Takkar,
Sardar Ali was born in 1956 in Tajjar village (Takht Bai) Mardan. He passed his
metric examination from his village school and did his F.Sc. from Government
College Mardan. He completed his graduation in Mechanical Engineering from
University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar. Aside from this he
has also attended special courses in U.K and Canada.
Every Pakhtun feels pride on having his cassette with himself. He has been
plying his trade since early 1980s, and has earned his big break by
singing a veteran poets like Rahman Baba, Khushal Khan khattak, Khatir
Afridi, Hamza Shinwari and of course the great Ghani Khan. Like a wild
flower, which sprouts from the virgin soil and blossoms to full ambience
untended, he became one of the most sought after Pashto singer.
From the very beginning, he had developed a flavor for music. Takkar had a
natural flair for singing. He used to take part in Naat, Qirat and singing
competitions during his school time. When he was in class 8th, he played
mouth organ on the stage for the first time.
But it was in 1982 when Yar Muhammad Maghmum, a professor at the historic
Edward College Peshawar, wanted to celebrate an evening with the great
legendry and dynamic philosopher Ghani Khan, but was unable to find a singer
who was ready to meet the challenge of putting Ghani's poetry in music. When
Takkar became aware of the situation, he agreed to sing in that programme.
Some people also recorded this programme on audiocassette, which got so
prominence that even the music stores started selling it on regular basis.
In this way, his debut album (solely based on Ghani khan's poetry)
touched the market, so incidentally.
It was in those days when a programme for youths named "Zalmey Kool" (Young
Generation) used to broadcast from the Radio Pakistan. Takkar for the first
time not only played different instruments but also sang two ghazals in that
programme.
After that, he also had the opportunity to record a programme at the
Peshawar Center of Pakistan Television Vision (PTV). In 1984, Takkar left
for Afghanistan. His stay in Afghanistan helped him in a way that he became
able to sing poetry of those poets who were banned in Pakistan and his
singing from Afghanistan also brought him prominence back at home.
The major feature, which became the hallmark of his singing, was the
selection of Ghani Khan's poetry. From the very beginning, Takkar had an
inclination towards Philosophy and used to read the Poet of the East i.e.
"Allama Mohammad Iqbal" when he was in class 8th at his village school.
After that he had also studied the poetry of Rahman Baba and Khushal Khan
Khattak, but when he read Ghani Khan he felt him as the one whom he was
searching for.
Takkar is the first well–educated Pashto singer. Before him, the sphere of
Pashto music listeners was very limited in which the educated class was next
to none but it was Sardar Ali Takkar who not only compelled the educated
people to listen Pashto music, but also paved the way for educated ones who
wanted to adopt Pashto singing.
Contrary to them, Takkar having inclination towards literature, selected
genre like philosophy and mysticism and that too were presented in an
innovative style that is why these trends were acknowledged by the masses
immediately. They started listening him, not only for his melodious voice
but also for his selection of the best poetry. Takkar had always focused
on the content of poetry along with music, as he believed that quality
poetry is must for quality music.
Takkar has strived in almost all the genre of Pashto poetry, which include
ghazal, rubayi, charbeta, tappa, nemake and badala.
Takkar has also strived hard in selection and singing of ghazals, which has
a special place in the literary universe. He has got a matchless style for
presenting rubayi, which is developed by him lonely. His rubayi style had
remained a striking force in shooting his fame.
Being, himself a candidate of mysticism, it credits for Takkar who not only
went for Rahman Baba's mystic poetry but also acknowledged the elegant
mysticism of Ghani Khan. Of the two, he terms the poetry of the later as the
best regarding mysticism, which according to him is nothing but the
acquaintance to the GOD Almighty.
In order to produce a quality music and carry forward his musical skills to
the new generation, Takkar has established a studio named "Takkar
Rhythms" where he keeps on doing new experiments regarding music. Presently
he also participates in the "Khyber Beats– Classic" (a musical programme) of
the lone private Pashto TV Channel. He also has intends to establish a
video studio for making videos of songs. In his opinion, the videos, which
are prepared presently, are not in conformity with what the singer sings.
The singer sings something while the video comprises of totally different
thing. According to him, a successful video is the one, which is made
according to the urgency and spirit of "subjective music".
Unassuming, friendly and down–to–earth Takkar is a born and self–taught
vocalist whose vocal resources have equipped him to also fluently render
songs in languages other than Pashto like Farsi and Urdu. He had also
held concerts not only in Pakistan, but also in Dubai, Britain, Canada,
Germany and Afghanistan.
In recognition of his unforgettable services to Pashto Music, the government
of Pakistan awarded him with the Pride of Performance. He is also a
recipient of numerous awards and certificates from a number of cultural
organizations.
User uploaded. Edited and updated by Safis Web.
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The End. March 02, 2006