Ustad Sarahang

Ustād Mohammad Hussain Sarāhang (Pashto/Persian: استاد محمد حسین سرآهنگ‎‎ - Sarahang; 1924–1983) was an Afghan musician and exponent of hindustani classical music from Kabul Afghanistan. He was a huge influence on classical music in Afghanistan and was treasured greatly.

Career and education

Ustad Mohammad Hussain Sarahang (née Mohammad Hussain) was born in 1924 in the Kharabat area of Kabul, an old district known for breeding some of the country's greatest musicians. He was the second oldest son of Peshawar musician Ustad Ghulam Hussain, who taught his son the basics of music. Ustad Sarahang excelled in these lessons so much that his father sent him to India to study Indian Classical Music in the Patiala School of Music under Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan.

After 16 years, Ustad Sarahang returned to Kabul at the age of 25 (c. 1949). Ustad Sarahang typically performed various genres of classical and semi-classical music including khayal, thumri, tarana and ghazal. He usually sang the ghazals of Amir Khusrow and Abdul Ma'āni Bedil, famous Indian poets who wrote in Persian, as he was a Bedil Shenās (Bedil Expert). Ustad Sarahang recorded over 500 raga performances and ghazals throughout his time in India, and at Radio Kabul. He composed many of his own ragasas well.

Throughout his career, Ustad Sarahang gained many fans throughout Afghanistan, India, and Central Asia. His amazing voice, coupled with his extremely technical understanding of classical music earned him many awards, including the title Sarahang from the government of Afghanistan.

Festival of Music in Kabul

At the age of 25 (c. 1949), Ustad Mohammad Hussain Sarahang participated in a festival of music held at Kabul's Pamir Cinema. Amongst the participants were Ustad Qasim and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.

At this festival, Ustad Mohammad Hussain Sarahang was awarded the Gold Medal over the Masters of music. He was awarded the title of Ustad for his performance at this festival and a few years later, the government of Afghanistan awarded him the title of Sarāhang.

Fame in India

During his last trip to Allahabad School of Music, in order to show respect, Indian female ‘Ustads’ and students of the school lined up and bowed their heads furnishing the path to the stage with their hair so that Ustad Sarahang could walk over them.^[1] Ustad Sarahang once said that if he were to die in India, he was to be buried next to the tomb of Baydel Abdul-Qādir Bēdil.

Books

He wrote two books about classical music, Qānūn-e Tarab (The Law of Music)^[2] and Mūssīqī-e Rāg-hā (Music of Ragas).^[3] He has also created or composed several ragas including Hazra and Minamalee.

In addition he once also wrote articles for the Pashtun Ghag newspaper in Kabul.

Honors

He earned the following titles and degrees from various music schools of India:

• Degrees of Master, Doctor and Professor of Music from Kalakendra School of Music, Calcutta
• Title of “Koh-e Beland” (High Mountain of Music) from Chandigarh School of Music, Chandigarh
• Title of “Sar Taj-e Musiqee” (Top Crown of Music) from Central School of Music, Allahabad
• Title of “Baba-e Musiqee” (The Father of Music) in his final concert in New Delhi, 1979
• Title of “Sher-e Musiqee” (Lion of Music) in his last performance in Allahabad, 1982

Death

Upon his last trip to India in 1982, Ustad Sarahang fell ill and was hospitalized and ordered not to sing and to keep his talking to a minimum. Ustad Sarahang told his doctors he was feeling homesick and he would get better if he went back to Afghanistan. Ustad Sarahang went back to Afghanistan but he disregarded the orders of his doctors and continued his performance. As a result, he was given another medal. In 1983 he became ill again and was hospitalized in Kabul where he died from a heart attack.

Notes

External links

• Collection of Ustad Sarahang Songs, Albums and Videos
• Website dedicated to Ustad Sarahang - his audio and video clips
• Biography of Ustad Sarahang
• A collection of some of his performances from North Indian Classical Archive