Qawwali
Qawwal ustad Bakhshi Salamat
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Ayyub123Aafi
It spoke until recently with much fervor but with the demise of the great Ustad Bukshi Salamat Qawwal, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali khan and finaly BJS, Bakhshi Javed salamat Qawwal the world turns to Doaba, land between two rivers for another one. That great source of a riveting experience involving the undiscovered soul of man never lets us down. Punjab, land of rivers, like always, has a new patheic and dolorous voice, a tradition that never falters, Qawwali lives. Qawwal Ustad Salamat Ali Khan (Bakshi Salamat Ali Kahn Qawwal), the father of Javaid Salamat and all the seven brothers was born in Khairay the Punjabi town of Jallundhar in 1929. The eminent scion of all time great Roray ALI Khan Qawwal, he represents a notable lineage of Qawwali musicians regarded by many to have been the greatest human voice for generations. While still young Salamat become a spiritual disciple of Sufi Syed Muhammad Yusuf Shah Qadri-Chishti and devoted himself to Qawwali to carry the banner of sufism after the death of his father . He was hailed as one of the most celebrated Qawwal/musicians of Pakistan to his fold as his most able pupil as per his family (Sufi/Qawwali) traditions. Salamat Ali khan's father was a famous vocalist, instrumentalist and Qawwal who was a son of Wazir Ali a Paish Immam of the Khaira's Muslim mosque with Sufistic bent of mind. Ustad Rorhay Ali Khan was used to perform Qawwali with Dilruba a percian string instrument and was a Qawwal of his own style. Ustad Salamat ali Khan received his early education in Khaira's primery school. After passing the midle class examination, he joined qawwali music to follow his genetic roots..Ustad Salamat ali Khan known as Bakhshi Salamat was the third child of Ustad Rorhay Ali Khan. Ustad salamat Ali Khan's family, which included two older brothers, Bakhshi Khan and Mubarik Ali Khan, grew up in Jalandher's village.
At the age of seven, he learned muslim classic music and vocal from his elder brother Bakhshi Khan , who was also a Qawwali singer of repute and after his initial studies he picked up some major lessons of qawwali from his cuosin Ustad Karam Deen Khan Dupai walay , Ustad Salamat Ali mainly trained himself in the style of his cousin Ustad karam Din Khan. This tenure lasted for almost 10 years when he practised for nearly three hours each evening and at morning, he was used to travel to the other village in order to study in school . It was at this juncture that he improvised the "Gira and boal bant" to the present "Vocal" which became his trademark. When aged about 18, he moved to Multan, Pakistan where he became student one courtesan named Ustad Wali Muhammad Khan Kapoor thala walay. He continued his music training with the incomparable Ustad Fateh Ali Khan.
Qawwal Ustad Salamat ali Khan is famously known as the 'Voice of love and peace'. He has ruled the Pakistan Qawwali feild along with his elder brother Ustad Bakhshi Khan, Ustad Mubarik Ali Khan and his very favorite student Sadiq Ali Khan Sado.He claims to be the 3rd generation of hereditary Qawwal .Ustad Salamat Ali khan had his musical grooming from his own Khaira Gharana. The life story of Qawwal Ustad Salamat Ali Khan is a journey of trials and tribulations. After partition the family migrated to Multan, Pakistan he suffered severe financial hardships.To make ends meet Ustad Salamat Ali Khan started working as Desi Ghee(butter oil)seller. Despite the hardships, his passion for music didn’t wither and he kept up the routine of practice of music on a full time basis.The struggle ended when he was given the opportunity by Ayyub Roomani and Shakoor Baidil to sing on Radio Pakistan during 1958, primarily as B' grade singer, which earned him recognition within the musical fraternity. At the time, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan , Mubarik Ali Khan, Muhammad Ali Faidi, Rasheed Fridi, Hafiz Atta Muhammad were considered the stalwarts of Qawwali gayaki.It is widely considered that the era of the 1950s and 80s was the golden age of radio broadcasting in the Pakistan. It was during this period that a rich and mellifluous Qawwali voice of Ustad Salamat Ali khan Qawwal captured the hearts of all the listeners through broadcasts on Radio Pakistan. The melodic renditions of classical and traditional Qawwali in a cultivated and cultured manner were its attributes and created a storm amongst the masses, musical connoisseurs and erudite musicians. Almost half a century has gone by and yet it still never fails to captivate the voice is indeed that of Qawwal Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, the unparalleled master of Qawwali.
Renowned Qawwali maestro Ustad Bakhshi Salamat Qawwal was very passionate for Urdu, Percian, Punjabi, Hindi and Sraiki poetry. He cites all the Sufi poets as additional influences in his progression as a Qawwali singer.

The evolution of the qawwali is a momentous one initially written in Persian, it can trace its origins in India during the advent of the Muslim rule in India during the 12th century. Hazrat Amir Khusrau (1253-1324), the eminent poet, scholar, statesman and musicologist is credited with many masterpieces of Persian, Hindi and Urdu poetry and can be termed as a major propagator of the Qawwali. The pinnacle of the Qawwali can be said to have been between the 18th and 19th centuries when this Sifi music became the preferred medium of music and Sufi culture throughout India, poets such as Sauda, Mir Taqi Mir, Zauq, Mirza Ghalib, Iqbal, Khawja Ghula Fried, Shah Hussain and baba Bulleh Shah penned Hamd, Naat, Manqabat, Ghazal, Kaffi which are considered as hallmarks of Sufi poetry. Gradually, during the course of time, Qawwali started to be expressed through melody and Qawwali musicians started to use them as part of their repertoire. Ustad moula Bakhsh, Ustad Rorhay Ali Khan, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Ustad Din Muhammad dina, Ustad karam Din Khan and Ustad Bakhshi Salamat were the early pioneers who built a reputation in the field and set the initial groundwork of Qawwali. Later, Qawwals of the calibre established themselves as major exponents of qawwali gayaki. However, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and BJS, Bakhshi Javed Salamat has added a further dimension to this art form.

PTV and Radio Pakistan gave him ample opportunities to display his mastery over the Qawwali on radio. He sang Qawwali of all the renowned Urdu, Percian, Punjabi and Saraiki poets and soon their innovative style was soon appreciated by both the masses and discerning audiences.

And most important aspect of the Qawwali is its poetic theme, themes of most Qawwali's verse revolve around unrequited love. They can also be about mysticism, rebellion, yearning and pathos. It is vital that the QAWWALI singer has a clear perception of what message the poet is trying to convey. The musician (SONGESTER) faces a further challenge in trying to emphasize the correct emotion of the MODE through RYTHEM AND CLAPS. Traditionally, QAWWALIES were sung in a CHOIR like manner and were also composed in raags which were best suited for verse such as AASA, BALAWAL, Bhairvin, Khamaj, Tilak Kamod, Dese and Piloon. This somewhat constrained the QAWWALI composition within a small framework and there was A much room to experiment. However ustad Bakhshi Salamat Qawwal was one of the pioneered Qawwali gayaki by capturing the mood of the Qawwali through Thier compositions. He was a master composer and uses raags which best suit the Qawwali’s appeal regardless of whether the raag is khayal or thumri orientated. Most of there compositions are based around the Qawwali correct structure of a raag and keep the vaadi and samvaadi of the raag into strict consideration.Ustad Salamat Ali Khan's popularity resulted in his becoming one of the most popular Qawwal of the Pakistani Qawwali industry from the early 1950s to the late 1980s. Many of his Radio iatems have become classics.
Bazm-e-kounain Sajanay kay liay aap aa ay
Dil ko mayray taskheer kiya oss arabi nein
Ye piam day gai hai mujhau baade sunho gahee
Rooh baitaab hai
Yasrib ki zamein Allh Allah
Ay mayray watan teri fiza kiyni bhali hai
Sanon aan bachouni aandi ay
Ghoghat chouk o sajna
ayray mein ishq nein nachaya
Arzo sama kahaan teri wosaat ko paa sakay
Ishq dee navon navie bahaar
Mayra ay charkha noun lakha korhay

Qawwal Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Mubarik Ali Khan and Sadiq Ali Sado Khan’s gayaki incorporates the subtle elements of both Qoul, Kalbana Dhrupad, Khayal, traditonal and folk music. They very carefully embellishes qawwali by using behlawas, murkhis, Palta, taans and zamzamas. Further grace is given by touches of Doaba folk singing. Another important feature of Bakhshi Salamat Qawwal's style is the importance of correct pronunciation, delivery of words are of utmost importance and they never compromises the true expression of a word regardless of the constraints put forward by the musical composition. The mutual bond between melody and the lyrical content is responsible for making the art of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan Qawwal so appealing. In addition he has raised the profile of QAWWALI gayaki which was previously considered a taboo amongst classical exponents and reformed it into a major melodic genre which sits on an equal footing with Classical. His influence was such that some leading classical vocalists of that era took to QAWWALI singing.
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One also has to give credit to Party memebers associated with bakhshi Salamat and specialy Sadiq ali Sadoone of his most favorit Shagird who devoted his life for his Ustad to adorn. Leadind singer such as Ustad Mubarik ali Khan, Sadiq Ali Sado, bakhshi Khan and Muhammad Azam Bakhshi are additional contributories to his success. Despite daying at early age,Qawwal ustad Salamat Ali Khan still reigns as the undisputed master of the Qawwali. He has left such an indelible mark in the field of Qawwali gayaki that almost all the qawwali singers of today are influenced by him. Salamat Ali Khan has also been instrumental in training the next generation of Qawwals. His sons Javed Salamat, nadeem Salamat, Masood Salamat, Ayyub Salamat, Sohail salamat And Khaushnood Salamat and his world renowned students, Sadiq Ali sado Sher Ali , Meher Ali Qawwal, Akhtar Sharif Qawwal, Rahat Salamat, Inaam Qawwal, arshad Warsi Qawwal andmany other are following in their father and Ustad’s footsteps and trying to carve a career as Qawwali singers with the name of Bakhshi Javed salamat Qawwal, other prominent disciples are Sabir Sardaar and many other.

The government of Pakistan has never awarded Salamat Ali Khan the pride of performance as a recognition to his services rendered to music but he is awarded a life achievement award by the music lovers of Pakistan and abroad. As with a stature of a person like Qawwal Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, he has released many recordings, toured worldwide on an extensive basis and performed in the renowned concert halls around In Singapore and Malaysia.
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replied to:  Ayyub123Aafi
Ayyub123Aafi
Replied to:  It spoke until recently with much fervor but with the demise...
Qawwal Ustad bakhshi Salamat's contribution in the history of qawwali is authentic.Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Bakhshi Khan and Mubarik Ali Khan's Qawwali style will be remember in the next generations.
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