Pandit Sharma's students celebrate Gurupaurnima
Bombay : Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma is one of the most innovative musicians of our times. He is not only a trendsetter but a genius who has taken Hindustani music to new heights of expression. The santoor which was a folk instrument popular in the hilly area s of Jammu and Kashmir has now gained the status of a full-fledged classical instrument that can hold the attention of a thousands of listeners in India and abroad. The credit for this change of fortune goes entirely to Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. Thanks to his innovative spirit, indefatigable zeal and infinite patience. This folk instrument has shed its folk image and the santoor player rubs shoulders with sitar players and sarod players.
Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma is not only a celebrated musician but also a dedicated guru. In the Indian context the guru shishya parampara is of supreme importance. We belong to the oral tradition and knowledge can be transmitted from one generation to the other only through a person to person instruction. The gurushishya parampara, therefore, assumes enormous significance. Guru paurnima is celebrated by musicians and their disciples with solemnity. The disciples pay their respect to the guru and the guru in turn gives his blessings to them. Some of them perform in his presence and his word of encouragement boosts their spirit and induces them to put in more practice. Students of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma gathered to celebrate gurupaurnima at the Anandashram Hall . Recently Pandit Sharma was asked by the on the DD Metro about his disciples. He proudly named Satish Vyas, Nand Kishore Muley, Harjinder Pal Singh , Mario Kumro and Shruti Kathale among them.
In this programme his two women disciples played the santoor: Marie Kumro is from Japan. She played raga "Yaman", Shruti Kathale from Bhopal played raga "Hamsadhwani". Devaki Pandit, talented singer from the younger generation presented the raga 'Nand'. Ratanlal Tikko from Delhi, a senior santoor player concluded the programme with his exposition of the raga 'Jhinjhoti'. Among those who accompanied the main artistes were the veteran tabla player Kashinath Mishra, Kedar Pandit and the harmonist Seema Mistry.
By Amarendra Dhaneshwar
The Afternoon Despatch & Courier, Bombay
©COPYRIGHT 1997 Shivkumar Sharma Associates