Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro

Many Sufi singers use the Yaktaro (single-stringed instrument) and Chaparyoon (a pair of wooden instruments) in Sindh. A majority of these singers started their singing careers at Sufi shrines. These shrines provided the space for novice singers to enthrall the audience with their singing styles. Musical mentors always prefer to launch their students’ careers by asking them to first sing before the audience at mela of popular Sufi figures. That performance then becomes a test for them – one where they have to impress both the audience and their teachers.

The tradition of singing with Yaktaro and Chapri is deeply embedded in Sindhi culture. From Syed Noor Shah, who sang kafis on Yaktaro in the first two decades of the 20th century, to Dhol Faqir (1921-1992), Faqir Abdul Ghafoor (1910-1986)  and Ghulam Hyder to Jalal Chandio (1944-2001), every Yaktaro player won themselves a devoted audience.

Jalal Chandio (1944-2001), who was known as the king of Yaktaro and Chapri, inspired many singers. He left a legacy of Yaktaro and Chapri music to be carried by many of his students and followers. Jalal Chandio ruled the hearts of the rural population of Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Larkana, Sukkur, Khairpur, Dadu and Nawabshsh. His name became the identity and symbol of the folk music of the bucolic areas of upper and central Sindh.

In Larkana, Dadu and Kamber-Shahdadkot live many Sufi singers who still sing on Yaktaro and Chapri at the Sufi spaces and are associated with certain specific shrines.

One may come across many wandering musicians in different towns and villages of the Larkana district, who earn their livelihood by playing traditional musical instruments and singing folk songs. In Nasirabad, Warah, Lalu Raunk, Badah, Dokri and Wagan towns there are many faqirs of Chanan Jan (a Malamatiya Sufi who passed away in 1997) playing Yaktaro. Apart from Larkana, many Sufi singers are associated with the shrine of Janan Chan.

One prominent name is that of Ghulam Rasool Abro of Piyaro Station in Dadu district, who is a disciple of Janan Chan. Apart from singing at the shrine of Janan Chan at Moundar Lakha in Warah taluka in Kamber Shahdadkot, he also sings at a number of other popular Sufi shrines of Sindh.

In Larkana, Wazir Ali Kalhoro is another famous Sufi singer who sings on Yaktaro and Chapri. He is associated with the shrine of Rakhial Shah (1846-1949) of Fatehpur, Jhal Magsi district.

Born in 1940 in Khedkar village in Larkana district, Wazir Ali Kalhoro at 14 began learning music from his father Haji Khan Kalhoro and Muhammad Achar Mangi, a close friend of his father. Both Haji Khan and Muhammad Achar Mangi used to sing at the akharo (monastic establishment) of Syed Ghulam Shah where Wazir Ali Kalhoro first developed his penchant for music and dedicated himself to singing. Khedkar, a small village located on the right bank of Ghar Wah in Larkana district, is famous for Sufi singers and Sarozi Faqirs (fiddle players). This village has produced many eminent singers, including Wazir Ali Kalhoro.

Apart from the akharo of Syed Ghulam Shah, Haji Khan Kalhoro and Muhammad Achar also used to sing at the village shrines of Hasan and Mohsin, locally known as Hasu and Masu. Both were disciples of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro (1657-1692). Sufi ragas were performed at the shrines of Hasan and Mohsin on the first Friday of every month. Wazir Ali Kalhoro would always accompany his teachers.

In fact, Wazir Ali Kalhoro also remained associated with the akharo of Muhammad Faqir Kalhoro of Walida village, which was then linked with the dargah of Shahpur Jahanain. Here, Wazir Ali Kalhoro learnt from Faqir Ghulam Hyder Manganhar and Muhammad Alam Manganhar, who used to sing on Yaktaro and Chapri. They provided him with a thorough grounding in the finer points of music and he made eleven yatras (pilgrimages) on foot along with his teachers – and they would perform together at the shrine of Makhdoom Hasan at Shahpur Jahanian.

Wazir Ali Kalhoro first performed at the dargah of Muhammad Saleh Shah Qadiri in the Machhi Market (fish market) of Larkana. This performance boosted his confidence and established him as a singer. From that day onwards, he began singing at various melas (fairs). Later, he sang with his elder brother Nazir Ali Kalhoro. His brothers Muhammad Urs Kalhoro and Ramzan Ali Kalhoro were also well-reputed singers.

Nazir Ali Kalhoro, Muhammad Urus Kalhoro and Ramzan Ali Kalhoro were all devotees of Mehdi Sarkar, or Sain of Shahpur Jahanian (1889-1969) – Cheezal Shah, Rakhial Shah and Budhal Faqir Unar (1865-1939) respectively. In the beginning, Wazir Ali Kalhoro was the devotee of Makhdoom Hasan of Shahpur Jahanian. Later on, he became a devotee of Rakhial Shah (1846-1940) and Cheezal Shah (1914-1984) of Fatehpur, Jhal Magsi district. Both belonged to the Qadiri Sufi order.

Wazir Ali Kalhoro is now associated with the dargah of Fatehpur and sings the poetry of both Sufi Rakhial Shah and Cheezal Shah. He has performed many times at the dargahs of his mentors with his soung (group). Muhammad Faqir Khatian (1873-1941) and Sufi Rakhail Shah (1846-1940) were actually the founders of Soung tradition in Sindh. Soung is a form of devotional singing and dancing. Several soung groups exist in Sindh and each is connected to a different Sufi shrine in Sindh. A most prominent Soung was of Sohrab Faqir (1936-2009), which was associated with the shrine of Sachal Sarmast (1739-1827).

Apart from singing at the shrine of Rakhial Shah, Wazir Ali Kalhoro has performed at a number of other important shrines. These include  Mehdi Sarkar at Shahpur Jahanian, Mian Shahal Muhammad Kalhoro and Mian Jan Muhammad Kalhoro at Naudero, Hidayat Faqir  Najafi alias Tariq Faqir (1884-1939) at Lalu Raunk, Shah Nasir at Noushero Feroz, Pir Sher at Larkana, Karam Ali Attar near Ghar Wah, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai (1689-1752), Sachal Sarmast (1739-1827) and Shaheed Shah Inayat (1655-1718) of Jhok Sharif.

Wazir Ali has taught many singers the Yaktaro and Chapri, including Masoom Faqir Gopang, Rajib Faqir Mughari, Munir Channo of Larkana, Ghulam Shabir Kalhoro and Noor Muhammad Khaskheli of Shahdadkot, Nihal Faqir Umrani of Garhi Ghairo, etc.

Apart from akharas and dargahs, music clubs in Larkana also provide a platform for singers to learn. Newcomers are encouraged to sing on Yaktaro and Chapri, which are considered symbols of rustic life.

Nowadays, Wazir Ali Kalhoro runs a store on the Kamber-Larkana Road and finds little time for singing. However, for festivals, he accompanies his students to many dargahs, guiding their live performances. Sometimes, he performs as well. Presently, he only sings at the dargahs of Rakhial Shah and Cheezal Shah at Fatehpur in the district of Jhal Magsi.

__________________

The author is an anthropologist and has authored eleven books including ‘Symbols in Stone: The Rock Art of Sindh’, ‘Perspectives on the art and architecture of Sindh’, ‘Memorial Stones: Tharparkar’ and ‘Archaeology, Religion and Art in Sindh’. He may be contacted at: zulfi04@hotmail.com

Courtesy: The Friday Times Lahore

The post Folk Singers of Yaktaro and Chapri first appeared on Sindh Courier.