It feels like 2011 again, when Sindh lost an emerging sensation in poet Hassan Dars, killed in a car accident near Hyderabad. On February 26, 2015, another Sindhi prodigy, Sadiq Faqeer, perished in a road traffic accident in Saudi Arabia. The loss is eerily similar and monumental.

Born on March 20, 1964 in Mithi, Tharparkar to a family of Manganhaars, a caste that has been involved with music for centuries, Faqeer pioneered a distinctive style of singing the verses of modern Sindhi poets, especially Shaikh Ayaz and Ustad Bukhari, who are considered the founders of the modern progressive literary tradition in Sindh.

In fact, because of his selection and adaptation of modern literary and romantic poetry, Faqeer is credited with having introduced and institutionalised the genre of literary music in Sindhi music, which specifically appealed to listeners with a literary bent, and served political and aesthetic objectives through music.

The genre of literary music in Sindhi culture owes much to a man from Mithi. Sindh has lost a superstar

He was not only a singer but also a great composer; he had inherited the art of creating original compositions of ghazal, geet and waee genres of modern Sindhi poetry. His artistic and creative composition of the work of Shaikh Ayaz and other young literary poets into music was highly applauded and liked at literary programmes and private mehfils.

At the same time he introduced the work of modern Sindhi poets such as Ayaz Gul, Adal Soomro, Akash Ansari, Haleem Baghi, Hassan Dars, Ishaq Samejo through his rendition. Faqeer earned recognition among serious, literary lovers of Sindhi music who had always sought progressive literary and political ideas. For Sindh’s writers and nationalists, Faqeer’s songs and voice was the reflection and representation of Sindh and Thar Desert.

Having started his music career as a singer during his school days, Faqeer was trained by his maternal uncle, Hussain Faqeer, who belonged to a musicians’ family in his community. He debuted as a professional singer in 1987 when his first song was aired on Radio Pakistan Hyderabad; it was Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai’s kalam.

On the eve of the International Conference on Sindhi Literature and Language in the early 90s, he performed at a huge public gathering including students, writers and academics of Sindh University, Jamshoro; this provided him the patronage and platform for recognition and future growth. He had already completed his graduation and acquired a job in a government school in Mithi.

Along with his association with the Manganhaar community, Faqeer’s versatile voice and selection of poets added value to his performance and contributed to his popularity across Sindh in the years to come.

He continued his musical journey with professional commitment and dedication selecting, composing and singing modern literary and romantic poetry. In return, he received appreciation, especially from literary circles, intellectuals, writers and students, which made his musical style distinctive and popular in Sindh. While enjoying the recognition, love and appreciation of his fans, Faqeer fulfilled their aesthetic need through his performance.

Being committed to upholding the literary style of music, he had no desire to follow the mainstream commercial audio cassette-based music industry. On the contrary, he defined and developed his image of being a non-commercial musician. Through his selection of verse and original rendition, he enjoyed more fame and popularity than mainstream commercial singers. Though in small number, his audio albums which include his rendition of the selected works of modern Sindhi poets became very popular.

Faqeer’s popular song on the theme of separation of the beloved ‘Tou khaan theendy dhaar, lurk larre piya laar kry’ (the moment I part ways with you, I cannot stop my tears) debuted in his first audio album in 1994 reminds one of the irony of life at a time when he is no more with us.

His tragic death is a great loss for Sindhi music and heritage. An extraordinarily creative singer and composer, his contribution to the promotion and preservation of modern literary and Sufi poetry and music portrays an exemplary and unparalleled status. Faqeer’s commitment and contribution to create and develop a distinctive literary musical tradition and genre in Sindhi music heritage would be remembered by the succeeding generation of musicians in the centuries to come.

To pay homage to Faqeer, writers, poets, intellectuals, civil society members and common people from far flung areas of Sindh flocked to Mithi, Tharparkar and attended his funeral rites. As a custodian of Sufi poetry and music in Sindh, Faqeer’s untimely death has left a void, which is a great loss for the secular social fabric of Sindhi society.

The writer is an anthropologist and currently pursuing M.Phil studies in QAU, Islamabad

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, April 5th, 2015

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