RAMEEZ MAKHDOOMI
Sufi music is the devotional music of the Sufis, inspired by the works of great Sufi poets, like Rumi, Hafiz, Bulleh Shah, Amir Khusrow and Khwaja Ghulam Farid. Pertinently, Qawwali is the most well known form of Sufi music, and is most commonly found in the Sufi culture of the Indian Subcontinent. Sufi Music is very much famous in Kashmir as well. As a matter of fact, Sofians musiqui (Sufi Music) owes its introduction in Kashmir from Iran. Introduced in the 15th century in the Kashmir valley, Sufiana music continues to enthrall its audience till date. With the passage of time, a number of Indian ragas were added to this beautiful music form.
This classical music form of Kashmir makes the use of Santoor, Sitar, Kashmiri Saz, Wasool or Tabla. Even after the onset of Western, Hindi and Punjabi musical styles dominating the psyche and choice of Kashmiri youth some knowledgeable and talented minds are still espousing the cause of Sufi music. Omar Khan, Owner of Music of Kashmir Studios also known as MOK ,and a Sufi Mu- sic instructor is one such formidable voice who has been spreading the know how of diverse realms of Sufi Music since Past ten years by train- ing hundreds of students every year in Kashmir so that this wonderful heritage remains intact. Aged just 36, Omar Khan has dedicated himself with all his musical ex- periences and education in Sufi Music to train young generation interested in Sufi Music .
Omer Khan, while talking to Kashmir Leader States – ” Since my child- hood I was inclined and inspired towards Sufi Music as singers like Ghulam Ali have always been my top favourites .As a result I developed my passion into learning of Sufi Music and with time some ten years back established a studio here at Harisingh Highstreet Srinagar by the name of Music of Kashmir (MOK) and have successfully trained hundreds of stu- dents in Sufi Music.” His MOK Studio is a compact stu- dio which has all the facilities needed to hone the potential of young singers and polish their talent towards bril- liance in the world of music especially Sufi Music. Notably enough, Omar Khan also has given new dimensions to remix keeping in view the tastes of modern youth .At this juncture also scores of Male and Female students are trained by Omar Khan in the Sufi Music.
Modernity might have had cast its own consequences on music but the likes of Omar are hope that rich traditions of Sufi Music are still in the safe hands and will continue to flourish . “Sufi Music is famous music world- wide . The impact of sufi music on the scene of world music has been much visible and we at MOK studios try to live and promote the rich aura and dimensions of Sufi Music, “ adds Omar Khan One hopes as Junoon, a band from Pakistan, created the genre of Sufi rock by combining elements of mod- ern hard rock and traditional folk mu- sic with Sufi poetry, a similar sort of Sensation will emerge from MOK Studios.
