Ghulam Hassan Shaggan (1928, in Amritsar – 3 February 2015) was a Pakistani classical music singer of the Gwalior Gharana from the Hindustani classical music genre. Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shaggan was the recipient of numerous awards including the Pride of Performance (1988) and Sitara-e-Imtiaz (2000) (Star of Excellence) from the Government of Pakistan.[1][2]

Ghulam Hassan Shaggan
Born1928
Amritsar, India
Died3 February 2015(2015-02-03) (aged 86–87)
Lahore, Pakistan
OccupationPakistani classical music singer
Years active1947 – 2015
AwardsSitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Distinction) by the President of Pakistan in 2000
Pride of Performance Award by the Government of Pakistan in 1988

Personal life and early years

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His father's name was Bhai Lal Mohammad (died 1962), who belonged to the Gwalior-Kapurthala Gharana. Ghulam Hassan Shaggan, along with his father and family, moved to Pakistan in 1947 and settled in Lahore.[2]

Ghulam Hassan Shaggan lived in Iqbal Town, Lahore with his sons Qadir Shaggan (vocalist and music director) and Mazhar Shaggan (rabab and mandolin player).[2]

Career

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Ghulam Hassan Shaggan's father Bhai Lal Mohammad was appointed music supervisor at Radio Pakistan. His son, Ghulam Hassan Shaggan, had opportunities to perform at the radio station. Over a period of 12 years, as Shaggan gained recognition, he started performing more frequently at Radio Pakistan, at the All Pakistan Music Conference, and other events in Pakistan and abroad.[3]

International tours

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In the 1990s, Ghulam Hassan Shaggan had received recognition in Europe as an outstanding representative of the North Indian classical music tradition. His talent was first recognized by French musicologists Gerard Kurgijian and Martina Catella. They invited him to perform in France, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and the UK.[4][2]

Ghulam Hassan Shaggan also collaborated with the alternative/trance band Fun-Da-Mental. This band used an arrangement of his original bandish in Raag Bhopali in the band's 2001 album, There Shall be Love![2]

Final years

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Even in his final years before his death in 2015, he continued to perform in public with youthful enthusiasm with the characteristic vigor of the Gwalior gayaki.[2]

Awards and recognition

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He received countless awards and titles during his 1962 tour of India. He was conferred with the titles of Sangeet Rattan, Sangeet Alankar, Sangeet Samrat, Sindh Sangeet Mandalam and King of Music from the Sindh Sangeet Mandal in Mumbai. During the same 1962 tour of India, he was presented with a certificate of recognition by sarod maestro Hafiz Ali Khan of India.[4][2]

In 2014, Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shaggan was honoured with the first Lifetime Achievement Award of the Lahore music forum.

Death and legacy

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Ghulam Hassan Shaggan died on Tuesday, 3 February 2015 in Lahore, Pakistan at age 86.[4] His son, Qadir Shaggan, reportedly said that his father had been suffering from heart disease. When his condition suddenly deteriorated, he was taken to Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore where he was pronounced dead.[4] Among his survivors are two sons, Qadir Shaggan who is also a classical music vocalist and a music director. The other son, Mazhar Shaggan, is a rabab and mandolin player.[4][1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Syeda Shehrbano Kazim. "Reviving the instrument with a 'hundred musical colours' (2015 concert at Lok Virsa Museum, Islamabad to pay tribute to Ghulam Hassan Shaggan and Allah Rakha Khan)". Dawn newspaper. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Ghulam Hassan Shaggan's profile and recordings (scroll down for his profile)". sarangi.info website. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  3. ^ Ghulam Hassan Shaggan sings raga on YouTube Uploaded 18 December 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2019
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Shoaib Ahmed (4 February 2015). "Sangeet Samrat Ustad Shaggan goes silent". Dawn newspaper. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2024.