Muhammad Juman

Ustad Muhammad Juman (Sindhi: استاد محمد جمن‎) (10 October 1935 – 24 January 1990) was a Sindhi musician and classical singer from Pakistan, whose impact on Sindhi music is still pervasive .^[1]

Juman was born in the village of Sorra, located in the Lasbela District of Balochistan, to a musician, Haji Ahmed Sakhirani of Sakhirani clan. It was only natural that he became fond of music from his childhood years. Juman took formal music lessons from a venerable Pakistani musician Ustad Nazar Hussain of Pakistan Television (Lahore Center), who had also been a music tutor to the renowned singer Madam Noor Jehan.

He was awarded Pride of Performance by the Government of Pakistan in recognition of his services in the field of music in 1980.

Biography

Early life and career

He went to Radio Pakistan in Karachi to start a career as a "Surando" Player (fiddler).He played symphony of Kohyari in audition and started working as staff musician of Radio Pakistan, Karachi. He played "Surrando" in harmany with many artists especially Ustad Muhammad Ibrahim. In 1955, he went to Radio Pakistan Hyderabad as a musician where he composed Kalams of various Sufi saints of Sindh.

Flute Playing

He was fond of playing flute since childhood therefore he visited Radio Pakistan Karachi station several times. Eventually, he started program as a flute player.

Singing career

Some of his fellow radio artists advised him to sing as his voice had a quality. Within short time he started singing regularly and appeared at Radio Pakistan Hyderabad as a singer. Here he became student of Ustad Nazar Hussain and Wahid Ali Khan (elder). Afterwards he worked hard to learn the music of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s poetry and became successful singer.^[2] Ustad Muhammad Juman was such a musician who brought new colors, new ways and renovations to Sindhi music.^[3] He used to work hard and composed countless musical melodies. He had his own unique style of singing which was appreciated not only by public but the other musician also praised him. He sang the poetry of all mystic poets but specially sang Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai with great love. His one of the famous sung Kaffi “Muhinjo Mulk Malir, Kotan Main Aaun Keean Guzariyan” was recorded for film Umer-Marvi. His famous and evergreen Kaffi was “Yaar Dadhi Isaq Aatish lai Hai”.^[4]

Awards

He was honored with several awards including “Tamgha-e-Husn-Karkardgi” Pride of Performance by the Government of Pakistan. Muhammad Jumman received his music education from Ustad Nazar Hussain and Bari Waheed Ali Khan, expert on Bhittai's Surs (Symphonies).^[5] He became very famous when he sang a Sindhi Kalam of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai:
^[6]

This Kalam(Song) was composed by notable musician Debo Bhattacharya. Muhammad Jumman became well-known everywhere after performing a Saraiki Kafi of Usman Faqir:

Muhammad Juman was a regular performer of Sufi music on Pakistan Television shows.^[8]

He also sang Mir Sikandar Khan Khoso's kafis "Ishq munjhon izhar thee ayo" and "Kech Punhal day hal kahay hal" at Radio Pakistan. Juman's son, Shafi Muhammad, also followed his style of kafi singing.

Juman was awarded a Bedil Award, Gold Award, Saga Award, and Latif Award, and Pride of Performance by the Government of Pakistan in 1980.

Recognition

Government of Sindh, Culture department has inaugurated music gallery after name of Ustad Mohammad Juman in his remembering for recognition of his services at Sindh Museum, Hyderabad, Sindh.^[9]

Death

He died on 24 January 1990 at Karachi hospital due to complications from hepatitis and diabetes. He was interred at Mewa Shah Graveyard, Karachi.^[10][11]

References

• Maro Je Malir Ja, by Khadim Hussain Chandio