Hyderabad: The 17th death anniversary of renowned and prominent folk singer of Sindh Jalal Chandio was observed by different trends of artists of Sindh on January 10, 2018. A student form the Institute of Art and Design, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Soomal Solangi created a minimal portrait of Jalal Chandio to pay him tribute on his 17th death anniversary. Soomal Solangi expressed that after the rapid race of the fourth generation folk culture is the legend’s living and leading example today. Many youngsters love to listen to pop music, but folk music by Jalal is the symbol of love and romance. “We hailing from Sindh and belonging from the chanting field of art have to promote such iconic figures in this era via the source of their technical creativity and progressive approaches,” she added. Jalal Chandio’s son, Dilber Jalal told the Daily Times in a telephonic conversation about the amount of love and respect his father and his family received and all that is still remarkably pouring in. “My father was a legend in his diction, he gave a number of good voices to Sindh, even chapri and yaktaro went popular due to Baba Saen,” he said. He added that Minister Culture Department Syed Sardar Ali Shah had given him opportunities to sing at various platforms; otherwise artists like him were living unknown to Sindh and the world. Senior journalist A B Arisar who is the promoter of art and artists in Thar said that Jalal Chandio had unique folk diction, therefore he ruled the hearts of people for a long time. However, his entire work could not be preserved due to the rude behaviour of the then conducted department. He was bestowed with a good voice quality by God. Therefore, people of all ages used to love him. He added that his songs are equally popular amongst the present generation and for the future ones too. “This is the time to learn a lesson and make our artists stand on their own feet,” A B argued. “Artists lack opportunities, trainings and a comfortable life as well as the respect they deserve as artists. More than 50 singers live at Umerkot city, but without a music school they are living a miserable life. In addition to this, there is no education, no health or civic facilities for them,” he added. A follower, Nisar Bajeer has said that Jalal Chandio’s portrait and pictures on trucks and his contributory lovable music still played in tractors, and most of the fans have saved his audio cassettes tapes. And the transferring of such stuff to love dairies on event celebrations is passion presenting a valuable view of folk era. Adeeb Malah, from Hot FM 105 shared that he was a unique singer of Sindh, initially discouraged, but after a few years the public started to love his style of singing with his use of the yaktaaro and chapri (musical instruments mostly used at the the shrines of sufi saints). The writer hails frorm Hyderabad, Sindh and can be reached at smmathrani1@gmail.com Published in Daily Times, January 12th 2017.