He was the
legendary singer I met initially when Mukhtiyar was deciding to following his
real calling of pursuing mystical singing of which he has now become the master
and is well known all around. Basaye Khanji was his dad and somebody who was
well versed not only in the art of sufiyana singing but known for his expertise
in the alchemy of indigenous healing traditions of Lukman fakir. Basaye ji epitomized
the dexterous forbearance that was the hallmark of those who have braved this
harsh sand strewn desert. 
Just going to
his house in one of the hot afternoons of Pugal, would never forget the first
meeting with him that left an indelible imprint on my memory. It changed the
manner in which I was to experience the region where had been working for over
a decade with farmers and pastoralists. The piercing insights this short musical
meeting gave were to endure for years to come and his voice still
echoes in my heart.
Such was
Basaye Khan ji, committed, humble and tenacious. An organic community leader his aura helped us
enormously during those initial years of trial and experimentation in our effort to reinvigorate Sufiyana qalam of the Pugal region.
(click on the link to hear)
stay overnight and we would talk
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