“I am a
peddler, wandering and roaming from one village to another, in the lanes of
cities, in the countries of the world, offering the message of peace, wishing
to continue to do so all my life. And after a lifelong wandering when I reach
my destination, may the slavery of Allah (SWT), His Prophet (PBUH) and Ali (RA)
be the tiara of my head, shining like a star.” – Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Such was the saintly humbleness of the man who touched millions
and was called ‘Shahanshah-e-Qawwali’ (King of Kings of Qawwali). The man who
was pooh-poohed, at first, on account of his shrill voice, made people around
the world scream in joy and ecstasy when he would weave ragas in the air as effortlessly
as they breathed. People shot the verbal barb of obesity at him, ridiculing him
in whatever way possible; today, qawwali owes its international recognition
solely to him.
Lahore,
Pakistan: Death anniversary of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan being celebrated today
(August 16). Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan died on August 1997 due to kidney failure
and an era of Qawwali and mystic music was buried with him. He born on October
13, 1948 in Lyallpur (now known as Faisalabad Pakistan.)
His
original name was Parvez Fateh Ali Khan and he was fifth child and first son of
Fateh Ali Khan, a musicologist, vocalist, instrumentalist, and Qawwal.
In 1971,
after the death of his uncle Mubarak Ali Khan, Fateh Ali Khan became the
official leader of the family Qawwali party and the party became known as
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mujahid Mubarak Ali Khan & Party. Thereafter Nusrat
Fateh Ali Khan never used his real name Parvez Fateh Ali Khan.
His first
public performance as the leader of the Qawwali party was at a Radio Pakistan.
His first major hit in Pakistan was the song Haq Ali Ali, which was performed
in a traditional style and with traditional instrumentation.
He is
popularly known as “Shahenshah-e-Qawwali”, meaning “The King of Kings of
Qawwali”.
He was
signed by Oriental Star Agencies, Birmingham, England, in the early 1980s. He
engaged in experiments with Western artists, becoming a well-known world music
artist. He toured extensively, performing in over 40 countries.
