Peshawar’s sole rabab maker recalls the tunes of old times

The Express Tribune

Musthaq Ahmed’s family has been making the rabab, a string instrument, for 200 years. But now Ahmed finds it increasingly difficult to stay in the profession. Ahmed’s ancestors moved to Peshawar during the reign of Abdur Rehman Khan in the late 19th and early 20th century. The instrument’s avid use in classical music in Pakistan had paved way for rabab makers, originating from Afghanistan, to settle in Peshawar. However, as contemporary music took over, these people lost their business and now Ahmed is the only rabab maker left in the provincial capital. The usage of the instrument in Afghanistan and the northwest Pakistan dates back to the 7th century. Ahmed is the son of famous rabab player and Pride of Performance recipient Samandar Khan. “I have learnt the art from my father and grandfather, who belonged to Afghanistan.” He now barely makes ends meet as there are too few buyers. One instrument costs between Rs5,000-Rs8,000 and takes up to seven days to make. Because of his meagre earnings, Ahmed’s eight children have had to quit school and find employment. The lack of use of this conventional instrument is a major reason in the decline of its sale. “There was a time when a Pathan’s hujra (guestroom) would be incomplete without a chillum (pipe) and rabab, but now trends have changed,” Ahmed told The Express Tribune. But there are more crucial reasons too. “The law and order situation in the city has greatly affected my business,” the artisan said. When insurgency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas increased, the number of rabab players in the province decreased.”Security problems have affected more than 70% of our business.” “When security problems worsened in Peshawar and cultural events came to a halt, the instrument lost its place in the public realm,” said Malik Nisar, a rabab player in Peshawar. Despite the tide going against him, Ahmed has not given up. He still has hope that the instrument will find its place again. “New musicians love rababs and some even buy it these days,” he said. Nisar added that upcoming musicians from Peshawar such as Khumaryan, Yasir and Jawad are using the instrument in their music.