Elite drummer Gunga Sain dies of cardiac arrest

Internationally acclaimed drummer Gunga Sain has passed away in the provincial capital. The famous drummer reportedly died due to a cardiac arrest.

Dholchi Gunga Sain, who ruled the hearts of thousands of people by playing crazy Sufi drums, suffered a heart attack on Sunday night, which eventually led to his death. He was 50 years old.

The renowned musician made the country and nation famous through his art in more than 87 countries including Canada, Japan, the US, Germany, Sweden, Norway and India.

During the previous decade, Gunga Sain was very active and gave a new identity to the South Asian drum beating scene by performing in multiple countries representing the country around the world.

Gunga also met former US President George W Bush.

The deceased’s younger brother Nazim Sain told The Express Tribune that Gunga had complained of heart pain around 15 days ago on which he was admitted to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology.

He had a heart attack on Sunday night and died.

Nazim said that Gunga was a Sufi. Whenever natural disasters, earthquakes or floods hit Pakistan, he was at the forefront of the fundraising campaigns.

He said that Gunga was fasting during the current month of Ramazan despite being ill and had visited his parents' graves on Saturdays and prayed for them. Gunga will be buried next to his parents in Thokar Niaz Beg graveyard.

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Gunga Sain ascended to international fame after his traditional dance to the beat of Sufi style drums gained attention of South Asian music lovers.

He used to perform this dance while playing drums himself and his performances reportedly took place every Thursday at the mausoleum of Shah Jamal.

The shrine is located in Ichra area of Lahore. Gunga had successfully introduced his style of music and dance worldwide.

Baba Shah Jamal, a famous nineteenth-century Sufi, was known to have expressed his happiness by dancing to the beat of a similar drum.

With the help of the same musical instrument, he played an important role in cultural harmony.

Pappu Sain who made Pakistan famous all over the world through drums was a relative of Gunga Sain. Pappu Sain had also performed in countries across the world.

Pappu had recently been awarded the Best South Asian Music Award at the BBC World Competition and had the opportunity to perform in different parts of the world with Lahore-based rock band Overload.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2021.