THATTA, Jan 8: The frail memory of music lovers had forgotten a voice once they cherished to the depth of their souls.

A sought-after singer now sings in same high-pitched voice but with a begging bowl. Though, her voice had not lost its charm but perhaps her age has.

Zeenat Shaikh, a renowned folk singer of yester-year can be seen loitering on Thatta streets with a faint hope of seeking alms.

It's heart-rending to see this old genre, who once ruled the hearts of Sindhi and Seraika music lovers with her melodious voice, walking barefoot and carrying a begging-bowl.

Zeenat's parents were famous folk singers of their time - Fatima Shaikh and Khan Saheb Saleh Mohammad Shaikh. She was born in 1940 in Mirpur Bathoro – a town known as a hub of art and culture.

She not only inherited the singing genes from her parents but was brought up in a similar environment.

It was because of hereditary and environmental factors that she took up the singing from the age of 10, while accompanying her mother at ceremonies and to Radio Pakistans Hyderabad station.

Zeenat spent a long period as her mother's co-singer and finally at the age of 20, she began giving solo performance on radio and at wedding ceremonies and gained fame among her audience. She has two audio albums to her credit.

She also did a role in a PTV play “Mai Kalachi” based on Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai's Sur Ghaatu. Later Zeenat acted in playwright Abdul Qadir Junejo's drama serial Rani Ji Kahani which afterwards was presented in Urdu titled 'Deewarain' and a play of Noorul Huda Shah titled 'Jungle.'

She began getting less work as age progressed and trends changed at TV and radio. A time came when people forgot her and she became a lonely soul.

Her life partner was a Tabla player (percussionist) who left her in this world. She has only a son working at a roadside eatery in Mirpur Sakro who is not able to support his mother.

Zeenat Shaikh lives in a thatched hut, adjacent to the Otaq (guest house) of former MPA, Ghulam Qadir Palijo and father of Sindh Minister of Culture Sassui Palijo, in Abbasi Muhalla of Thatta since the last three decades when the family migrated from Mirpur Bathoro.

The Culture Department recently organised a concert of folk artistes near her hut but totally ignored the aged artiste.

It's a pity that a folk singer is seen begging on streets of Thatta and Makli from dawn to dusk though all, including the culture minister are aware of her miserable condition. The Culture Department too, is not bothered to define an honourable way of living for her. Dawn

The teary-eyed artiste told though she made several attempts to draw the attention of Culture Minister Sassui Palijo but to no avail.

Besides the culture minister, provincial secretary and director-general of the culture department hail from Thatta district but none paid any heed to address the problems of Zeenat Shaikh.

Tabla players Khamiso Chandio, Baaley Khan, and singers Allah Dino Khaskheli and Khamoon Jogi said Zeenat Shaikh had been an asset. They said that her voice is still as fresh but is waiting for the attention of TV channels and radio stations to provide her with a chance.