Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Dies at 49

Nusrat F. Ali`s death is like Elvis` death was to America. The legend will not only live on, it will grow.

The lesson, however, is being lost in both their cases. Much as both of them were great music stars in their respective music cultures, it is their lives as mortal men that we need to take lessons from.

They both died relatively early and unnecessarily. Nusrat, to my knowledge, did not do all the drugs that killed Elvis (although he did love his whiskey), but he another addiction. He was a glutton. I saw him eat in 1991 at a friend`s son`s wedding. He ate more than a whole army. I was sick just watching him. I remember thinking to myself, ``Gosh this man is a pig, I bet his cholestrol must be over 500.`` The thought occurred to me that this man was living on borrowed time.

Be that as it may I moan his departure along with everyone else. However, as the Americans take a lesson from the follies of their fallen icons, we should also examine the more critical aspect of his death and draw useful conclusions from it so that we may curb our cultural tendencies towards self-destruction.

NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN

The passing away of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (NFAK) marks the end of what was
a strong beginning for South Asian musical arts in the Western World. Not since
Ravi Shankar in the 1960’s did a person from that part of the world succeed in
so influencing the American musical scene where some of the biggest names in
Rock and Roll became willing partners in incorporating Pakistani and Indian
influences into their own efforts. Nusrat went a little beyond what Ravi Shankar
had achieved due to the fact that he was a vocalist, singing Urdu and Punjabi
language lyrics which somehow miraculously powered their way into the
musical ears of many young Americans. How this Pakistani from the city of
Faisalabad in Punjab where he was buried last Sunday accomplished this task is indeed a
topic for further study. What we do now know is that he left a nation and a sub-continent
in mourning.
I was amongst the many who had the privilege to see, listen and absorb the work
of NFAK at various performances in Northern California in the past six years. During
his last few appearances one could somehow notice that something was wrong, since
he could no longer sing the long marathons that the master craftsmen of the art of Qawwali
are so well known for in Pakistan. But quality he did maintain and build up on. His
signature start of “Allah Hoo” still rings in memory. I remember telling my wife who
accompanied me backstage to meet Nusrat at one performance that we were in the
presence of true greatness. His loss now leaves a large void.
Nusrat was unfairly criticized for his close association with the Indian film industry
recently. We Pakistanis have to realize now that besides being our national treasure, Nusrat
was a true artist whose talents could not and should not have been contained within our
borders alone. Artists of Nusrat’s stature are too rare. We should have continued to give
him room to explore new frontiers of music. Art belongs to all of humanity. We Pakistanis
should be happy that he was one of us and he made us proud wherever he performed.
In Closing one has to thank Peter Gabriel and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam especially
amongst others for appreciating the vocal talent of Nusrat and bringing it to those of us
here in the West who would otherwise have not had this opportunity to rediscover our own
roots. Ironic as it may seem, I consider this Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s greatest
accomplishment. For bringing some of our own culture and pride back to us here in the US
and for giving us an opportunity to share this often forgotten asset with our American
friends Khan Sahib we will remain indebted to you. And for the loving and merciful god
Allah that you so beautifully sang about and to whom you returned at the young age of 49,
we pray that you will find eternal peace in his care. For now god only knows how long we
will have to wait for someone else to begin this task of Pakistan’s artistic ambassadorship
all over again.

Ras H. Siddiqui 8-19-97

Genius dwelt within him and is free now. Fana?
Not quite, his thought dwels within us..apart
from (on a more mundane plane) lots of metal
and plastic. His music is a cultural turning
point..a `chowk`, a synthesis, an amalgam of the
the different chords of culture that live in the
sub-continent. Would it be implausible for me
to say `he lives yet.`? for that is truly fana.

inna lillahi wa inna ilaehi raajioon.
May Allah have mercy on Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

If one must listen to music, Nusrat`s music,
in my opinion, contained some of the most
powerful rythms, motifs, and verses. His music
could carry one into that transcendental
space, where one is more deeply in touch
with Reality, the true significance of
one`s self, and the cosmic unity. Sometimes,
one loses sense of time, a minute may seem
to have extended for hours. Sometimes, one
loses the sense of place, completely forgetting
effects of the physical surroundings. In
such moments, when one is free from the
immediate confines of time and space, the
Sure Reality of the Creator descends upon
one, and one knows this feeling form before,
from a time and place yonder -- peace --
until one gets snapped back, from out of the
continum, into the temporal.

But then, there are sunnah (of the
Prophet, PBUH) ways of getting closer to
Allah, and those are what we must follow.

As an analogy, wine (alchohol) has some
good properties, but it is haram on us. In
same way we have to be careful not to listen
to music that may not be `jaiz` even
though it has some good properties.

May Allah forgive us and guide us.

Perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of
Nusrat`s talent was his ability to evoke
emotions even in people who had never
been exposed to the mystical magical style
that we know so well as Qawwali.

It almost seems like yesterday that I was standing
in the audience (Berkeley `96), enraptured
and engaged by the passion of Nusrat`s voice.
Now I can never forget that day.

Thank you Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.