Saturday, March 25, 2006
Faqirs put WSF crowd in a trance

By Khurrum Anis

Several musicians performed on Friday at the inauguration of the Word Social Forum at the KMC Sports Complex but the faqirs or followers of Bulleh Shah and Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai drove the crowd wild with their verse. The faqirs of Bulleh Shah are called Saeein Zahoor. Zahoor sang some mesmerising sermons as his troupe played the handheld sitar, otherwise called the classical sitar, a sarangi and two pair of dholkis. The crowd went immediately wild over his Sufi kalaam and the organisers had a tough time trying to stop people from jumping on to the stage. Saieen Jamaldeen entered after Zahoor’s performance.

This six-member group was instantly cheered as soon as they made their entrance and started with ‘Laal meri paat.’ A four-member troupe from the NWFP played the harmonium, and the rabab, but its lead singer Haroon Bacha wowed the crowd. He happens to have a double MA degree and a PhD in music. Sheema Kirmani and her three katha performers put up an inspirational dance performance based on a poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz about the freedom of South Africa from the plague of Apartheid. Other performances included a dozen Baloch boys with fire. The Palestinians were asked to perform as well. A spectacular display of firecrackers was also lit after the inauguration ended.

 

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