SURVIVING ON MUSIC

For the last thirty years when the gloom and gore enforced mourning’s as the new priority, the Kashmiri song chose one of the most violent belts for survival. Shams Irfan meets the new generation of professional singers from Sonawari belt who have made the art as their profession and the experiment has been an astounding success

In 1990, when Abdul Rashid Yatoo became the proud father of the third son, the excited folk singer instantly decided to pass on his legacy to one of his sons. A resident of impoverished Sodnari village in Bandipora’s Sonawari belt, Yatoo earned his living by singing in private functions and sufiana mehfils (sort of religious gatherings). As Yatoo became popular in the belt, people started recognising him as Rashid Sodnari, a title he would pass on to his youngest son Mohammad Aslam Yatoo, along with his musical legacy.

“My father was keen that at least one of his sons should learn singing,” said Aslam. “He finally chose me.”

Aslam, now 28, started his musical journey in his teens by learning Kashmiri folk music from his father. “My first teacher was my father who is a known face in Kashmiri folk,” said Aslam. “After learning folk I went on to learn light Kashmiri music that includes Ghazals.”

Once in the cultural circuit, Aslam started understanding the market gradually. Soon, he realised that people are keen to get back to their roots and explore Kashmiri sufifolk, in a new way, slightly evolved, slightly modern. This renewed love for local folk among a new generation of Kashmiris made young singers like Aslam see hope and future in their passion, they were so keen to make a profession. “I quickly started learning Kashmiri folk as well,” said Aslam.

In 2006, Aslam joined the staterun Institute of Music and Fine Arts, Rajbagh in Srinagar to formally start his journey as a singer. “In the meantime, I also learned to play the harmonium.”