Music legacy: Pashto singer Gulab Sher Ustad passes away

Was the voice behind famous songs such as Sta manzal manzalona

PESHAWAR: A renowned Pashto folk singer, Gulab Sher Ustad, passed away on Monday at the age of 91. The voice behind some of the most famous Pashto songs was laid to rest at his ancestral Mulazai village in the city.

According to his son Nigar Hussain, Gulab Sher was suffering several diseases, but old age and poverty exacerbated his ailments. “Towards the end of his life, my father had lost his eyesight and was in a lot of pain,” said Hussain.

The trail

Gulab Sher Ustad was considered one of the legends whose music is still considered a great source of inspiration for Pashto musicians. His songs like Sta manzal manzalona k yam, Khudaya Yao so worazy jwandon de rakro, Ma darta makhke pa rastai de meenay jam are among hundreds preserved in Radio Pakistan’s music library.

Gulab Sher tried his best to preserve Pashto folk music in its true form. According to his son, he would complain about people favouring modern music instead of their own traditional tunes. “He was and will remain a source of pride for us,” said Hussain, who unlike all his brothers has kept some affiliation with Pashto music. He added, “People have given us a lot of love and respect because of my father’s contribution to music.”

The trajectory

Gulab Sher started his music career before Partition in 1947. According to his family, it was his overpowering love for Pashto music that compelled him to start his own career. No one from his family had any knowledge or interest in music.

“He was heavily influenced by Azeem Khan, a famous folk singer of his time,” one of his family members said. “His close friend Ahmad Khan Ustad would often perform with him.” According to one of his sons, Gulab Sher also sang many poems written by Ustad Zain Khan and Yaqoob.

When he joined Radio Pakistan, Gulab Sher was introduced to famous musicians like Sabz Ali Khan Ustad with whom he composed great music. Apart from singing for the radio, Gulab Sher also performed at many concerts. “His hobby and love had turned into a hardcore profession,” one of his sons said.

Remembrance

Gulab Sher was a victim of many ailments and poverty. However, people loved him to the extent that many of his followers ran charity campaigns to help him during difficult times.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2016.