The Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma Concert

One of the things I greatly miss from my days at AIIMS N. Delhi was the frequent musical programs held there with some of the biggest names in Indian classical music. I had the good fortune to attend a live performance by Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma at AIIMS, Delhi, who recently left for his heavenly abode on 10th May. He was a santoor maestro, a stringed instrument.

Going quite early before the program was scheduled to start I was able to get a seat near the front of the stage. When Pandit Shiv Kumar took his place on the stage and started his performance, I could not believe I was attending his live performance and not dreaming. A feeling I believe was shared by the rest of the audience sitting in that auditorium.

After some preliminary performance on the santoor, Pandit Shiv Kumar started a crescendo of notes. He progressively and smoothly started increasing the loudness and tone of the musical notes. After reaching the peak he started slowly and gradually reducing the amplitude of the notes till they were barely audible. At the display of such smooth and gradual build-up of the musical notes and then an even superior decrescendo the audience broke out in loud applause (clapping) to show their appreciation of such a masterly performance.

A visibly hurt Pandit Shiv Kumar looked up from his instrument and told the audience, ‘Please don’t clap in between the performance. Just keep quiet so that you can listen and appreciate the fine soft notes in the music.’

I was just stunned. Until now almost all the performers I had watched were hungry for the audience’s positive feedback, especially in form of loud clapping. In fact, some directly cajole the audience to clap loudly to show their appreciation. But Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma was completely opposite.

We read and listen to such advice as:

‘Be your own judge and critic. Don’t get swayed by others’ evaluations of your performance. Or 

‘If someone praises you, you become happy. If someone criticizes you, you become sad. Do not let the switch of your happiness be in another’s hand’. 

But before Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma’s performance, I had not met any person who truly was committed to giving his best performance without caring for others’ praise.In fact to him it was a distraction to be strictly avoided.

The rest of the audience was stunned like me at this contrarian behavior of Pandit Shiv Kumar and become silent and attentive to his performance.

After some time the audience which had become enthralled by the musical notes coming from his santoor had forgotten his request not to clap, started once again to clap.  Without stopping his performance, Pandit Shiv Kumar looked up at the audience as a mother looks admonishingly at her mischievous child. The audience understood his message and the applause quickly died down and they maintained pin-drop silence for the rest of his performance. The ovation of the audience at the end of the show was another matter.

Through his exceptional behavior, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma gave the lesson: Give your best performance without paying attention or getting influenced by others’ praise. Be your own judge.

NB: A request to musically inclined persons to suggest correct words where appropriate.

— ND

(Based on allegedly true incident.)

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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purposes. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use the information herein is at your one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal, and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to NMC and other Board norms.