Younus Masih, an expert tailor and a singer who had performed on the biggest stage in Lahore, died of cardiac arrest on March 2, 2012.

Masih is known as an accomplished tailor in Naseerabad and as a passionate amateur singer. He had pinned his hope on Mirza Abdul Latif, a friend a few years younger than him, who was enrolled in a singing class at the Alhamra Cultural Complex.

Mirza admired Masih’s melodious voice and the two friends would often discuss how Masih could get a chance for giving that one performance on stage that he desperately craved.

Yesterday was the day. Mirza Latif asked Younus Masih to accompany him to his class in the afternoon and managed to convince the tutors there to allow Masih his long awaited debut.

The 60-year-old tailor master was about to make the cut after a long wait. At 4:13pm, he climbed onto the stage, swallowed the lump in his throat, and began his memorial solo performance.

Aa ker meray mazaar per tu nay jo muskara diya Bijli chamak kay gir pari sara kafan jala diya (Literally: As you stood over my grave and smiled, lightning fell in a flash and my shroud was burnt).

The master sang the ghazal with confidence and his effort was appreciated by the rather small audience present in the hall. His wish fulfilled, he stepped down from the stage a proud man. He collapsed moments later, as if now he had nothing to live for.

Younus Masih, an expert tailor and a singer who had performed on the biggest stage in Lahore, died of cardiac arrest on March 2, 2012.

To honour his love for music, Lahore Arts Council executive director Muhammad Ali Baloch announced naming the singing class at Alhamra after him.

Mirza Abdul Latif has lost an old friend. But he is prominent among those who conspired to allow Younus Masih make his last statement from a forum of his choice.

Mirza has the rare distinction of helping a fellow human being achieve the dream of his life. And the next time he hums at Alhamra, he will be doing it as a pioneering member of the ‘Younus Masih Gaieky Class’.