The 24th death anniversary of the great Cholistani Saraiki folk artist, late Faqira Bhagat, was marked in his native area, Chak No 187 R Cholistan, Feroza Tehsil Liaquatpur. A large number of Siraiki intellectuals, poets, writers, researchers, political and social workers, research scholars, well-known artists, and people from other walks of life participated in this annual anniversary in Cholistan.
Speaking on the anniversary, the well-known intellectual and poet, Sardar Ashiq Khan Buzdar, said that Faqira Bhagat’s singing and his mystical personality are so fascinating that people gathered in love with this great singer have come together to pay tribute to her art and services in the field of singing. Faqira Bhagat has been immortalized by his love for singing, earth, and Saraiki language. He further mentioned that Faqira Bhagat’s family appreciates the services of Saraiki language and culture. Today, Faqira Bhagat’s unfinished mission is being carried forward by her sons, Mohan Bhagat, and brother, Adu Bhagat. Member Punjab Bar Council, Sardar Manzoor Khan Dareshk, said that Faqira Bhagat’s singing and Khwaja Farid’s poetry are two inseparable elements. Kalam Farid came into this world for singing. Today, Faqira Bhagat is remembered not only for his sincerity, service to art and language, but will remain alive in our hearts for the rest of the world. We salute this great singer of ours.
Syed Khalil Bukhari, senior leader of Pakistan Saraiki Party, said that the anniversary of Faqira Bhagat has united the entire Wasib. But it asks the authorities of the state of Pakistan whether the question of the identity of millions of people of Saraiki Wasib, which is in the form of Saraikistan province, will continue to hang and millions of people will remain deprived of their identity. The looting and unfair distribution of resources have forced the residents to wonder whether they are Pakistanis or not. Today, on the death anniversary of our great singer Faqira Bhagat, we pledge that we will continue to fight for the rights of our land till the end.
Mazhar Saeed Gopang, the leader of Bizm Farid, said that Faqira Bhagat was a legendary artist of this land, and the way she brought Cholistani folk singing to the world may never be replicated. Let’s see in Bhagat. The chief organizer of Pakistan Saraiki Party, Qazi Abdul Waheed, said that the anniversary of Faqira Bhagat is a big gathering of the countrymen. Well-known broadcaster and research scholar, Mohammad Ijazur Rehman, from Islamia University Bahawalpur, said that the anniversary of Faqira Bhagat has become a big cultural event of Saraiki Wasib. Today we have come here not only to remember the services of Faqira Bhagat but also to discuss every abuse, occupation, illegal allotment, and destruction of thousands of archeological sites in Cholistan. He mentioned that the Cholistan region, the great passage of the Hakra Valley, has not only been left helpless, but the great signs of the past of this region are also being destroyed. He said that with the efforts of Islamia University Bahawalpur’s Department of Archeology, Vice Chancellor Dr. Athar Mehboob, Dean Faculty of Arts and Languages, Dr. Javed Hasan Chandio, and Head of the Department, Dr. Khalil Ahmed.
