Sur Gali’s artisans turn to repairing modern instruments
As tastes shift from classical to pop music, shops on Sur Gali are also shifting from making traditional instruments to repairing modern ones.
Artisans on the kilometre-long stretch of Shah Allah Ditta Road used to make tablas, sitars, rababs and harmoniums, but with the art of making such instruments dying they have learned how to work with newer and western instruments, such as guitars and drums.
Dozens of shops on Sur Gali now provide all kinds of instruments, from old to new. During a visit to the market, shoppers can be seen moving from one store to another, looking for instruments and accessories and bargaining for better deals.
Shahmir Raza, a university student, came to the market from Islamabad in search of a guitar.
“We came from Islamabad to repair an old guitar and to look for a new one. We have formed a musical group at university to perform at events and release music,” he told Dawn.