CHAKWAL: When he sings, audiences around the world are left spellbound. Abroad, he is revered by musical legends and audiences alike.
Yet in his homeland, Ustad Hussain Bakhsh Gullo finds himself disturbed by the plight of Pakistani classical music and artists.
Gullo hails from two famous houses of music: Patila and Shamchaurasi. He has also been awarded a Pride of Performance.
Sitting down with Dawn after a performance on Monday, Gullo expressed his dissatisfaction with the government’s apathy toward classical music and musicians. “The government is not taking any practical steps for classical music and its performers,” he said.
Discussing art councils, he said that many councils that should be headed by renowned artists are being run by novices.
“In India there are plenty of musical academies, but nothing is being done in Pakistan,” he said, and demanded immediate steps be taken to remedy the situation.
But despite the government’s apathy, Gullo seemed optimistic about the future of classical music. “The people, particularly our youth, find solace in classical music,” he said, and added that, “this music is truth, and I believe that truth never dies.”
Gullo is the son of legendary singer Ustad Nathu Khan, and has been performing famous and complicated raags for over fifty years. He has passed the art on to his sons, Chand and Suraj Khan, who have proved themselves able to do his training justice.
Accompanied by Kashif Ali Dani on tabla and his elder son Chand Khan, Gullo left his audience mesmerized. The concert was organised by avid classical music lovers, Chaudhry Mohsin Hassan Khan, and Syed Asad Ali Shah.
Gullo performed some of his most famous songs, but it was when he touched on the work of Khwaja Ghulam Farid, describing the plight of Sassi, that a trace slipped over the listeners.
Audience members noted down their favourite songs and handed them to Gullo, who honoured their requests late into the night.
He ended his performance with Ahmed Faraz’s jub dil khol kar roye hon ge/log aaram se soye hon ge.