GHULAM HASSSAN SOFI ( 1932-2009): THE MAGICAL SINGER
FROM KASHMIR
“You
should not have made this music arrangement for the Baraat. The cook is on my
head as no one is taking food. Add to that, about 200 uninvited people have
come to Shamiyana to listen to the music. The Shamiyana is packed to full. The
bridegroom is himself sitting in this music Mehfil .Do something to let the
Lagan take place. My daughter is unable to come down .It is 10.30 pm.” said
the bride’s father to me.
I
had organised Ghulam Hassan Sofi’s music entertainment for the Baraatis in that
particular marriage. Everything came to standstill suddenly. The Baraatis , the
bridegroom’s father , the bridegroom , workers and the residents of the
locality flocked to the Shamiyana once Ghulam Hassan Sofi began his singing with
Rasul Meer’s popular song , “Valaai
Kasturi , pooriy mai traan neeriye “. Kashmiri
Pandit women who were singing traditional Vanvun stopped and trooped to the
singer to clap his second song, “chaanie
bar tal raaviem raatchie awaaz vaatchai na “
That was the impact of the
melodious voice of Ghulam Hassan Sofi. I had to go to Sofi Sahib and convey
facts to him. He announced that he wanted to take rest for one hour and
requested Baraatis to take food. Lagan function started immediately. He sang
some of the most melodious Kashmiri songs till 4 am. that night. Those who
shared that night with me still feel nostalgic.He sang Rehman Rahi’s, “baeil
titi chha meiti mokh haavukh” (Love, could it be so that you visit this way),
and “kathee myani mashouq mattah ditta dol (Love! do not look other way when I
say something) to conclude .In between he sang:-
tan naar daz aarwaali,
jaan vandiyo ha ba paan vandiyo ,
zamanay pok na hamdam totee kya guv,
yeti suyee chuhmay tatee suyee chhumay,
von deiu ath kaaras ,
vani loochi kor gatsakh,
tse kamieu karinay taweez punn,
yaar ikhna chum graav poshan
betabai korthas valo
chhukh son jigar gosh janaane ma sa rosh
tse loguth sorma chashman
moi chon chhu sombul
greis-koor ( poet Mehjoor),
mo tshhaayee rozum maahe nau ke hilaal, afsoos duniyaa and many other popular Kashmiri
compositions.
Unbelievable
but true, when he sang the Naat ,”neri
latiye roi karaan” in this marriage function , women in particular heard
him with rapt attention. This was the composite culture of Kashmir. That day it
got established to me that culture rises higher in human relations. Culture binds.
It touches the basic questions and issues of humanity as a group. No grief, no
sorrow or no happiness is divisive in terms of race, colour or religion, infact
they are universal.
taeni gomai rabaab ragan gayam taarai ,
zeeri bum thovthhum cheerai lo .
(This body is a Rabaab and these nerves just strings,
O Master!
The taut strings
resonate with your music only.)
This
great singer lived to these words .The lines are from his composition, “jaan vandiyo, ha ba paan vandiyo, zuv tai
jaan vandai myaani peero lo.” This is how religions were mostly practiced
in Kashmir. The Peer’s place or Murshid’s Baargaah or Guru‘s abode was a place
of total surrender .This was his preferred song in all gatherings.
A
little clarification for readers’ .We had two Sofis in Kashmir. One was from
Rainawari known as Ghulam Ahmed sofi popularly known as Ama Kandhur. He too
died some time back. This gentleman sang in Sufiana style. He generally sang Chhakri.
One must listen Rehman Dar’s composition
Sheshrang (Aadhan Ikh na) sung by this great artist. The other sofi was Ghulam
Hassan sofi who sang Gazals and songs.
Born
in 1932, Ghulam Hassan sofi began his career as a radio singer under late Mohan
Lal Aima who brought him to Radio Kashmir, Srinagar. Later he also sang for
Doordarshan and Song and Drama Division. He enriched Kashmiri music with Gazal
singing apart from singing some of the most memorable mystic compositions of
Wahab Khar, Shams Faqir, Rajab Hamid and Sochha Kraal and many other Sufi
poets. He also sang Rasul Meer, Mehjoor, Rehman Rahi and many more Gazal poets
of Kashmiri language. He worked as instructor with Song and Drama Division for
27 years ( from 1967 to 1994). He was a recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
.The biggest award for him was that he lived in the hearts of Kashmiris; both
Pandits and Muslims.
This blogger vividly remembers the wonderful tributes paid Haseeb Drabu, former
Chairman J&K Bank Ltd to this great son of the soil. He wrote this:-
“It is a collective loss for the people of
Kashmir and nobody can fill the void created by his demise. Ghulam Hassan Sofi
was not just a great singer but an institution in himself. He didn’t merely
sing songs, he vocalized the cultural philosophy of the Kashmir Valley. Not
only his style his sensibilities too were deeply Kashmiri. May God grant him
the same peace and solace that he gave to millions of Kashmiris by his soulful singing.”
On
his death, noted Kashmiri Singer Arti Tiku
Kaul wrote this:-
“He was
one of my favorite singers who took Kashmiri folk music to great heights,
blending his melodious renditions with natural depth, expression and an
innovative style that appealed to all types of listeners. The loss of sight
empowered him to feel every word that he sang and touch the hearts that he
could not see! God bless his soul."
He
died on 9th November 2009 in SMHS Hospital, Srinagar after a prolonged illness
and was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard at Maleteng, Dalgate. I saw him
in September 2009. He was unwell. He had stopped singing. Age had taken him
over. I knew he was packing but not so fast. With his music, he made many
people happy during his lifetime.Unfortunaytely, this great son of the soil
died in poverty, perhaps neglected by the lovers of his music. Shall Kashmiris ever recognise their icons?
( Avtar Mota )
.
.
