Ustad Shaggan, Allah Rakha remembered

The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage organised reference to pay tribute to these legendary artists

Pakistan has lost two renowned classical musicians in the last few months — the great sarangi player Ustad Allah Rakha Khan, and the Gwalior Gharana singer Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shaggan.

The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage organised a reference to pay tribute to these legendary artists at Lok Virsa.

A short documentary film about Ustad Allah Rakha, produced by Awais Afzal was shown.

Classical artists and musicians who participated by rendering their performances included Taimur Khan student of Ustad Allah Rakha, Mazhar Hassan Shaggan son of Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shaggan, and Zohaib Hassan from Lahore, who belongs to a family of sarangi players. The accompanying musicians were Sarfraz Anwar and Muhammad Ajmal on tabla.

The reference was also attended by large number of music lovers from twin cities including students and families and enjoyed performances given by the artists.

Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed said, “We have lost two great masters who left a vacuum in our classical music. We need to pay attention so that the skill of sarangi playing is transferred to our younger generation.” Lok Virsa supports all forms of traditional and classical music threatened to vanish due to modern onslaught and lack of due patronage, with a view to ensure their revival and continuance, she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2015.