Shivkumar Sharma Family Tree: The Story Behind India's Santoor Master

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (1938–2022), born 13 January 1938 in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India, and died 10 May 2022 in Mumbai, was India's greatest santoor maestro — elevated the Kashmiri folk santoor to Hindustani classical status; film music composer as "Shiv-Hari" (with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia) — scored Silsila (1981), Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991), Darr (1993), Faasle (1985); Padma Vibhushan (2001).

The Family's Roots: A Jammu Kashmiri Pandit Family

The Sharma family is Kashmiri Pandit from Jammu.

His Parents

Father: Uma Dutt Sharma — vocalist and tabla player; Kashmiri Pandit who introduced Shiv to santoor.

Mother: Kashmiri Pandit.

His Wife: Manorama Sharma

Manorama Sharma — married Shivkumar.

Their Sons

Rahul Sharma, born 25 September 1972 — son; santoor player and Bollywood composer.

Rohit Sharma (not the cricketer) — son.

The Sharma Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Uma Dutt Sharma — vocalist and tabla; introduced Shiv to santoor.

Wife: Manorama Sharma.

Sons: Rahul Sharma (b. 25 September 1972) — santoor player; Rohit Sharma.

Shivkumar Sharma:

  • Born 13 January 1938, Jammu
  • Learned santoor from father from age 5
  • First solo santoor recital: 1955, Bombay
  • Composer/santoor for many V. Shantaram films
  • Shiv-Hari partnership with Hariprasad Chaurasia — Yash Chopra Bollywood films 1981-1993
  • Padma Shri: 1991; Padma Vibhushan: 2001
  • Sangeet Natak Akademi Award: 1986
  • Died: 10 May 2022, Mumbai — cardiac arrest at 84

What the Sharma Family Story Teaches Us

A Kashmiri-Pandit father who introduced santoor to Hindustani classical via his son. A wife. Two sons, one of whom continues the santoor legacy as a Bollywood composer. A career that lifted a Kashmiri folk instrument to global classical status.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Shivkumar story carries the same lesson. Some careers introduce a folk instrument to the classical world.

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