Credited with bringing the santoor to the world stage, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma’s name is so synonymous with the Kashmiri folk instrument that even his official website is called santoor.com.
The virtuoso is in Dhaka for the Bengal Classical Music Festival, where he performed last night, and heard his son and disciple Rahul Sharma perform the night before.
He granted us this interview yesterday afternoon the same way he does everything: graciously. He removed his shoes before sitting down to discuss his art, which he considers holy, and began humbly: “I’m very happy to be here playing for such a wonderful audience.”
That’s lovely. How does Bengal’s audience compare to others?
I have been performing for more than 60 years, on five continents, and have been coming to Bangladesh for more than 10 years.
Then this was started by Mr Abul Khair, and I’ve come all three years that the festival has been held.
The way this festival is organised – the venue they have selected, the kind of audience, and the number of people who come and stay all night – this in itself is a historic thing happening here.
I haven’t seen this number of listeners: such appreciative listeners and such a large number of young listeners. This is an answer to people who ask: What is the future of Indian classical music?
When I meet people here, they are so loving, so kind and so hungry for cultural activities. There are those who think classical music may be lost. But when I come and play here, I don’t feel that at all.
Does the audience’s response influence your performance?
Of course if the audience is receptive, that inspires me. But also, I don’t change my music according to the audience.
I play music the way I enjoy it, that way that gives me peace, happiness and bliss. I am there to share that bliss with my listeners. I am very grateful to the Almighty and my guru that people have accepted the way I play, and connect with my music.
When you play, you seem to become one with your instrument.
For me, music is like prayer. It’s elevating my soul. I am not thinking at that point I am there to entertain 40,000 people. If the audience also connects with my music, with their own point of view, they will experience something different.
How do you get to that place? I’ve read that you meditate before you go on.
I do. That is how I have been taught music. My guru was my father, who was a versatile musician, and a very spiritual person. He taught me from childhood that music and spirituality are two sides of the same coin. They are not separate.
I was born and brought up in Jammu and Kashmir, and I am also very influenced by nature.
Have you had a chance to visit the Bangladesh countryside? We’re known for our beautiful rivers.
I have not been beyond Dhaka, but I would love to see Brahmanbaria, where Ustad Ali Akbar is from. He is one of the all-time greats of music and sarod. He and Baba Allauddin Khan are from Bangladesh. I’d love to go to the places they are from.
You know, the santoor and water have some connection. Many people say it sounds like flowing water.
And you brought the santoor into Indian classical music.
Another way to say it is: It was divine power. And that power chose me as a medium to get it done through me. I’m just a servant of that power.
How do you maintain your spirituality amid celebrity?
After each concert I play, people may come up and praise me sky-high, but I’m always thinking about where I could have done something better. That is the real me.
Do you know what raga you’re playing tonight?
I enjoy not planning. It depends, who’s playing before me, and which raga that person sings. If I am playing solo, I might have some selections already in mind.
Sometimes the raga is in my mind but the composition is not. When I sit in the car going towards the venue, some idea comes to mind, some new phrases or compositions, and I try it out while performing. It’s very risky, but it’s coming from somewhere else, so that is how I try it.
What would you like your audience to know?
There is no need to understand Indian classical music. People think unless you understand it, you cannot enjoy it.
Music is a universal language. Music brings people closer. Music is one way of creating friendship, peace, love and harmony.
I am so blessed. Again I would like to thank the Bengal Foundation and Mr Abul Khair. That is what they are bringing here. And I salute them.
