ISLAMABAD: The Natio
nal Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) revealed plans to pay tribute to re
nowned folk artist Ustad Mian Shaukat Hussain on January 26.
Ustad Hussain, a re
nowned tabla player, belonged to a Punjabi family of pro
fessional musicians.
His father Mian Maula Bakhsh was a pro
fessional singer; however young Shaukat was drawn to percussion instruments from an early age.
He began his career on All India Radio in Delhi at the age of 18. His family migrated to Pakistan after its independence in 1947.
In Pakistan, he was employed by Radio Pakistan, Lahore as a staff artist. Hussain retired in 1992 and died 4
years later in 1996 due to kidney failure.
He is survived by his son Raza Shaukat Hussain, a tabla player of merit himself, who is also slated to participate in the programme.
The programme includes performances by re
nowned singers Shafqat Salamat Ali
and Israr Chishti who will also share their views on the occasion.