Ali Kausar, Profile, English BS 19

Barqat Faqeer (Melodies of a Gardener)

Profile Ali Kausar BS 19 English

Barqat Faqeer began his singing from Radio Pakistan and he loved his music on a spiritual level rather than commercial. He blooms the world of Sindhi music and enchants the social gathering of onlookers with his extraordinary personality sparkling in the fresh Sindhi Culture. His focal assortment has been giving solace to several of hearts. He is one of those extraordinary entertainers who raised the peripheries of Standard Music, Sindhi Society Music by taking it to the central masses.

“Even from a young age, my grandmother Mai Bhagi used to take me with her to her programs” Barqat says.

Barqat Faqeer was the son of Kaloo Faqeer who is the eldest son of Mai Bhagi; Mai Bhagi was a legendary folk singer in Pakistan. Record maker Sheik Ghulam Hussain, spouse of Pakistani folk singer Abida Parveen, offered her chance to record at the Radio Pakistan studios, and her records were played on the radio. The government of Pakistan provided financial support for her to tour overseas, and she continued her career in music until her death in 1986.  

Barqat was an astounding child who was being inspired and trained by his family to reach for the world of singing and song writing. Aside from his family, Barqat was inspired by Ustaad Mohammad Juman, who was his idol. Barqat belonged to Naukot district Mirpurkhas, and he was born in the town of Malkanri which is situated near the dargah of saman sarkar. His family then moved entirely into Naukot and it became their home and the final resting place of his grandmother Mai Bhagi.

I asked Sir Barqat about if there were any form of obstacles in the way of a young aspiring singer. To which he said.

There weren’t many obstacles in my way in my path to music, as my father believed in me that I was to inherit the song writing skills of the family. I was beginning to get fully involved in my love for music, and avoided my schools and education entirely. Not many people in this world decide to involve themselves fully to one form of skill. My father trained me in the music field ever since I was in my primary school, He forced me to join every program with him and that inspired me to the fullest in singing. When I was in my teens he introduced me to the music industry and I did my first performance in PTV my first program was called “Bahran ji Baari”, Says Barqat.

This was the era of many musical legends, Feroz Gul, Zafar Ali, Fateh Ali Khan were all there in their prime, filling the world with their loving music, which inspired young Barqat evermore. After PTV, Barqat joined the Radio Pakistan and got his own programs on monthly bases this was his step into the music industry as to say.

“I myself do not see music as a commercial platform. This is my love and hobby as it was to my father and grandmother, us faqeer’s are dedicated to only providing the world with our beautiful melodies and messages.” Barqat quotes.

The songs that got Barqat Faqeer famous among the people were inspired by the poetry of Ayaz Gul, Amar Saal and the ghazals of Rashid Morai.

The languages that Barqat utilizes in his music are Sindhi, Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Seraiki and Balochi.

Currently Barqat has a small job as gardener in the culture department, and is well settled in Hyderabad with his family.

Furthermore when I asked if he sees any succession of his musical ability in his descendants he replied:

“Right now I do not see any successor of my own but I am fully involved in teaching my sons as my father was to me”.

To conclude this, I would like to share another quote from Sir Barqat Faqeer which was “Music is conversation; you give me an idea I give you my idea. That is music”.