Zarina Balouch : The Voice of Sindh
By : Suraiya Makhdoom

In the death of Zarina Balouch, Sindh has lost one of her great assets. Not only was Zarina one of the most popular singers, but she was a composer, an actress, a writer, a teacher and a social and political worker as well. Indeed she became an institution by herself.

Zarina was born in Hyderabad as Amina Baloch in a traditional Sindhi Baloch family. After completing her studies, (Class 7 in those days) she asked Dadi Leelan, a well known Sindhi educationist, whether she could get a job. The kind Dadi, whose farsightedness probably saw a great jewel in Zarina, sent her to the radio station. Zarina recalls this event as, "I used to sing the dua at the prayer time and Dadi was the first one to notice my talent." Continuing with her first experience at the radio station, Zarina said, "Rubina Mustafa Quereshi was there a year before me."

Zarina was selected to sing as well as to perform in the radio dramas. Thus started a musical career, which has entertained, inspired and enchanted millions of people in Sindhi and abroad. Zarina was a fast learner and in 1961 she won her first award in a radio singing competition. Later on she received many national and international awards, including the Shah Latif, Sachal and Shahbaz Awards, SGA, SANA, Ram Panjwani Awards in different parts of the World. She also received Pride of Performance from former President Farooq Laghari.

In Sindhi music Zarina mainly specialized in the following 3 fields, viz., the folk songs, national songs and Shaikh Ayaz’s poetry.

Folk Songs : Zarina is unparallel in the area of folk songs. Indeed her fame as a singer started as a folk singer. Zarina has song almost all the popular folk songs and given them a new life. Such folk songs as, Mooru tho Tile is not only well known in Sindh, but all over the sub-continent. Her Chaliro (a traditional ring) is a weakness of almost every Sindhi woman.

One of the main events where folk songs and music are performed are the wedding ceremonies; and there would hardly be a Sindhi wedding ceremony in Sindh, in which Zarina’s folk songs are not Sung. Who can imagine a wedding sans songs such as :

Wani maneen banira, Hatheen Gula meedin, Ludhe Ludhe tho anban je tariyan

Amongst new folk music, who can forget Ali Baba’s immortal song, written for the drama Dangi manjhe daryahu, in which Zarina acted and sang : Kangro tho udehi rhe ala hindoran mein ludhe, Aseen monho lare ja, darya je pachara ja, utererho tho.

It’s due to her such great contributions to the folk music that Zarina Balouch is rightly called the "Queen of Folk music".

National songs : Singing the inspiring and national poetry of poets such as, Khaki Joyo, Ibrahim Munshi, Ustad Bukhari, Shaikh Ayaz and Hyder Bux Jatoi, Zarina’s national songs gave a great impetus to the Sindhi national movement, be it the struggle against One Unit in sixties or the struggle for Sindhi rights. Who can forget Zarina’s rendering of Comrade Jatoi’s immortal, Jeeay Sindh, aeen jeeay Sindh, Jamu muhabat peeay Sindh. Indeed Zarina was one of the rare personalities, who was respected and whose presence and musical contribution was sought after by almost all the politicians and nationalist parties in Sindh, be they G.M. Sayed, Rasool Bux Palejo (her husband) or any other politician or party, such as, The PPP, Awami Tahreek, JSQM, STP, Sindhiani Tahreek, JSSF, SST or SPSF.

Zarina also sang Balouch and Palestinian national songs, which made her very popular amongst the Balouch and Seraiki youth and nationalists. Her Man chuk-e Balochani, Man hakim-e mulakni and Gul Khan Naseer’s Man aas aan grokan shamsheeran, Man tob aan bam aan bandooq aan, Man yagehan man yagehan made her a voice of Balouchs too.

Shaikh Ayaz’s poetry : Being a lifelong friend and associate of Shaikh Ayaz, one the greatest Sindhi poets of present times, Zarina sang his poetry when many couldn’t. She sung Ayaz when his poetry was banned. Not only did she sing, but she also composed the songs herself. Zarina’s rendering added to the popularity of Ayaz’s poetry. She took Ayaz’s verses to the masses of people who can’t read or write. Almost all of her Ayaz’s songs are hit and on everybody’s lips, such as, Bee khabar nah per maran khan poi, tosan gadjan joon hasratoon rahindioon (I don’t know about anything else, but I will long to be with you after I die), or Tiree Pawanda Tarieen, the one she sang with late Alan Faqir.

Zarina’s drama career, as mentioned above, started with her very first job at the radio station. Later on she acted in very popular TV dramas, such as, Rani Ji Kahani, Guddi, Chand Raheen tho doore, Kedo Karoonbhar (written by her), Banhi and Baleshahi. One of her most celebrated dramas was Dangi Manjhe Daryahu (A boat in the sea), written by the celebrated writer, Ali Baba. In this drama Zarina played a fisherman's (Noor Mohammad Lashari) wife. Zarina thoroughly researched this challenging character as she said, "I lived in a fishing village for many days to observe the fisher women, even learnt their swear words." This drama won Third Position at a festival in Munich, Germany. Zarina was writer as well. She wrote short stories and dramas.

Although Zarina was a professional artiste, she did make art as her only profession. She was an artist with a social and political conscience. Her clientele included the not-no-rich political groups and parties, the students’, peasants’ and workers parties’, who, she knew, would not be able to pay her fees, so she sung free for them and took a second job as a teacher.

Yet again it was Dadi Leelan, who opened the doors of teaching to her. When Zarina showed her interest in teaching, Dadi Leelan got her enrolled Zarina at the Training College despite opposition from some quarters. This initiated Zarina’s teaching career, which culminated at the Sindh University Old Campus School.

Zarina was also a great political and social worker. She fiercely fought for the rights of Sindh. From anti-one-unit and 4th March movements till the latest MRD, Bhutto Bachayo (Save Bhutto), anti martial law and Anti Kalabagh Dam movements, she was always at the forefront, marching and suffering with people. She was an active campaigner for women’s rights. She rendered her support to almost all the women and human rights organizations, such as, the Sindhiani Tehreek, Aurat Foundation, Sindhi Naree Tahreek, Aurat Sabha, Shirkatgah and HRCP and all of them wanted her to participate in their events and sing for them.

She remained in Sukkur, Karachi and Hyderabad Jails for two years in General Zia-ul Haq’s period. She was also one of the few women leaders in Pakistan who faced lathee (baton) charge, which in her case was in Thatta.

As already mentioned above, Zarina in her personal life was a great mother, a wife, a grandmother and a very good friend. She has given birth to illustrious children and grand children, like the legendary Akthar Balouch, Ayaz Latif Palejo and the grand daughter Sassui Palejo, MPA. Her friends and admirers will always remember her love and affection, warmth, laughter, understanding and compassion.