PESHAWAR: Abdul Munghaim, a student of 7th grade and resident of Kadi in Shah Mansoor village, Swabi district, got a widespread fame on social media due to his velvety voice.

According to his father, his teenage son came to limelight when a local CD storekeeper uploaded his video clips on social media in which he had sung poems of Ghani Khan in the style of Sardar Ali Takkar. He wanted to become an electrical engineer and also wished to pursue singing career in future.

Dr Asfandyar, father of Abdul Munghaim, told Dawn that his son was gifted with an inborn talent of singing and could copy senior Pashto singer Sardar Ali Takkar and also could imitate noted folk singers Karan Khan, Haroon Bacha and Humayun Khan. He said that after his child’s video went viral, a private Pashto TV channel invited him for performance at Nishtar Hall.

He said that little Muneeb gave a wonderful performance and received a standing ovation from the audience.

He said that the teenagers should be encouraged to bring out their hidden talent and should not be discouraged at any stage to display their inborn ability.

Mr Munghaim told Dawn that a local CD storekeeper recorded some poems in his voice without music on his mobile phone set a year ago and put it on social media.

He said that his video clip was viewed by thousands of people and liked his voice. “I became a singer overnight. Teenagers have talent, but in most cases, parents and teachers don’t encourage them because of taboos. I am fortunate enough to have kind parents and teachers who are caring and want to boost my confidence,” he said.

He said that although Pashto was not being taught as subject at the English medium school yet he could read and memorize long and difficult poems and ghazals of Pashto poets. “I read in a private school where Pashto is not part of our syllabus but due to my penchant for Pashto poetry and music, I can read Pashto script with ease and fluency. I give equal time to playing sports and schoolwork,” he added.

The 7th grader told this scribe that once his teacher at a village mosque beat him over singing Pashto songs while he was on his way back home in the village street.

He said that he reported the incident of his punishment to his father who walked up to mosque and asked the teacher not to scold his talented child in future.

“I also convinced my mosque teacher that I am not committing a sin when I am singing poems advocating peace and love. This is what we read in my school books also. I love English and math subjects along with music. My English teacher encourages me in school to display my talent whenever an occasion arises,” he stated.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2015

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