By Suraiya Makhdoom
In the death of Zarina Baloch, Sindh has lost one of her great assets. Not only was Zarina one of the country’s most popular singers, but she was a composer, an actress, a writer, a teacher and a social and political worker as well. Indeed she became an institution in her own right.
Zarina was born in Hyderabad as Amina Baloch in a traditional Sindhi Baloch family. After completing her studies, (Class 7 in those days) she asked Dadi Leelan, a well known Sindhi educationist, whether she could get a job. The kind Dadi, whose farsightedness probably saw a great jewel in Zarina, sent her to the radio station. Zarina recalls this event as, "I used to sing the dua at the prayer time and Dadi was the first one to notice my talent." Continuing with her first experience at the radio station, Zarina said, "Rubina Mustafa Qureshi was there a year before me."
Zarina was selected to sing and to perform in the radio dramas. Thus she started upon a musical career, which has entertained, inspired and enchanted millions of people in Sindh and abroad. Zarina was a fast learner and in 1961 she won her first award in a radio singing competition. Later on she received many national and international awards, including the Shah Latif, Sachal and Shahbaz Awards, SGA, SANA, Ram Panjwani Awards in different parts of the world. She also received Pride of Performance from former president Farooq Leghari.
In Sindhi music Zarina mainly specialised in the following three fields, folk songs, national songs and Sheikh Ayaz’s poetry.
Folk songs: Zarina is unparallel in the area of folk songs. Indeed her fame started as a folk singer. She has sung many popular folk songs and given them a new life, as Mooru tho Tile is popular in Sindh and all over the sub-continent. Her Chaliro (a traditional ring) is a weakness of almost every Sindhi woman.
There would hardly be a wedding ceremony in Sindh, in which Zarina’s folk songs are not heard.
Among new folk music, who can forget Ali Baba’s immortal song, written for the drama Dangi manjhe daryahu, in which Zarina acted and sang: Kangro tho udehi rhe ala hindoran mein ludhe, Aseen monho lare ja, darya je pachara ja, utererho tho..
It’s due to her great contributions to folk music that Zarina Baloch is rightly called the ’Queen of Folk Music’.
National songs: Singing the inspiring and national poetry of poets such as, Khaki Joyo, Ibrahim Munshi, Ustad Bukhari, Sheikh Ayaz and Hyder Bux Jatoi, Zarina’s national songs gave great impetus to the Sindhi national movement, be it the struggle against One Unit in the sixties or the struggle for Sindhi rights. Who can forget Zarina’s rendering of Comrade Jatoi’s immortal, "Jeeay Sindh, aeen jeeay Sindh, Jamu muhabat peeay Sindh". Indeed Zarina was one of those rare personalities who were respected and whose presence and musical contribution was sought after by all politicians and nationalist parties in Sindh.
Zarina also sang Baloch and Palestinian national songs, which made her very popular among the Baloch and Seraiki youth and nationalists. Her Man chuk-e Balochani, Man hakim-e mulakni and Gul Khan Naseer’s Man aas aan grokan shamsheeran, Man tob aan bam aan bandooq aan, Man yagehan man yagehan made her a voice of the Balochs.
Sheikh Ayaz’s poetry: Being a lifelong friend and associate of Sheikh Ayaz, one of the greatest contemporary Sindhi poets, Zarina sang his poetry which many couldn’t. She sung Ayaz when his poetry was banned. Not only did she sing, but she also composed the songs herself. Zarina’s rendering added to the popularity of Ayaz’s poetry. She took Ayaz’s verses to the people who couldn’t read or write.
Zarina’s drama career started with her very first job at the radio station. Later on she acted in very popular TV dramas, such as, Rani Ji Kahani, Guddi, Chand Raheen tho doore, Kedo Karoonbhar (written by her), Banhi and Baleshahi. One of her most celebrated dramas was "Dangi Manjhe Daryahu" (A Boat in the Sea), written by Ali Baba. In this drama Zarina played a fisherman’s (Noor Muhammad Lashari) wife. Zarina thoroughly researched this challenging character, as she said, "I lived in a fishing village for many days to observe the fisherwomen." This drama won third position at a festival in Munich, Germany.
Zarina was a writer as well. She wrote short stories and dramas. Although Zarina was a professional artiste, she did not make art her only profession. She was an artist with a social and political conscience.
Zarina was also a great political and social worker. She fought for the rights of Sindhis. From anti-one-unit and 4th March movements till the latest MRD, Bhutto Bachayo (Save Bhutto), anti martial law and Anti Kalabagh Dam movements, she was always at the forefront, marching and suffering with the people. She was an active campaigner for women’s rights. She rendered her support to almost all the women and human rights organisations, such as the Sindhiani Tehreek, the Aurat Foundation, the Sindhi Naree Tahreek, the Aurat Sabha, the Shirkatgah and the HRCP.
She remained in Sukkur, Karachi and Hyderabad jails for two years in General Ziaul Haq’s era. She was also one of the few women leaders in Pakistan who faced baton charge, which in her case was in Thatta.
Zarina was a great mother, a wife, a grandmother and a very good friend. She has given birth to illustrious children and grandchildren, like the legendary Akthar Baloch, Ayaz Latif Palejo and the granddaughter Sassui Palejo, MPA. Her friends and admirers will always remember her love and affection, warmth, laughter, understanding and compassion.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20051031story_31-10-2005_pg7_39 |
