Friday, January 1, 2010

Kashmiri Singer Abdul Rashid Farash is no more

Srinagar, Dec 30: Noted Kashmiri light and folk singer, Abdul Rashid Farash passed away at his Lal Nagar, Chanapora residence in the wee hours Wednesday. He was 43.According to family, Abdul Rashid fainted after performing ablutions for Fajr prayers and was rushed to SMHS wherein the doctors declared him brought dead.The deceased is survived by wife and two daughters aged nine and three years respectively.Thousands of people including representatives of Radio Kashmir, Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar, singers and fans participated in the Nimaz-e-Jinaza of the deceased after which he was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard near Shergarhi Police Station.His colleagues, Muneer Ahmad Mir, Qazi Rafi and Prof Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat told Greater Kashmir that Rashid was born on December 12, 1967 and spent his childhood at his ancestral home at Maharaja Bazaar. Rashid, according them learnt singing from Pandit Kishan Langoo of Habba Kadal, late Ghulam Nabi Sheikh and Nasrullah Khan and won the hearts and minds of people through his distinct voice. He started his singing career from Radio Kashmir Srinagar and rose to the level of Grade-A singer in All India Radio, they said adding Rashid had been singing Kashmiri ghazals and Naaths from the last 33 years.He shot to fame after singing “Haa Motae Churo Kareith Khali Kam Khane Tae….” written by Ghulam Hassan Driver which became a huge hit and was compared to the popular song “Afsoos Duniya, Kaensei Ma Loueg Samsaar Seethe” sung by late Ghulam Hassan Sofi. They said Rashid had sung more than 5000 Kashmir songs and had made few albums including Yemberzal, Dilbaro Mein Dilas Kachganglaye. He had also sung for a Norwegian album “Songs Across Walls of Separation” in which he sang along with Ruksana Murtaza of AJK and Morten Harket, they said adding Rashid also sung playback in the Kashmiri film Baab.Prof Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat said, Rashid had also sung in yet to be released Kashmiri album “Akh Raat.” The album is complete and will be released soon,” he said. Rashid was conferred certificate of merit by the Director Radio Kashmir Srinagar in 1997.They said Rashid has sung some famous numbers, which reverberate in the hearts and minds of his fans. His famous numbers include: “Dil Baro Mein Dilas Kachganglaye, Baha Balye Chaene Deedar Ceeth, Ae Adanake Madano Padan Payame Damyeb.”They said Rashid had also sung title songs of many drama serials including the then famous Doordarshan’s serial Gul Gulshan Gulfam.They said that Abdul Rashid had also performed at many national concerts and programmes organised by various agencies. Nowadays, Abdul Rashid Farash used to sing for local cable channels and had become a household name.He was also the vice-president of Kashmir Light Music Artists

No comments:

Post a Comment