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Biography :
Master
Chander - Soul of Sindhi music and folk singing - Sindhi
Kalam Pioneer Singer
 History of Sindhi music and singing has the golden page
associated with great sindhi saint Bhagat Kanwarram
Sahib ji who had given a new versatile dimension to
sindhi folk singing. When we it comes introduction of
Kalam in the sindhi singing history book of
Sindhi music and folk singing are bound to present one
of most glamorous and very impressive page associated
with Master Chander.
His melodious voice is so heart touching that even after
so many decades when a young sindhi listen "Rutha Hi
Rahan Shal Hujen Hayati " [They might be angry with
me but still God bless them with long life] fall in
creation of desire of listening more and more songs sung
by this legendry Sindhi Singer.
He is often considered as the soul of
Sindhi folk singing and remains constant source of
inspiration for younger generations of sindhi singers,
especially born after the partition of undivided India
in 1947.
Though HMV, the music company which recorded and
released songs of this sindhi singer have information of
about 400 songs sung by Master Chander but in reality he
had sung more than 1,000 songs. The effort must be taken
to bring these songs in MP3 format so that rich singing
heritage of Sindhi song can be preserved.
Born on the 12th December 1907 at Tharu Shah, Dist.
Nawabshah in Sindh in a zamidar family and from early
childhood has started showing his passion for music and
singing as at the tender age of 12 years he started
singing at religious places like temples and Dargahs.
Being born in Zamidar family this was not easy for him
to take care of his singing passion but Master Chander
was fortunate that one was his uncle was not just
favoring him but also encouraged him by bringing his
first harmonium from Calcutta.
Kaka
Jiwatram Ji started teaching formal musical and singing
skills to him. God has gifted master Chander very soft
silky, melodious and touching voice, listing to his
singing famous sufi singer Bhagat Kanwarram Sahib Ji
predicted that one day this boy will become legend of
Sindhi Music and inspiration for the sindhi singers.
It was 1932, year in which first song "Sunhina Arza Ahe"
Master Chander was released and success of this has
opened the never look back road for him. This song was a
classical music composition with unique
touch of Master Chander, Modern musician consider this
song as ever first attempt of "RAP" .
Master Chander also acted in the films, even the role
played by Ashok Kumar in " Achhut Kanya" against Devika
Rani was initially offered to him. Dilaram" and "Maut Ka
Toofan" are among the early films of Master Chander.
As the singing was passion for this most popular Sindhi
singer hence he kept concentration on this and
successfully introduced a new style of singing, fusion
of music and story telling with his yet another legendry
creation "Anja Ta Aita Maan Nandiri Ahiyan" a song
narrating intelligence of small girl who had to safe
guard her home from the thieves. His voice
was so melodious that ven Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was
forced to appreciated when he listen the song in 1950's.
After the partition of the country Master Chander
settled at Mumbai with his wife Heti, Mother, three sons
[Gope and Mahesh, now Gope Chander lives in New York ] &
three daughters . "Kismat Kai Judai" and "Hoshiyar
Sindhi" are the two notable creations of Master Chander,
expressing anguish and pains suffered by the migrated
sindhi community. Yet another noticeable thing about
Master Chander that in history of HMV company he was the
only singer to get royalty of 7% where as other were
getting 5% or lesser. This was 1984, year in which
death forced his from creating new music creations.
Master Chander was also writer he wrote many books
including "Sacho Sufi Athav Sufi Darvesh" [A life sketch
of his master Guru Kaka Jeevatram Matai ], "Sangeet ain
Maan" [his own experiences with music] and "Sindhi
Lok Sangeet" [ A book about Raga and various aspects of
Sindhi music ]. |