PESHAWAR: Senior Pashto folk singers have set up a music welfare society with an objective to promote and preserve cultural music and also to encourage and train local artists and singers.

Zahir Shah, a senior harmonium player and chief of the music welfare society (MWS), told Dawn on Friday that music and musicians had suffered huge losses due to extremism and militancy during the last over several decades. He regretted that no concrete steps were taken in the past to give protection to the artist community.

Mr Shah said that around 200 KP artists were unable to pay their house rents and get proper medical treatment. He said that he along with a few of his companions had registered the society in May 2014, but it could not be made functional owing to unfavourable conditions among the community. He said that he would soon formally launch his society.

The MWS chief pointed out that he was in contact with senior Pashto singers, including Khial Mohammad, Ahmad Gul, Akbar Hussain, Hidayatullah, Gulzar Alam, Mahjabeen Qazalbash, Mashooq Sultana, Zarsanga Bibi and a few others. He said that a big meeting would be arranged at the hujra of ustad Khial Mohammad to discuss various aspects of society.

“We have planned around 18 points, including provision of financial assistance to widows, orphans and disabled artists, and will arrange for free education and health of the artist community. Our society will be a non-for-profit and non-political organisation and will award membership only to singers, musicians, instrumentalists and music composers,” Mr Shah elaborated.

Initiative aimed at promoting music and protecting rights of artists

The society would organise cultural events, charity shows and hold music competitions and training sessions for upcoming singers. The society would work for promotion of traditional music and welfare of all individuals associated with music.

He said that around 600 artists, instrumentalists and folk singers would be members under a seven-member cabinet of the music welfare society. He said that presently about 100 Afghan artists were excluded from the list. However, he clarified that these Afghan artists could become honorary members of the society. Senior artist Gulzar Alam remarked that he welcomed any serious attempt for the welfare of local artists. He suggested that in addition to addressing problems of the artists, the society should also focus on creative work and safeguarding rights of the artists. He promised that his organisation Hunary Toalana would work in close liaison with the music welfare society for the promotion of art and cultural activities in the region.

Music director Master Ali Haider told this scribe that due to philistinism most of the artists like Hidayatullah, Khial Mohammad, Wagma Bibi, Mashooq Sultana and Akbar Hussain were in miserable conditions and were in need of financial support. He said that the welfare society would work for the betterment of singers and their families.

Zarsanga in her comments said that female artists were the most vulnerable segment and they should be given due space in the society.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2016