“Music is such a subject that the more you involve yourself into music the more you realize that there is much to gain.” said the sitar legend Ustad Sharif Khan Poonchwala (1926 - 1980)

As told by Farrukh Bashir, during the 1970s, Ustad Sharif Khan travelled from Lahore to Delhi for a concert. After his performance, Indra Gandhi - the Prime Minister of India at the time - was so moved by his magic that she got up herself and placed his shoes at his feet as he was getting off stage and said "The government of India would very much like it if you would make India your home". To this Ustad Sharif Khan replied "Even if I did, my heart and soul will remain in Pakistan".

As told by Waseem Gillani, after a performance for the King of Nepal in Kathmandu, Ustad Bismillah Khan - the Shehnai maestro who was also in attendance - was so taken by his prowess that he remarked "Our performances touch the heart, while yours moves the soul".

Ustad Sharif Khan Poonchwala enjoyed a renown in Pakistan and India equal to, if not greater than Ustad Vilayat Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar. For his contributions to Pakistani classical music, he was awarded the Pride of Performance by the Government of Pakistan in 1965, was the recipient of the Tamgha e Hussan e Karkardagi and the Thamgha e Iftikhar e fun. Ustad Sharif Khan was equally proficient in playing the sitar and the vichitra veena. His experience with the veena influenced his sitar playing style and thus evolved a unique style of using the meends in the sitar. Melody and immaculate technique were the hallmarks of his sitar playing.

Ustad Sharif Khan was born in Poonch, India to a family of musicians. His father Ustad Rahim Buksh Khan was an accomplished musician who gave him his primary music and sitar education. He subsequently also learnt from Ustad Inayat Khan (father of the famous sitar player Ustad Vilayat Khan). He was influenced by Ustad Abdul Aziz Khan Beenkar who played the vichtra veena. He became a musician at the court of Maharaja of Poonch following in the footsteps of his father. Thus he became popularly known as Ustad Sharif Khan Poonchwala.