Mitha Khan Zardari, a world famous Gharra player and winner of a number of awards, passed away on Thursday morning of cardiac failure. The 93-year-old musician was laid to rest at Jam Datar graveyard.
His life was dedicated to fascinating audiences by playing the ‘Gharra’, an indigenous musical instrument shaped like a clay pot, in Pakistan and around the world. He performed in over 35 countries including the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, China, Kenya, Mauritius and India.
Mitha Khan was a recepient of numerous awards and honours, including the Latif Award, the Sachal Award and the Shahbaz Award as well as the Presidential Award, given to him by President Ghulam Ishaque Khan in 1988.
Born in 1918 in Rano Khan Zardari, he studied at the Madressa High School, Naushero-Feroze, and completed his Matriculation from Noor Muhammad High School, Hyderabad. He joined the police service in 1942 as a clerk, and retired as an office superintendent in 1980.
Mitha Khan Zardari stopped playing the Gharra after suffering a paralysis attack a few years ago. He is survived by six sons and two daughters.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2011.
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