Daily Times

The district of Umerkot has long been following the traditional music and practitioners of the classical music in the region are adamant to preserve the sounds of their ancestors in this modern day and age.

Back when the internet, in form of social media and digital music platforms, was not available, people used to rely on the Radio and live performances to reconnect with the soul of life – music. Instruments like Mandal, Sarangi, Tambooro and Tabla were amongst the most popular and remain so to date.

Umerkot has remained the hub of music-lovers from across the province and the country. The district is home to two acclaimed poets, Khansahb Abdul Karim Pali and Wafa Pali, whose poetry has been composed by prominent classical singers like Ustad Salamat Ali and Ustad Nazaqat Ali.

Legendary artist Abida Parveen, a student of Khansahb Pali, rose to immeasurable fame across when she sang Wafa Pali’s poetry “Tuhjo mushtaq deed sare tho, ha wihhore jo moat mare tho“. Today, Abida is known as one of the greatest voices to have graced the industry.

Umerkot has remained the hub of music-lovers from across the province and the country. The district is home to two acclaimed poets, Khansahb Abdul Karim Pali and Wafa Pali, whose poetry has been composed by prominent classical singers like Ustad Salamat Ali and Ustad Nazaqat Ali

The more known name in classical music from Umerkot is Shafi Faqeer, who started his career from Ustad Shadi’s premises, who was himself a decorated artist. Shafi’s persistence, hard work and talents have made him the most likened and listened to singer of the region. For his work, Shafi was awarded Bhagat Babeer, Qalander and Latif awards.

Shafi also pioneered a classical music academy in Umerkot, known as ‘Aalaap Sangeet Society‘, which has produced names like Rajab Faqeer and Rafique Faqeer.

For other practitioners, unfortunately, fame has been hard to come by. Most of the artists have had their songs recorded via cassettes and the audience reach has also been more local due to lack of publicity and advertising. This, however, is not a fault on their part as they are not very well versed with social media and its marketing techniques.

Music has become an integral part of day-to-day life. It is used as a means to entertain people in a variety of events, parties and marriages ceremonies. In more rural parts of Sindh, people prefer to listen to classical music and there are dire steps needed for its preservation.

Both Sindh cultural department and Sindh government need to start taking steps to not only preserve but promote traditional music, and make the current and future generations aware of the life and times of their ancestors, especially in an age where youth is disconnected with history.

Published in Daily Times, June 26^th 2018.