Master Chander

Master Chander - Soul of Sindhi music and folk singing - Sindhi Kalam Pioneer Singer.

History of Sindhi music and singing has the golden page associated with great sindhi saint Bhagat Kanwarram Sahib ji who had given a new versatile dimension to sindhi folk singing. When we it comes introduction of Kalam in the sindhi singing history book of Sindhi music and folk singing are bound to present one of most glamorous and very impressive page associated with Master Chander.

His melodious voice is so heart touching that even after so many decades when a young sindhi listen "Rutha Hi Rahan Shal Hujen Hayati " [They might be angry with me but still God bless them with long life] fall in creation of desire of listening more and more songs sung by this legendry Sindhi Singer. He is often considered as the soul of Sindhi folk singing and remains constant source of inspiration for younger generations of sindhi singers, especially born after the partition of undivided India in 1947.

Though HMV, the music company which recorded and released songs of this sindhi singer have information of about 400 songs sung by Master Chander but in reality he had sung more than 1,000 songs. The effort must be taken to bring these songs in MP3 format so that rich singing heritage of Sindhi song can be preserved.

Born on the 12th December 1907 at Tharu Shah, Dist. Nawabshah in Sindh in a zamidar family and from early childhood has started showing his passion for music and singing as at the tender age of 12 years he started singing at religious places like temples and Dargahs. Being born in Zamidar family this was not easy for him to take care of his singing passion but Master Chander was fortunate that one was his uncle was not just favoring him but also encouraged him by bringing his first harmonium from Calcutta.

Kaka Jiwatram Ji started teaching formal musical and singing skills to him. God has gifted master Chander very soft silky, melodious and touching voice, listing to his singing famous sufi singer Bhagat Kanwarram Sahib Ji predicted that one day this boy will become legend of Sindhi Music and inspiration for the sindhi singers.
It was 1932, year in which first song "Sunhina Arza Ahe" Master Chander was released and success of this has opened the never look back road for him. This song was a classical music composition with unique touch of Master Chander, Modern musician consider this song as ever first attempt of "RAP" .

Master Chander also acted in the films, even the role played by Ashok Kumar in " Achhut Kanya" against Devika Rani was initially offered to him. Dilaram" and "Maut Ka Toofan" are among the early films of Master Chander. As the singing was passion for this most popular Sindhi singer hence he kept concentration on this and successfully introduced a new style of singing, fusion of music and story telling with his yet another legendry creation "Anja Ta Aita Maan Nandiri Ahiyan" a song narrating intelligence of small girl who had to safe guard her home from the thieves. His voice was so melodious that ven Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was forced to appreciated when he listen the song in 1950's.

After the partition of the country Master Chander settled at Mumbai with his wife Heti, Mother, three sons [Gope and Mahesh, now Gope Chander lives in New York ] & three daughters . "Kismat Kai Judai" and "Hoshiyar Sindhi" are the two notable creations of Master Chander, expressing anguish and pains suffered by the migrated sindhi community. Yet another noticeable thing about Master Chander that in history of HMV company he was the only singer to get royalty of 7% where as other were getting 5% or lesser. This was 1984, year in which death forced his from creating new music creations.

Master Chander was also writer he wrote many books including "Sacho Sufi Athav Sufi Darvesh" [A life sketch of his master Guru Kaka Jeevatram Matai ], "Sangeet ain Maan" [his own experiences with music] and "Sindhi Lok Sangeet" [ A book about Raga and various aspects of Sindhi music ].