With the constant unrest in the valley, Kashmiri music and its artists have been dwindling for many decades now. There were no music albums or songs released for years. People who pursued music as a full-time profession were on the verge of giving up, and some even did.
Yet there is a ray of hope now as, despite all odds, a brigade of young musicians is taking tiny steps to save, and revive what is lost.
Adnan Manzoor from Srinagar is one of those artists who are on to reviving the valley’s ancient instrument – Rabab by making it more accessible to youth through digital media. At the age of just 21, he is perhaps the youngest emerging Rabab player who wants to take the land’s music to an international level.
The Rabab played today, is believed to be a new version of the Rabab mentioned in historical texts. Also known as the Kabuli Rabab, the instrument is the national instrument of Afghanistan, from where it made its way into India and was adopted in Kashmir. It is believed to be the progenitor of other instruments in the subcontinent like the sarod and sarangi.
Life Beyond Numbers talked to the musician to learn more about the instrument and his mission.
It was seven years back, at the age of 15, when Adnan, picked up Rabab. He, like the other young kids, was attracted to western music and used to play Guitar. But then he heard his Ustad Irfan Bilal play Rabab and was very much attracted to it and requested him to help learn it.
The Rabab is one of those instruments that we all have heard and relate to Kashmir. Yet its players belong to the senior generation and its popularity among the youth was negligible. Adnan decided to do his part in reintroducing the instrument.
“Rabab is the most pleasant instrument. People cherish it. It is a part of traditional music of the valley. The main three strings of Rabab and the body are made of goat’s intestine and skin. This means the instrument bears the soul of someone therefore it is called as “Rubab”. I wanted to reintroduce the instrument and also wanted young people to take this up to save this art,” said Adnan.
Speaking more on the changing times in Kashmir, he added, ”I agree that there was no music scene in Kashmir while I was growing up, but that’s how I got inspired. I think with time things are changing so is the trend of music in our valley. People are now taking an interest in learning music and instruments. Many young people are already taking it as their profession.”
Yet still, Kashmiris have to struggle more as there are no platforms to showcase their talent. But with the advent of social media and Youtube, things changed for good.
“As an artist, every Kashmiri has to struggle more as there are no platforms for them. But there is social media and I started using it. One of my one covers ‘Tumhe Dillagi’ had more than 3 million views. Now I get mails, messages from people who want to learn Rabab,” said Manzoor.
Earlier Rabab was not used much in the Bollywood songs, but now the composers and producers are reaching out to him for playing the instrument in their songs. He had also performed in Mumbai and Delhi and had other projects lined up, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all have been pushed ahead.
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“This signifies that it has started marking its presence felt in the Bollywood industry. I hope someday I will be able to make Rabab known worldwide,” the musician said.
Adnan’s social media handles are filled with popular Bollywood song covers in a serene picturesque setting of Kashmir. One can just get lost in the musical wonder that he creates. The musician chooses them consciously to help the public relate to the instrument.
“It is always challenging to decide what to play that will attract the attention of people. Therefore, I try both Bollywood and Hollywood songs so that people could understand that the instrument can be used in any genre and not Kashmiri sufiana specific,” Adnan said.
Besides being a musician, Adnan is presently pursuing his B.Tech in Electronics and Communication stream. Hence, it has been challenging for him to hang onto his passion for playing his beloved instrument. But he is balancing them both pretty well.
“Being a student, it was never easy for me to choose music over my studies. In the society we live in, people do not endorse art as they do other professions. So, as a student, it is difficult to pursue both things simultaneously. But still, against all the odds, I stick to my passion,” the student cum artist said.
Envisioning the future, Manzoor said, “I wish that the tradition continues and if I am the inspiration for it, I would be delighted. I think it is better for the youth to turn to sports and music instead of drugs.“