05/11/2023
The melodic journey of Ustad Dadillah Baloch : Nawaz Nigwari
05 نومبر, 2023
” Without music, life would be a blank to me.” Jane Austen.
Undoubtedly, music is considered to be the main source of human’s relaxation which makes one to forget the sadness and tiredness a little bit. Similarly, it is known to be one of the most crucial parts of every nation’s culture that preserves their civilization till the world exists. Consequently, every field’s people wish to listen melodies that waft them to enter in the world of pleasure as well as it has an ancient link to human beings naturally when they came to this universe.
In other words, people always choose those sights where they observe or listen the sweet sound of birds, blowing air, and beautiful mountains that make them pleased and would be attracted physically and pleasantly. Besides, the world is full of various musicians, artists, and singers who have been performing their passion attractively as well as those remain alive in the history when they respect, protect and listen their national heroes respectfully.
No doubt, Balochistan is also one of the significant parts among the areas of Pakistan that has gifted with multi-tanlented musicians, painters, writers, poets and other leading personalities on account of various fields. They have left their name in the history of Balochi literature in the surrounding of Balochistan, Pakistan also out of country. In the sense of musician, there are many music-lovers like Ustad Shafi Baloch, Rasool Bux Fareed, Noor Bux Baloch, and other promoters of music. However, Ustad Dadillah Baloch, a prominent name among them in the history of Balochi music was born in 1975 in Sorik Bal Nigwar, a sub-Tehsil, which is far away from district Kech about 90 kilometers.
Spite of a music Benjo master, he is also deprived from the sight of his both eyes yet stands in the line of music production. He has been showing his talent in different fields of music in terms of benjo, soroz and other musical instruments since 1994 in overall Balochistan in the ground Balochi concerts. Apart from Pakistan, he also visited different country like Dubai, Bahrain, Iran and other countries. According to him, music is everything for him. “When I listen the music, I forget all my sadness, tiredness and it keeps me in the world of imagination,” he narrates. It is mentioned that we people are gifted with two open eyes, two hands by Allah the Almighty to observe each and everything mentally and physically but yet could not reach around our passions, destination and lastly consider ourselves weakling. He explains that nothing is impossible in the world. When someone dreams to do something, it welcomes them warmly. If a blind man does everything, a healthy person could also face the challenges.
However, Dadillah Baloch himself is a congenital blind man and did not read a chapter of a book from school as well as not registered from any institutions regarding his music field.
“While I went at the first time at school, where my teachers said that they could not teach me and the institution has no such facilities to match my abilities owing to my blindess.It is better to go back to home and it is out of their capacity to teach me,” my teacher remarked.
In his view, human heart is a very amazing organ that feels the sweet sound of melodies as compared to his blind eyes.If a man is deprived by his eye sight, but heart is open to accept the dreams and wishes. It is observed that every learner needs an expert to teach them how to perform any action whereas Dadillah learnt about his field without visiting from a music club.
“When you wish to learn something no one stops you and at the end, dream will turn into reality,” he tells. He says that he became aware about his blindness after 10 years. Initially, he became very disappointed after his rejection from school side but where a local Dr. namely Jan Nisar gave a radio to him to enjoy listening songs and choose his own field. He claims that around 1994, he went to a picnic where his friends had a benjo where he tried to touch its strings and learnt a little bit. In other statement, he points out that he does not feel that he is sightless when displays music instrument. “When I set around the home and start playing benjo or soroz, I do not imagine that I am sightless. Because my heart-eyes are open. I take and put the musical instruments without any support,”he elaborated.
Interestingly, he participated around countless Balochi musical program in various places of Balochistan as Turbat, Mand, Pasni, Gwader along with numerous Balochi prominent singers like Rafeeq Oman, Jamal Baloch, Khair Jan Baqiri, Shokat Safar, Saleem Amin, Arif Baloch and other singers to show his ability.
Most importantly, the one who preserves his own language, culture, and music, they would be remembered in the history. Apart from this, as Noor Baksh Baloch, a well-known Balochi benjo master from Pasni, Balochistan, recently has been called in Europe, where he has showcased Balochi Benjo effectively around different areas as well his videos and pictures went viral on social media(facebook) that left a positive impression for the people of Balochistan, Pakistan. Once in an interview, he claims that if he was displayed Balochi Benjo, music in his own areas, he was not given much value as compared to European country.
In addition to this, Naeem Baloch, a 9 year child belongs to Mondi, a surrounding area of Gwadar he sings attractively and his shared-song videos placed on social media where the music lovers watched and listened to him passionately where he sings Balochi songs like Ao Balli, Balli Pa Man P***e Bejen, Samul Mani Mahen Pari and other songs.
Fascinatingly, he was also called by Mujeeb Qambarani at his office, the director General of GDA Gwadar where he was interviewed regarding his passion as well as the respective director took his entire educational responsibility to enroll him at Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) Higher Secondary School. Qambarani also encouraged him to continue his devotion in singing field to polish his abilities attentively.
Mostly, he appeared around different picnic points to sing Balochi songs to remained the visitors pleasantly. In spite of poverty, he continues his passion in the world of melodies. It seems that poverty is the main stumbling block in path of every child of Balochistan which puts them into causes to disrupt their career process.
Definitely, Balochistan is blessed with multi-talented youths but lack of encouragement, leadership financially, morally and politically. Like Ustad Dadillah wishes something from government to promote Balochi music economically and institutionally.
Additionally, first mehfal (concert ) in which Dadillah displayed his performance was “Ao! B***n e Nuglen Chirag” sung by Rafeeq Oman, a famous Balochi singer. His second participation placed in the song of “Ao !Balli, Balli Pa man Pale Bejen” that was sung by Khair Jan Bakiri, a Balochi singer, too. Further he states that when an ordinary thing passes in his eyes, considered the symbol of music. In his view, music is like a medicine for his health and sustains his imagination in a creative way. “I love music as I love my own children. It is a medium through which I express my inner feelings. Whenever I listen it, I feel that I am not visionless,” he expresses.
More importantly, good environment plays a crucial role for every individual on the basis of career or enjoyment. As Dad explores that evening time is an amazing moment to display benjo (music), where air should be blowing, the branches of trees are moving tirelessly, the sun is disappearing around the clouds, rain pouring during these moments which compels him to go with the flow of music. As a musician, Dadillah wishes to promote his local music forever. He believes that a nation should remember their own culture, music, and leave it for the coming generation.
According to him, he is dependent to his field financially and there is no any other option for the subsistence of life.
Besides, he has been nominated for awards in the sense of promoting local music by the local authorities but yet not received it. He expects that the government of Balochistan should build up more and more music industries where the Balochi music promotes as well as new generation will develop their skills on account of their chosen areas to become the future of their nation. Despite of being blind, Ustad Dadillah also dreams to spread awareness regarding music to youngesters consistently.
Definitely, no one could ignore the sweet sound of music and it gives relaxation to their soul enthusiastically.
The writer is a graduate from the Department of English in Turbat university, Balochistan.
