“I have been to the US, France, Russia, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia among 60 more countries, but now I am just living a burdensome life.” says Zarsanga.
PESHAWAR:
The ‘queen of Pushto folk music’ Zarsanga, has offered her lifetime’s worth of titles and awards up for sale at her home – a tent near Azakhel.
Her house in Pabbi tehsil was swept away in the 2010 floods and she has been displaced since. Talking to Express News in her tent, the 68-year-old said, “I have been to the US, France, Russia, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia among 60 more countries, but now I am just living a burdensome life.”
Rugs and trinkets collected on her many travels adorn her living space. A number of awards, medallions and certificates lie atop a metal box. Her goat stands close to her.
“It’s difficult for me to practice in the tent,” she said, adding that it too had been borrowed from someone else.
Born in 1946 in Zafar Mamakhel, a small village in Lakki Marwat district, Zarsanga belongs to a nomadic tribe. She started her career as a folk singer at the age of 20 when she recorded her first song with Radio Pakistan. After that, there was no looking back.
The singer was presented the presidential Pride of Performance Award in 1991 by former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan in recognition for her contribution to Pushto music.
“I am a nomad, wherever I go is my land; but I love this country (Pakistan), I don’t know why. I have mesmerised hundreds of people with my voice, singing in a language that is unknown to a foreigner, yet its reach is universal,” she said.
Zarsanga claims the government had promised to construct a house for her following the floods; however, the promise was never fulfilled. She says she has been forced to sell her titles and awards to buy a house and food for her family. “My six sons are working, but even then, constructing a house seems like an impossible task,” she said, adding that while she is living her life in a tent, she wishes to die beneath her own roof.
She severely criticised the provincial government for its claims of working for the wellbeing of artists, and said nearly 90% of Pukhtun artists and singers are living in poverty. The government gave me some money, but it was a nominal amount, she added.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Director Culture Pervaiz Khan, however, refuted the singer’s allegations and said the government has given Rs0.3 million to the singer in the last three years and has also invited her to various events. “We don’t have the budget to build a house for her,” the director added.
He claimed the government was helping around 150 artists and singers in K-P, adding that assisting such a large number of singers in the province with low budgets has left everyone in a position to point fingers at the government. “Recently, we paid Rs20,000 to many artists across the province,” Khan said, adding that if possible, the government will help the singer in the future.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS (7)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
So sad to see an artist like her suffer and the government does nothing to help.
Sad to see an artist like her go through these sufferings!
Really Sad that we can't protect such gems.
By no means govt of KPK is poor. It is the utter neglect that has left this great singer homeless. 0.3 million(3 lakhs) is by no mean enough to build even single room, let alone a house.
I hope that ANP will take notice of it and will do something for such people
Why a nationally recognized folk artist is not given an endowment pension or is it because she is a Pashtun and her responsibility comes under poor KP government.
I like what she says:" “I am a nomad, wherever I go is my land; but I love this country (Pakistan), I don’t know why". Honest, simple and pure in her opinion
Born free and live free.
This is both sad and pathetic. In a country that is overflowing with religious fanatics and crooked politicians it is no wonder that talent then becomes a liability. If there is a fund setup to help her and tribune can provide that information I would like to help!