Article Sanjay Mathrani BS-III

Article

Classical-music’s journey from 2000 to 2018 of Umerkot

By Sanjay Mathrani

It was the time when people use to listened the Radio FM to kill the time and entertain themselves and sitting together at the open mounds-top’s or guest-room  (otaq).  When the airing the sound of FM was amazing invention and reached to the remote areas of villages with the help of near-by towers. On the other hand, today’s global-world environment extensively affects that scenario and daily routine of society as well as at individual’s life.

In many gathering and discussion, when discuss about many topics but the particularly the classical music remained essential amid those; that is survived from many ages since. The wordy definition of classic is “the art, literature or even music that remains indestructible regardless of time and age”. When the social sites were not still invented, the music was beyond searchable from the YouTube or any other website and there were not any type of pre-information about the artist’s presence and performance to trace down them. But, despite of this non-facility’s arena, the classical music was famous, prioritized and sung with many old musical instruments like; Mandal, Sarangi,tambooro, and tabli. Some of them are still used and practiced because of continuation of classical music.

Specifically, the city Umerkot is remained the hub of music-lover individuals; where there are many literature-affiliated personalities were born, in which the two poets Khansahb Abdul Karim Pali and Wafa Pali were more famous figures. Their poetry was sung by different artist of that time like Ustad Salamat ali and ustad Nazaqt Ali.

The present renowned singer of Sindh, Abida Prveen was also once the student of the Usatd Khansahb Pali. When she first sung the poetry of wafa pali “tuhjo mushtaq deed sare tho, ha wihhore jo moat mare tho”, then she get immeasurable fame throughout the Sindh.

Although, the range and limit of their fame was confined owing to the music was recorded, saved and shared only through the tape caste. Perhaps, there was no any culture of gathering with artists or writing their profile and make them introduce with the world. And, there was also lack of facility like facebook to post before the any performance to catch the people’s attention and appreciation too. 

Indeed, in today’s classical- music field, the only person is the leading one in umerkot, is Shafi Faqeer, who had started his musical career from the Ustad shadi’s premises, who had been also the well-known singer of his time. The, Shafi Faqeer learned the instrumental training from Ustad Majeed Khan. In this way, the journey takes him to the peak of fame where he is the most likened and listened singer of the Sindh. He is even famous in the current youth of sindh. He has won many appreciation award throughout his career, including the Bhagat Babeer award, Qalander award, and Latif award. Those were only given to the contributor in the classical realm.

Ustaad Shafi Faqeer, has also started the self-invested initiative in the form of academy “Aalaap Sangeet Society” in Umerkot, who have created the two famous singer like; Rajab Faqeer and Rafique Faqeer.

Today, in the small and big events, parties and marriage ceremonies, this particular sphere of the music is most prioritize by the common men. The followers are increasing day by day in the entire world and in Sindh too, to alive this particular arena of music, there is also a dire need of steps to be taken.

It is utmost important for both Sindh cultural department and Sindh Government to start some significant steps to save the old-sustained cultural and classical music of Sindh, so it is more and more transfers to the upcoming generation and they come to know about the history of their ancestors.