NAWABSHAH: Ustad Mohammed Yasin, the melody maestro and maternal uncle of Shahenshah-i-Ghazal Mehdi Hasan, was laid to rest in Nawabshah on Saturday.

Ustad Yasin, 63, who belonged to the Sania family of Gwaliar (India) and was the son of veteran Sarangi Nawaz Ustad Misri Khan, died of cardiac arrest at his residence in Nawabshah on Friday.

Ustad Yasin remained associated with Radio Pakistan and PTV for a long time and contributed a lot to the promotion of music and singers. However, he led a miserable life most of the time. His bereaved family said the artist kept waiting for his due status and rights till his death for rendering commendable services to the nation in his field. The government did not even help bear the treatment of his physical disability despite relentless efforts made by them for years, they said.

Ustad Yasin started learning music at the age of seven from his father and had shot to fame when his excellent performance at Gajrah Wah School in 1965 earned him a big cash prize from President Ayub Khan for the music he had composed for a song Qadam Barhao Sathio. His services to the state radio and TV were also acclaimed.

The many music students and singers he taught included some big names like Master Wali Mohammad, Iqbal Bano, Azra Riaz and Ashraf Gill.

Several hundred of his students and admirers, besides family members and relatives, attended the funeral.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2015

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