Struggling to keep dying art alive [old news]
by Shailvee Sharda
Friday, September 23, 2005 02:08:26 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK
LUCKNOW: Bearing the last remnants of a dying art,a single family of artistes in the state capital is trying to keep the Muslim tradition of 'Shahane' alive. But with little success. Without many patrons and hence no commercial value,its survival has become all the more difficult amid a general liking for rock music and jazz.
"The tradition is on its decline now and even I do not feel like singing them," says Sufia,a 'Shahane' artiste,who is struggling with poverty and ill-health. Adds her sister Raffo: "With no appreciation,the motivation to sing wards off. Being belittled by the 'dhoom-dhadaka' of filmi and Punjabi pop,the desire to sing remains no more."
Same are the feelings of Saffo and Kishwar,the other members of the family who are a synonym to the art. "Hamari bandhi hui 'deorahia' aur 'gharane' hua karte hain par ab toh wahah se bhi koi nahi poochta," said Saffo.
"Haan aur hum bhi ab har jagah nahi jate. Kuch purane "kadradaan" hain jinka bulawa hume thukra nahi sakte. Isi liye wahan chale jate hain," she added.
'Shahane' is a form of Sufi music. A composition in classical style,'Shahane' are congratulatory notes written by Amir Khushro way back in the 13th century.
They were supposed to be 'raunak-e-mehfil',a part of every Muslim family till 20 years back. They were sung on occasions like birth of a child,birthdays,regaining health,wedding and receptions among others.
Elaborating on 'Shahane' artistes,Nawab Jafar Mir Abdullah,life member,Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) said that,"Shahane are traditionally sung by 'Mirasis' — a community among Muslims. They should not be mistaken as stage artistes but were respected for their art.
The reason probably was that they were one of the few sources of entertainment. Since celebrations are incomplete without singing and dancing,they were used to give a festive touch to important occasions."
These female artistes had never had a formal training in music. When asked where did they learn 'Shahane' from,Sufia and Raffo said: "We just imitated our elders till we mastered the song."
But no one can raise a finger regarding any slip of notes. "If you close your eyes and listen to Kishwar,it appears that Begum Akhtar is singing," says Suhail Waheed,a first-time listener.
The saddest part is that these four women have not passed on the tradition to their children. "Ab gane mein koi maza nahi reh gaya. Kisi ko hamari zaroorat nahi hai toh hamein kyon ho. Zillat ki zindigi se mar jana behtar hai," said Raffo. The reason for Saffo's loss of interest is different.
"Even close relatives have started looking down upon us," she said. The only ray of hope among over a dozen of their children is Faiz Ahmed who has learnt it as a hobby. "Music is in my blood. I am waiting for the day when the art form will revitalise," he said.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
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Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Struggling to keep dying art alive: Shahane Sufi Music
Struggling to keep dying art alive [old news]
by Shailvee Sharda
Friday, September 23, 2005 02:08:26 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK
LUCKNOW: Bearing the last remnants of a dying art,a single family of artistes in the state capital is trying to keep the Muslim tradition of 'Shahane' alive. But with little success. Without many patrons and hence no commercial value,its survival has become all the more difficult amid a general liking for rock music and jazz.
"The tradition is on its decline now and even I do not feel like singing them," says Sufia,a 'Shahane' artiste,who is struggling with poverty and ill-health. Adds her sister Raffo: "With no appreciation,the motivation to sing wards off. Being belittled by the 'dhoom-dhadaka' of filmi and Punjabi pop,the desire to sing remains no more."
Same are the feelings of Saffo and Kishwar,the other members of the family who are a synonym to the art. "Hamari bandhi hui 'deorahia' aur 'gharane' hua karte hain par ab toh wahah se bhi koi nahi poochta," said Saffo.
"Haan aur hum bhi ab har jagah nahi jate. Kuch purane "kadradaan" hain jinka bulawa hume thukra nahi sakte. Isi liye wahan chale jate hain," she added.
'Shahane' is a form of Sufi music. A composition in classical style,'Shahane' are congratulatory notes written by Amir Khushro way back in the 13th century.
They were supposed to be 'raunak-e-mehfil',a part of every Muslim family till 20 years back. They were sung on occasions like birth of a child,birthdays,regaining health,wedding and receptions among others.
Elaborating on 'Shahane' artistes,Nawab Jafar Mir Abdullah,life member,Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) said that,"Shahane are traditionally sung by 'Mirasis' — a community among Muslims. They should not be mistaken as stage artistes but were respected for their art.
The reason probably was that they were one of the few sources of entertainment. Since celebrations are incomplete without singing and dancing,they were used to give a festive touch to important occasions."
These female artistes had never had a formal training in music. When asked where did they learn 'Shahane' from,Sufia and Raffo said: "We just imitated our elders till we mastered the song."
But no one can raise a finger regarding any slip of notes. "If you close your eyes and listen to Kishwar,it appears that Begum Akhtar is singing," says Suhail Waheed,a first-time listener.
The saddest part is that these four women have not passed on the tradition to their children. "Ab gane mein koi maza nahi reh gaya. Kisi ko hamari zaroorat nahi hai toh hamein kyon ho. Zillat ki zindigi se mar jana behtar hai," said Raffo. The reason for Saffo's loss of interest is different.
"Even close relatives have started looking down upon us," she said. The only ray of hope among over a dozen of their children is Faiz Ahmed who has learnt it as a hobby. "Music is in my blood. I am waiting for the day when the art form will revitalise," he said.
by Shailvee Sharda
Friday, September 23, 2005 02:08:26 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK
LUCKNOW: Bearing the last remnants of a dying art,a single family of artistes in the state capital is trying to keep the Muslim tradition of 'Shahane' alive. But with little success. Without many patrons and hence no commercial value,its survival has become all the more difficult amid a general liking for rock music and jazz.
"The tradition is on its decline now and even I do not feel like singing them," says Sufia,a 'Shahane' artiste,who is struggling with poverty and ill-health. Adds her sister Raffo: "With no appreciation,the motivation to sing wards off. Being belittled by the 'dhoom-dhadaka' of filmi and Punjabi pop,the desire to sing remains no more."
Same are the feelings of Saffo and Kishwar,the other members of the family who are a synonym to the art. "Hamari bandhi hui 'deorahia' aur 'gharane' hua karte hain par ab toh wahah se bhi koi nahi poochta," said Saffo.
"Haan aur hum bhi ab har jagah nahi jate. Kuch purane "kadradaan" hain jinka bulawa hume thukra nahi sakte. Isi liye wahan chale jate hain," she added.
'Shahane' is a form of Sufi music. A composition in classical style,'Shahane' are congratulatory notes written by Amir Khushro way back in the 13th century.
They were supposed to be 'raunak-e-mehfil',a part of every Muslim family till 20 years back. They were sung on occasions like birth of a child,birthdays,regaining health,wedding and receptions among others.
Elaborating on 'Shahane' artistes,Nawab Jafar Mir Abdullah,life member,Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) said that,"Shahane are traditionally sung by 'Mirasis' — a community among Muslims. They should not be mistaken as stage artistes but were respected for their art.
The reason probably was that they were one of the few sources of entertainment. Since celebrations are incomplete without singing and dancing,they were used to give a festive touch to important occasions."
These female artistes had never had a formal training in music. When asked where did they learn 'Shahane' from,Sufia and Raffo said: "We just imitated our elders till we mastered the song."
But no one can raise a finger regarding any slip of notes. "If you close your eyes and listen to Kishwar,it appears that Begum Akhtar is singing," says Suhail Waheed,a first-time listener.
The saddest part is that these four women have not passed on the tradition to their children. "Ab gane mein koi maza nahi reh gaya. Kisi ko hamari zaroorat nahi hai toh hamein kyon ho. Zillat ki zindigi se mar jana behtar hai," said Raffo. The reason for Saffo's loss of interest is different.
"Even close relatives have started looking down upon us," she said. The only ray of hope among over a dozen of their children is Faiz Ahmed who has learnt it as a hobby. "Music is in my blood. I am waiting for the day when the art form will revitalise," he said.
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