GHULAM QADIR LANGOO ( 1915- 2015)
I would see him walking to his office or returning from his duties along the Residency Road ,Srinagar. He probably lived across Budshah Bridge in the Shaheed Ganj locality . His communication style , dress and appearance was more of a Dervish than a singer or musician .He would sing , mimic and play Nott ( Matka ), Tumbaknaari , harmonium and finally Taanpura . He had a strikingly distinct voice when he sang in a group .Lively , humorous and sharp , he always maintained a low profile . He was also named Kashmiri Michael Jackson after he performed some dance steps in a television programme for New Year . Some friends called him Joker but many would agree that he knew all the basics of Sufiana singing and Hafiz Nagma . He also told me that his grandfather was a mimic artist while his father was a Sufiana singer and Santoor player . He also informed that his father and grandfather performed at the Darbar of Maharaja Hari Singh .
He is credited with giving the Kashmiri music some of the finest female voices like Raj Begum, Zoon Begum and Naseem Akhtar. He brought these female singers to the Radio Kashmir , Srinagar . It was a real tough task in view of the orthodox nature of the Kashmiri society at that point in time.
Ghulam Qadir Langoo has performed before Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru ,Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad .However, among his hosts, Langoo enjoyed singing for Bakhshi Ghulam Mohammad. “Just a song of mine and he would forget who he was. He would join the choir and play some instrument mostly Nott ( Matka ) . I still remember how happy he would get.” said Langoo about Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad.
Once I suggested to him that he should give up smoking . To this he replied :-
“ Tse vuchh Shankar Maharaj Kyah kari or Let you see what Lord Shiva shall do ”
When I brought Hindustani classical music to our discussion, he was all praise for Pandit Shambhu Nath Sopori who gave him some professional training and made him familiar with some Ragas of Hindustani classical music . When I switched over to contribution of Radio Kashmir towards creating quality in traditional Kashmiri music , he was full of praise for Mohan Lal Aima ,who ,according to him ,revolutionised Kashmiri music and singing .
( Ghulam Qadir Langoo with Vijay Malla)
Syed Zeeshan Fazil , who retired from a very
senior position in Doordarshan has this to say :-
“ First time, I interviewed him in 1986 soon after
my return from DDK Jalandhar. It was a great production by Naseem Khan.I had an
another chance to book him for New Year programme of 1989, this
time in a special appearance singing a Kashmiri song in a pop tune
which turned to be a super duper item of the show. Langoo Sahib used to
give Taanpora accompaniment to Begum Akhtar. He introduced many female voices
in the field of music. He is himself a versatile folk singer. Fazil memorial
has honoured him with an Award for his outstanding contribution some years
back.”
Noted Kashmiri singer Rita Kaul says this :-
"Whenever I used to sing in Radio Kashmir ,he
used to play Taanpura . Really a great artist who always gave blessings.
I have great regards for him .God bless Langoo Sahab.”
Ghulam Qadir Langoo was employed in Radio Kashmir, Srinagar where he also played Taanpura for some performing artist including Lata Mangeshkar ,Begum Akhtar and Mohinder Kapoor . Taanpura supports and sustains the melody of another instrument or singer by providing a continuous harmonic drone.
In 2015, he died at a ripe age of 100 years . He was living at his younger son Mohammad Ramzan's residence in Aloochi Bagh area of Srinagar city.
Peace be to his soul.
( Avtar Mota )
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