Allan Fakir (1932 - 2000) (Urdu: الن فقیر), a Pakistani folk singer is a legendary and one of the foremost exponents of sufi music in Pakistan. He is particularly known for his ecstatic style of performance marked with extreme devotional rhetoric and sufi dance singing. His peculiarly funny body language and distinctively pleasing facial expressions marked with a broad smile, were always amusing for his audience at live performances. (اردو), historically spelled Ordu, is an Indo-Aryan language of the Indo-Iranian branch, belonging to Indo-European family of languages. ... Sufism (Arabic تصوف taṣawwuf) is a system of esoteric philosophy commonly associated with Islam. ...

Early life

Allan Fakir was born in 1932 in the ancient village of Aamari in Dadu District, Sindh. His mother died soon after his birth. He spent his childhood in Manjhand, a town outside Hyderabad. He belongs to the Mangarhar tribe the Mangarhars are believed to bring happiness and welcomed on festive occasions for their gift of melody. According to the traditions of this caste, Allan Fakir's father used to beat the drum and sing traditional songs at weddings.Faqir is a title for Sufi but is also used for "beggar" in Urdu and Sindhi. Dadu District (Urdu: دادو ) is located in Sindh, Pakistan. ... Sindh (SindhÄ«: سنڌ, UrdÅ«: سندھ) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and is home to the Sindhis, and Muhajirs and various other groups. ... Fakir is etymologically an Arabic term usually used to refer to either the spiritual recluse and fierce eremite or the common street beggar who chants holy names, scriptures or verses. ... Sufism (Arabic تصوف taṣawwuf) is a system of esoteric philosophy commonly associated with Islam. ... SindhÄ« (सिन्धी, سنڌي) is the language of the Sindh region of South Asia, which is now a province of Pakistan. ...

When he was only a teenager, Allan Fakir developed a habit of singing melancholy songs which his father did not like. Deprived of a mother's love, he went off in search of someone who could replace that love. He arrived at the tomb of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai in Bhit Shah and started living there. Hearing the traditional Latifi raga sung every night touched his heart. Encouraged by Faqir Zawar Qurban Ali Lanjwani and Moolchand Maharaj, he began singing Bhitai's poetry at the shrine and ultimately spent twenty years there until meeting Mumtaz Mirza, who introduced him to Radio Pakistan in Hyderabad and helped him to learn the correct pronunciation of Bhitai's poetry. Eventually, he became a performing legend. Bhit Shah There are two places in the province of Sindh, Pakistan named Bhit Shah: Bhit Shah is the town where the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689-1752), the patron saint of Sindh, is located. ...

Work

His songs, mostly in Sindhi language except a few in Urdu, usually revolve around sufism and the devotional philosophy. But the characteristic which distinguishes him from many other folk singers is the depth of his feelings, which is very expressive in all his songs. One of his famous songs is a duet with Muhammad Ali Shehki, "Allah Allah kar bhaiya" which was a big hit and increased his popularity tremendously. A patriotic song "Itne bare jeewan saagar main" also got very popular. Sindhī (सिन्धी, سنڌي) is the language of the Sindh region of South Asia, which is now a province of Pakistan. ... (اردو), historically spelled Ordu, is an Indo-Aryan language of the Indo-Iranian branch, belonging to Indo-European family of languages. ... Sufism is a mystic tradition that found a home in Isalami and encompasses a diverse range of beliefs and practices dedicated to God, divine love and the cultivation of the heart. ... Muhammad Ali Shehki, is a Pakistani pop singer. ...

Influences

Allan Fakir cites his influences as being, primarily, Scottish Folk Singer Alastair McPherson, the song "Jhaangiaarnii," being a cover of McPherson's "I would always help you out, I'm an Edinburgh man myself", other influences include Bakshi Baloch, Jawwad Ahmed, Shah Jaan Dawoodi and Pathanay Khan.

Honors and Awards

In appreciation of his services to folk culture, he was given a job and a small house at the Institute of Sindhology. He was originally appointed as an officer to help promote Sindhi culture, but due to his illiteracy, he was eventually demoted to the post of peon.

Allan Fakir received the President's Pride of Pperformance award in 1980, the Shahbaz Award in 1987, the Shah Latif Award in 1992 and Kandhkot Award in 1993. Allan Fakir died on 4 July 2000.

Source

• OPF Almanac