Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 10: Santoor Maestro, Abhay Rustum Sopori has revived a rare classical instrument from Kashmir’s Sufiana music tradition – the Wasul. Absent from the musical landscape for nearly 77 years, Wasul makes a historic comeback after its extinction in the 1940s. This remarkable feat marks a significant step in preserving and promoting the cultural legacy of Kashmir.
A handout stated that through persistent efforts, Abhay Sopori brought the Wasul back to life, introducing it as not only an emblem of Sopori family’s legendary legacy but as an integral part of Kashmiri and Sufiana music heritage.
Abhay Sopori expressed immense joy at reintroducing the Wasul to the music world, saying, “The Wasul has been an integral part of my family’s musical heritage, alongside the Santoor, Kashmiri Sitar and vocal music. My great-grandfather, Pandit Samsar Chand Sopori, was renowned as one of the finest Wasul players, honoured with the title ‘Taalbaz’, a beautiful tribute to his rhythmic mastery. I am deeply grateful that, with the blessings of my ancestors and my gurus, my grandfather, the legendary Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori, hailed as the ‘Father of Classical music’ in Jammu and Kashmir, and my father Pandit Bhajan Sopori, I have been able to revive an instrument with a history spanning thousands of years.”
Abhay Rustum Sopori mesmerized the audience with his rendition of Raga Kaushik Ranjani on Santoor accompanied by young rhythmist Chanchal Singh on Wasul, who has been trained by Sopori himself, and on Tabla by well-known Tabla player Pandit Satyajit Talwalkar and received standing ovation for the grand concert.
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