Sohrab Fakir

Sohrab Fakir Manganhar remains a celebrated Sufi singer from Sindh, Pakistan. Known as the King of Sindhi Sufi Music, he established himself as one of the greatest mystic singers in the country.

Early life and education

He was born in 1934 in Talpur Wada village, which is located in the Kot Diji town of Khairpur District. His family roots trace back to the Jaisalmer State of Rajasthan in British India. Because he was born into a family of musicians, music was central to his upbringing. His father, Hammal Faqir, served as an expert in both the sarangi and the tabla.

Sohrab Fakir began his musical training by learning the tabla from Ustad Khursheed Ali Khan. This foundation allowed him to master complex rhythms before transitioning into vocal performances.

Career

His professional singing career officially began in 1974. This milestone occurred when Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan requested that he sing at the Urs celebration of Sakhi Allahyar near Tando Mohammad Khan. Following this debut, the renowned Sindhi writer Tanveer Abbasi introduced him to Radio Pakistan Khairpur. While working at the radio station, he recorded two songs by Ghamdal Faqir. One specific track, Galyan Prem Nagar Diyan, became immensely popular across the Sindh region.

In the early 1980s, he took a significant step by forming a Sufi music group called Sung. During this period, he also became a disciple of Faqir Dur Mohammad Heesbani. His talent eventually took him beyond the borders of Pakistan. He toured several European nations, including Britain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and France. While traveling abroad, his artful singing earned high appreciation from international audiences.

He frequently collaborated with other vocalists, such as Jamal Faqir. His repertoire includes famous songs like Ghund Khol Deedar Karao, Mein Aaya Mukh Waikhan and Galyan Prem Nagar Diyan.

Personal life

Sohrab Fakir lived much of his life in the Sindh province. He faced various health challenges during his later years. In August 2006, he required hospitalization because of chest pain and complications related to diabetes. He eventually passed away from kidney disease on 23 October 2009. His death occurred at Talpur Wada near Kot Diji after a long illness.

Awards and recognition

The singer received several prestigious honors for his contributions to music. He was presented with the Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Award and the Sachal Sarmast Award. In 1999, the President of Pakistan conferred the Pride of Performance Award upon him.