Daily Times

It seems only yesterday but it has been three years that I invited great singer Fida Hussain along with my other colleague singers to perform in a function organized by Alhamra Arts Council for the inauguration of my book ‘Melody Singers1’ on February 02, 2017.

He did oblige, came and performed despite that he was not feeling well. So did singer Shaukat Ali who was unwell also. Such is the spirit of brotherhood among the senior generation of artists.

I also remember that whenever music composer Mian sheheryaar composed for music programmes for Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), he would invite Fida Hussain to sing a song in his programmes. On the morning of Labour Day, May 01, 2020 the media reported that Ustad Fida Husssain was no more and had left for heavenly abode. He was 69. Mian Saheb was also very fond of Ghulam Ali who would be a part of his programmes for ghazal, kafi and geet renderings. With the passage of time Fida was bestowed upon with the title ‘Ustad’ affixed before his name by his followers.

Ustad Fida Hussain was born in Nokhar, District Gujranwala in 1951 in a family of music practitioner. Initially he studied music from elders in his family then came to Lahore and became a disciple of Ghulam Ali

Ustad Fida Hussain was born in Nokhar, District Gujranwala in 1951 in a family of music practitioner. Initially he studied music from elders in his family then came to Lahore and became a disciple of Ghulam Ali. After very hard practice of many years he came to the microphones of Radio Pakistan 1966. Fida’s biggest opening was that he became part of Hayat Ahmad Khan’s All Pakistan Music Conference(s) in its annual festivals and functions arranged to pay homage to great Ustads. State media like PTV and Radio Pakistan also used to hire his services regularly where many of his rendered musical numbers became popular.

He had a soft and tuneful voice polished by his daily practicing routines because of which he could render the most intricate embellishments with ease while rendering a ghazal, kafi, folk song or even film songs. The singers of his generation were not much encouraged to tour abroad with sponsorship of the government or art councils barring a few. Fida’s fans however invited him to tour several countries like England, Germany, Netherlands, India, East Africa, United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, U.A.E where his performances were professionally acknowledged.

Fida Hussain shall be missed by the music fraternity. Let us hope that his children are the torchbearer of his flag.

The writer is the recipient of the prestigious Pride of Performance award. He can be reached at doc_amjad@hotmail.com