A Literary Musician’s tragic exodus from Sindh By: Rafique Wassan
Sadiq Faqeer pioneered the distinctive style of singing the poetry of modern Sindhi progressive literary and romantic poets especially Shaikh Ayaz and Ustad Bukhari. In a way, Sadiq laid the foundations of promoting the modern Sindhi poetry through his performance. By adapting the selection of modern literary and romantic poetry in his singing, Sadiq Faqeer is credited to have introduced and institutionalize the literary musical genre in Sindhi music which specifically entertained to the literary class of listeners and served the political and aesthetic objectives through music. Sadiq introduced to and sang the poetry of modern Sindhi poets Ayaz Gul, Adal Soomro, Akash Ansari, Haleem Baghi Hasan Dars, Ishaq Samejo. He was not only a singer but the best composer; he had the hereditary, professional musical art of creating original compositions of the ghazal, geet and waee genres of modern Sindhi poetry. His artistic and creative selection and composition of the poetry by Shaikh Ayaz and other young literary poets into music was highly applauded and liked at the literary programs, universities, colleges and private mehfils. Sadiq earned recognition among the serious, literary lovers of Sindhi music who would always sought progressive literary and political ideas into it. For the writers and nationalists of Sindh, Sadiq’s songs and voice was the reflection and representation of Sindh and Thar Desert.
Born on March 20th, 1964 in a hereditary musician caste known as Manganhaar in Mithi, Tharparkar, Sadiq received education at graduate level and got job in a government school Mihti.
Sadiq started his professional music career as singer in young age during the school days and got musical training by his maternal uncle Hussain Faqeer, the well trained hereditary musician in his community. Sadiq’s first song in the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai was debuted by Radio Pakistan Hyderabad in 1987. Later on, in early 90s, his performance in a huge public gathering among students, writers and academics of Sindh University, Jamshoro on the eve of International conference on Sindhi literature and Language provided him with the patronage and platform for recognition and applaud.
Sadiq’s association with hereditary musician community of Manganhaar, ingenious voice quality and selection of modern literary poetry of famous old and new Sindhi poets added value to his performance and contributed to his popularity and recognition in the years to come across the Sindh. Sadiq kept continued his music with the professional commitment and dedication to select, compose and sing modern literary and romantic poetry. In return, he received reciprocal appreciation by the lovers of his music especially the literary circles, intellectuals, writers and students. Equally, this appreciation made Sadiq’s musical style and tradition distinctive and popular in Sindh. In the process, Sadiq got recognized and acknowledged not only the love and appreciation by listeners; he also fulfilled their aesthetic and ideological needs through his performance of literary and thoughtful poetry of romance and resistance.
Sadiq Faqeer’s recognition and commitment of upholding the literary style of music never pushed him to follow the mainstream commercial audio cassette based music industry. Conversely, he defined and developed his popular image of being a non-commercial musician. Through his selective style of singing in terms of poetry and original rendition, Sadiq enjoyed the fame and popularity more than mainstream commercial singers. Though a small number, his audio albums which included the songs of the selected poetry of modern Sindhi poets became very popular.
Sadiq’s popular song on the theme of the separation of beloved ‘Tou Khaan theendy dhaar, lurk larre piya laar kry’ (the moment I parted ways with you, I could not stop my tears) debuted in his first audio album in 1994 reminds the irony of life at the moment when he is no more with us.
Sadiq Faqeer’s tragic eternal exodus is great loss for his family, friends, fans, Sindhi music and music heritage. He was an extraordinarily creative singer and composer; his contribution to the promotion and preservation of Sindhi modern literary, sufi poetry and music is the reflection of an exemplary and unparalleled status in the field of music in Sindh. Sadiq Faqeer’s commitment and contribution to produce and uphold a distinctive literary musical tradition and genre in Sindhi music heritage would be remembered among the succeeding generation of musicians in the centuries to come.
To pay homage to Sadiq, the writers, poets, intellectuals, civil society members and common people from far flung areas of Sindh flocked to Mithi, Tharparkar and attended his funeral rites. Sadiq reinvented and reinvigorated aesthetic and defiant consciousness through the performance of progressive literary poetry of Shaikh Ayaz, Ustad Bukhari and many other contemporary poets. As a custodian of literary, sufi poetry and music in Sindh, Sadiq Faqeer’s untimely accidental death has left a void; which is great loss for the secular social fabric of Sindhi society.
Sindh experiences deep feelings of grief, gloom and deprivation over Sadiq’s eternal separation. Sadiq, you will be remembered for your endless contribution to the Sindh and its people whom you consciously selected in your songs and performance.