On bond with the santoor
“My father and guru Pandit Uma Dutt Sharma introduced me to the santoor. After playing it for six decades, it has become my companion in my musical journey. Santoor was never a part of the Indian classical genre; it was only limited to Sufi music in Kashmir. But I modified it to bring it on a par with the sitar and sarod. Once, during a performance in the 1960s, my santoor sustained a crack. But surprisingly, after I got it repaired, it sounded better than before. I am so possessive about my santoor that I rarely allow anybody to carry it. I care for it like my own child.”