Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, the santoor maestro, who made the musical instrument internationally recognized breathed his last on Tuesday morning following a heart attack at his Pali Hill residence in Mumbai.
While the world grieved the passing away of the 83-year-old musician, there was one person who stayed by him in his last moments while he was being cremated with full state honors on Wednesday.
It was tabla maestro Zakir Hussain who stood by his dear friend come what may. He shouldered Sharma during his last journey and was seen standing next to his funeral pyre.
There are several images floating on the internet that speaks volumes of the kind of bond these friends shared.
He was seen sending off a friend of many decades.
Here’s how people reacted to this poignant moment:
Ustad Zakir Hussain at Pandit Shivkumar Sharma's funeral, sending off a friend of many decades. Together they created magic on stage on numerous occasions.
Never seen a more poignant photograph pic.twitter.com/DAdnPOTCl1
— Sanjukta Choudhury (@SanjuktaChoudh5) May 12, 2022
This photograph is grief, pain, love, beauty all rolled into one.
Ustad Zakir Hussain shouldering the mortal remains of his friend and creative associate Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma.
💔 pic.twitter.com/Hix9D2BlhI— Nishtha Gautam (@TedhiLakeer) May 13, 2022
True friends stay much longer than family members at there funeral / burial !
Ustad zakir Hussain at the funeral of pundit shivkumar sharma. They both shared stage at many times pic.twitter.com/QubSWQEH1a— طارق (@TariqueHAshraf) May 13, 2022
This photo of Ustad Zakir Hussain carrying mortal remains of his friend, co-artist Pandit Shivkumar Sharma is everything that displays Friendship, Co-existence, Harmony and the bond we share as Indians above everything else.
RIP Pt. #ShivkumarSharma 🙏 pic.twitter.com/MG1qLKPwAn— Arti_Ghargi (@arti_ghargi) May 13, 2022
#Ustad #zakirhussain at the funeral of #PanditShivkumarSharma honouring & giving a send off to a friend of many a decade. Together they created magic on stage every single time.
Never seen such poignant photographs! https://t.co/rCrsVgHqVc pic.twitter.com/VRzZaRuMYo— Prof. Manish Thakur (@ILoveBooks786) May 13, 2022
A few months back, I would have said this is the India I grew up in. Now I'm not sure if what I experienced was reality or just a chimera. But I do know that this is the India I love. And will continue to love. https://t.co/yw2mK3uuFX
— Natasha (she/ her) 🌈 نتاشا (@nuts2406) May 14, 2022
Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain turned the pallbearer at Santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma's funeral, true friends forever. pic.twitter.com/YKhpqUsqlu
— Kishore Kar (@KishoreKar) May 13, 2022
An artist is emotional. He weighs down his sense of practicality and lets his feelings rule him
This picture of Ustad Zakir Hussain is so real, so so painful at the funeral of late Shiv Kumar Sharma Ji pic.twitter.com/vycQ5rmKj6
— Shruti Dwivedi (@ishrutidwivedi) May 14, 2022
Ustaad Zakir Hussain at the funeral of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma – How poignant! Have watched so many of their live jugalbandis when they brought the music of the heavens down into concert halls and masterfully supported each other! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/V2fEdafCs0
— Jaina Desai (@jainajgd) May 14, 2022
A heart touching picture of a friend loosing his friend…😔🙏
Ustad Zakir Hussain sending off Shivakumar sharma ji for one last time.🙏 pic.twitter.com/0jZyAsMKpP— Adarsh Hegde (@adarshahgd) May 12, 2022
Zakir Hussain ji giving kandha to Pandit Shiv kumar Sharma ji.
Legends make India.
They Stay. pic.twitter.com/5yYRgwsxhO— Shweta Shalini (@shweta_shalini) May 13, 2022
A photo that epitomises the idea of India. Ustad Zakir Hussain shouldering the remains of his friend Ustad Shiv Kumar. pic.twitter.com/9k3NSoDotC
— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) May 13, 2022
The musicians collaborated together on many occasions and created magic on stage.
Shiv Kumar Sharma on Santoor and Zakir Hussain on Tabla .
Old but gold.💫💫 pic.twitter.com/f1XLO7ocJb— Shri Ram Bakht Jai Shri Ram (@BakhtShriRam) May 13, 2022
Their companionship and jugalbandi will be missed.