Pak qawwals have Dilli roots

By Maneesh Pandey - Times of India - Delhi, India

Thursday, November 2, 2006

For Sufi singers Abu Mohammed Hussaini and Fareed Ayaz Al Hussaini from Pakistan, coming to Delhi means revisiting their roots — which can be traced to the family tree of one of the earliest disciples of Amir Khusro.

Their relatives still stay in a haveli in Chandni Mahal area of Walled City. In town with a dozen qawwali singers from Pakistan, Hussaini brothers are all set to give Delhiites a taste of original Sufi devotional music.

Incidentally, they are the flag-bearers of a school of music ( gharana ) which also derives its name from the city — Dilli Gharana . The foundation of this gharana is said to have been laid by Amir Khusro himself.

"Lovers of music will be treated to a distinct style of qawwali as the Hussaini brothers will sing Chhap Tilak , Mera Piya Ghar Aaya , Bulle Shah .....and kalams of Khusro. The duo will perform at Dilli Haat on Friday evening," says Delhi Tourism chief Sanat Kaul.

Friday’s musical feast is a prelude to a bigger event in February next year when the brothers will perform along side other famous qawwals from the subcontinent. "Also on stage would be famous musicians from Egypt, Iran and Spain. Such fusion of Sufi music will be the first-ever in Delhi," says Kaul. February’s event will be organised by Delhi Tourism, ICCR and Seher, a cultural body.

The Hussainis are excited about the show, as it will give them an opportunity to come back to Delhi — which has been home to their eight generations. "It’s a pleasure to be here. One of my forefathers, Ustad Tan Ras Khan, was musical ustad of last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. We trace our lineage to qawwals, known as the earliest disciples of Amir Khusro, the famous Sufi poet.

We are famous as Qawwal Bachhon ka Gharana," says Abu Muhammed. Their father, Munshi Raziuddin Ahmed, was a famous qawwal of Dilli gharana. Munshi moved to Pakistan during the Partition when Fareed was just three years old. Abu Mohammed was not even born in Delhi, but he can’t stop praising it.

"Dilli ki sab cheez acchi lagti hai kyunki issi Dilli ne hame sab kucch diya. (We like everything about Delhi as it has given us everything).

We’re famous in Pakistan due to this gharana , which is a stamp of excellence. I love the cuisine of Walled City, especially Jama Masjid, and look forward to shopping here," he says.

Adds Sanjiv Bhargava of Seher: "Music lovers will get to hear the special rang form of qawwali from the brothers, who sing Sufi compositions in Arabic, Persian, Hindi and Urdu. They have not only performed in the subcontinent, but have also done shows in the US, UK, France, Germany and South America." Bhargava had brought the duo to the city last year, during the Bhakti Festival.