PESHAWAR: Popular Pashto singer Khan Tehsil, who died of cardiac arrest the other day, was laid to rest in Risalpur. He was 85.

He left behind three sons and three daughters. He was a recipient of numerous awards and certificates including the one he had received from Afghan King Zahir Shah in 1970.

Khan Tehsil used to live a nomadic life in tent and presently he was residing with his family at Kandaru village near district Nowshera. He kept shifting his family throughout life between Dir, Timergera and district Nowshera outskirts.

The duo of Zarsanga and Khan Tehsil remained active on Pashto folk music stage for almost five decades, said Laiqzada, a radio producer. He said that Khan Tehsil could play rabab and harmonium and could memories hundreds of Pashto folksongs.

Khan Tehsil had started his singing career along with noted singer Zarsanga from his village Zafar Mamakhel, Lakki Marwat in the early 60s from Radio Pakistan, Peshawar. He had 400 albums to his credit. Rashid Ali Dehqaan Dawar, a creative producer, had introduced him.

“We had close relations like brother and sister since we first met at Radio Pakistan Peshawar building. Today I feel as if my one half has separated from me. We had performed together and had been to many places together,” Zarsanga, a lifelong companion of Khan Tehsil, told Dawn.

She said that he was a humble soul with a sweet voice. Pashto folk music without Khan Tehsil would remain orphan, she added.

Gulbahar, the elder son of Khan Tehsil, said that his father had been suffering from multiple health complications since long. Two years ago, he said, he was admitted to a Peshawar hospital and had been recovered to the satisfaction of doctors. “Yesterday morning he suddenly fell down and breathed his last on spot. He was laid to rest in Risalpur near Nowshera,” he said. Local artists, singers and nomad community members attended his funeral.

“I had started my singing career from attending wedding ceremonies at villages. Then on one occasion a Radio Pakistan, Peshawar director Mahmoob Ali Khan spotted me and invited me to Peshawar for audition. Rashid Ali Dehqaan gave a chance and recorded my first-ever song -- Zee Pa Lwarho Ghrunoo Laila. Later my duo with Zarsanga scaled new heights. I was born with a velvety voice and I wanted to gift to Pashto music. Singing folksongs is my strong forte,” the late singer had once said.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2016