The music of Santoor has its origin in the ancient valley of Kashmir in India. The Santoor is a type of Veena or string Instrument whose original name was Shata-Tantri Veena, meaning ‘100 strings’ in Sanskrit, crediting the hundred strings that make this instrument unique from the rest. The instrument got its present name because of the Persian language influence in India making sure that the poetic essence of the instrument stays alive. In its early stages, Santoor was a hollow box on top of which there are 25 bridges and each bridge having four strings attached. Two wooden mallets are used to play this instrument. Santoor has been played for many centuries in Kashmir, especially as a part of Sufiana Mausiqi or Sufi music which is connected closely to Sufi philosophy. It is usually played as a complimentary instrument for singers but also holds its ground as a solo instrument. Till 1950s, the instrument was only used in Sufiana music and no one from outside Kashmir had heard the name Santoor. But similar instruments are found in different parts of the world in different names like Yang Quin in China, Cimbale in Central Asia, Santoori in Greece, Hackbret in Europe, Hammer-Dulcimer in America and so on. Some believe that the Santoor originated in Iran, but according to Indian Musicologists and ancient Sanskrit scriptures, Santoor is an Indian instrument.

The future of Santoor changed tremendously in the 1950s when Pandit Uma Dutt Sharma, a versatile musician and vocalist saw the instrument in Kashmir and thought of introducing Santoor to Indian Classical Music. He did extensive research on Santoor and started teaching his son, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma the intricacies of the instrument, which was never before used in Indian Classical Music. His son was thus able to become a renowned Santoor master. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma carried on his father’s experiments on Santoor for many years improving its tonal quality, playing technique, sitting posture and helped enhance its repertoire by bringing a varied emotional and spiritual expression to the instrument. If previously the Santoor was only made in Kashmir, it is now made by expert craftsmen in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Punjab and Varanasi with the modifications made by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, which is presently regarded as the standardized form of this instrument. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma was thus able to give Santoor its own distinct character in Indian Classical Music today. His son, Pandit Rahul Sharma introduced Santoor to world music with his fusion performances and collaborations with international jazz, pop artists.