PESHAWAR: The artists and folk singers at a ceremony organised an event based on an old ritual of new music student initiation at a local studio here on Tuesday.

Senior musicians, artists, folk singers and music lovers attended the centuries-old tradition called ‘Shakarnama’. The participants said that the ritual was organised under the auspices of Hunari Tolana Welfare Society to revive an old tradition.

To follow the tradition, a red ribbon, known as Gaana, was passed through a circle of about 10 artists and was finally tied round the right hand of the new music student by his teacher.

It was followed by distribution of sweets among the participants with prayers.

Ustad Nazeer said that as per the ritual, the Ustad then played out a few classical tunes and owned the new music leaner as his own son/daughter. “The Ustad never charges fee for teaching music lessons, it is left to the choice of the music student. The transfer of Raag is considered a precious asset as no one other person can play unless permitted by the Ustad of a particular music maestro,” he explained.

Artist says classical music transferred from one generation to another through ‘Shakarnama’

Noted Pashto singer Rashid Khan was launched as new student of classical music under the mentorship of Ustad Nawab Ali Khan.

Talking to this scribe, he said that Shakarnama was a centuries-old tradition through which classical music was transferred from one generation to another.

Maestro of classical music Ustad Nawab Ali Khan, the son of noted artist late Ustad Lal Khan Rajasthani, was chief guest on the occasion.

He said that it was a good omen that KP artists still loved to learn old music tunes which was the basis for all kinds of music including folk.

He said that Shakarnama used to be a ritual rooted in Hindu’s religious contents but in fact it was a kind of ceremony in which new learners of classical tunes were launched in the presence of music maestros.

Ustad Nawab said that his forefathers had migrated from India and settled in Dera Ismail Khan and then his father shifted to Peshawar decades ago and groomed up numerous music students both in classical and semi-classical music.

“I have learnt around 100 different Raags from my father and then I transferred this art to about 500 pupils during the last over 40 years. My father knew over 300 classical tunes,” he said.

Senior artist Fazal Wahab Dard said on the occasion that KP artists started the ritual of Shakarnama about a decade ago in which young artists pledged to learn classical tunes from a perfect Ustad and would follow his instructions till he/she mastered it and then the maestro granted him/her permission to carry on the legacy of old Raags.

Ustad Nawab Ali Khan, Ustad Najam and Ustad Sawnal performed classical tune ‘Goori’ and received great applause from the participants.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2020