QUETTA: Under the shadow of the scenic Chiltan mountains in the south of Balochistan’s provincial capital, a middle-aged artist picked up a traditional musical instrument to play a popular folk melody with the beat of a drum.
Muhammad Iqbal Misri, 43, held the metallic instrument, chang, with his teeth before stroking its string and changing the scale with his index finger. He said that he was among a handful of musicians in Balochistan who still used the ancient instrument while adding that he was waging a battle for its cultural revival.
“There are only four Baloch cultural folk instruments,” he told Arab News earlier this week. “These are dambora, suroz, benjo and chang. The use of chang has gradually declined due to the indifference of government and Baloch tribesmen who have stopped promoting it.”
Misri’s family has been playing and manufacturing chang instruments for three generations and vows to help his quest to make it survive.
Pakistan’s mineral rich southwestern province is home to ethnic Baloch and Pashtun tribes and borders Iran and Afghanistan. Balochistan is also famous for its centuries-old customs and traditions, particularly folk music and food items.
“There were many chang players in Balochistan at one point, but many of them decided to abandon it,” said Manzoor Ahmed who plays a traditional percussion instrument. “Misri is the only one who has been using and promoting it.”
Muhammad Iqbal Misri holds a chang in his hand in Quetta, Pakistan, on January 12, 2023. (AN Photo)
Last week, the provincial administration of Balochistan signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pakistan National Arts Council (PNCA) to preserve the region’s folk music. The art and culture department also announced to establish a digital studio and start folk music classes.
“The Balochistan government approved Rs100 million for the project under the Provincial Public Sector Development Program to establish a performing arts academy in the province and help promote folk music among the youth,” the cultural department’s director, Dawood Tareen, told Arab News.
He noted there were only one or two chang artists left in the rural areas of Balochistan, adding some women also played the instrument at wedding parties but were not widely known due to cultural barriers.
“We are keen to revive the vanishing musical instruments belonging to our culture,” he continued. “After establishing the performing arts academy, we will hire Misri to teach chang and transfer his skills among students who are willing to learn and play folk instrument.”
Muhammad Umar Farooq, a veteran artist, said it was unfortunate that Baloch tribesmen did not understand the significance of chang which was contributing to its decline.
“I believe the youth is not inclined toward chang after seeing the economic woes of artists who used to play it,” he continued.
Still, Misri urged young residents of Balochistan to pay attention to their heritage and support him in preserving the use of the ancient instrument.
“I am ready to transfer my art to the youth who should step forward and promote our own instruments instead of guitars and other western instruments which are not part of our culture,” he said.
Muhammad Iqbal Misri holds a chang in his hand in Quetta, Pakistan, on January 12, 2023. (AN Photo)
