal “Un Bin Kal na Pare” and “Begun ko gun dijiye” a chota khayal in raag “raageshwari” was next and he concluded with a bhajan “Ab aan milo mere ram”. He was accompanied by Neeraj Verma (disciple of K.L Verma and trained by Yogesh Samsi of Ustad Allahrakha gharana) on Tabla, Opinder Sharma on Harmonium and Kumari Shoba on tanpura. Naveen dedicated his performance to the son of soil Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma is a very famous classical musician who has acquired international fame by playing the classical instrument, Santoor. The santoor is essentially a folk instrument that originated in the Kashmir Valley, which was given the status of a classical instrument due to the persistent efforts of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Reaching at this level in life was not easy for him and it is because of the determination of Shivkumar Sharma that the Santoor is a popular classical instrument. Shivkumar Sharma was born on 13th January, 1938 in Jammu. He was introduced to the Santoor by his father and teacher, Pandit Uma Dutt Sharma. Shivkumar Sharma learnt the tabla and also vocal singing before dedicating himself to learn the Santoor extensively. Shivkumar Sharma modified the folk instrument in order to make it more suitable for classical music. Shivkumar Sharma has collaborated with many musicians like Zakir Hussain and Hariprasad Chaurasiya. He also composed music for Hindi films like "Darr", "Silsila", "Lamhe", etc. Some of his famous albums are Call of the Valley, Sampradaya, Elements: Water, Music of the Mountains, Megh Malhar, etc. Shivkumar Sharma is the recipient of many prestigious awards like Padmashree, Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Honorary Doctorate from the University of Jammu, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Award, Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar, etc. He also has an honorary citizenship of the city of Baltimore, USA. This flawless musician truly deserves these honors and more. His Santoor recitals shall keep us mesmerized for many more years to come. Others who were presented on the occasion were Praduman Singh Jindrahia, K.L Verma, Brij Mohan, Hitesh Badyal, Ashutosh dubey, Neeraj Sharma, Anmol Amla, Neha Verma and Nishant Vaid. Nidhi Arora anchored the programme.