KARACHI: The people of Pakistan, particularly Sindh, have been deprived of watching, enjoying and relaxing ever-smiling performance of new trend of energetic Sufi-dance singing of world-famous singer – Allan Fakir -.
His son, a Sufi singer, Faheem Allan Fakir, has been trying hard to fill the vacuum created after death of Allan Fakeer however the music-lovers and followers of Allan Fakir greatly miss the legend.
Mr Allan Fakir was born in 1932 at a small village near Aamri, taluka Manjhand of district Jamshoro (formerly Dadu). Aamri is located along Jamshoro-Sehwan highway, some 40 kilometers far from Sehwan Sharif, the resting place of Sufi saint Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
Allan Fakeer belonged to Manganhars family and his father used to beat the drum and sing traditional songs at wedding and other festivities like small functions etc. Allan’s mother left the world soon after his birth. He was in state of loneliness after death of her mother that compelled him to sing sad songs.
While searching for a motherly love, Allan Fakir left his home and reached at the tomb of Sufi-saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Bhit Shah and stayed there for a long time where he started learning singing.
His father was his mentor. Although, Allan Fakir never attended any school but his memory was sharp which helped him sing Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s poetry at the shrine every night while wearing a crown-like turban on his head.
Allan Fakir sung Latifi Raag at the shrine for some twenty years and suddenly he met with renowned producer – Abdul Kareem Baloch – who introduced him in Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television Corporation at Hyderabad. His voice reached almost every single house in Pakistan and worldwide which made him a ‘performing legend’. The Sindh’s culture department also gave him a job at Institute of Sindhiology, Jamshoro.
The mixture of Urdu song ‘Tere Ishq Main Jo Bhi and Sindhi song Jake Manhyar Manyar jointly sung by Allan Fakir and Muhammad Ali Sheiki in 1986 brought tremendous fame all around the world.
Moreover, Allan Fakir also sang a number of songs mostly in Sindhi that included – Tiri Pawanda, Alif Allah, Boli Muhinjhi and the world famous Itne Baray Jeevan Sagar Main Tum Ne Pakistan Diya, OOO Alllah OOO Allah. Besides performing on radio and television, Allan Fakir also voiced over for a number of Sindhi films. He also performed in various countries of the world including the United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany and Saudi Arabia and received extraordinary appreciation.
Mr Allan Fakir received ‘Pride of Performance’ Award from the former president General Zia Ul Haq in 1980. Besides this, he also received Shah Latif Award, Shahbaz Award and Kandhkot Award. Allan Fakeer died on July 4, 2000 at Liaqat National Hospital after paralysis attack. He left behind his wife, three sons and two daughters. He is buried at Jamshoro Housing Society Graveyard.