By Riaz Narejo
DADU: Renowned Shehnai maestro Ustad Abdullah, a Presidential Award–winning virtuoso celebrated across the subcontinent for his mastery of the classical wind instrument, died at his residence in Kothri town on Sunday at the age of 72.
According to his wife and son, Ustad Abdullah had been battling chronic lung disease and asthma for several years. He is survived by his wife and one son.
Ustad Abdullah enjoyed decades of prominence in traditional music, earning acclaim in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. He performed at numerous national and international cultural festivals, leaving a lasting impression through his distinctive style and interpretation of the Shehnai.
Abdullah was widely recognized for bringing new expression to Sindhi music and for his role in preserving and promoting the Shehnai tradition. Throughout his career, he trained dozens of students, ensuring that the classical art form continued to reach future generations.
Artists, cultural organizations, and admirers expressed profound grief at his passing, describing it as a loss that has created an irreparable void in the field of music. Funeral prayers were scheduled to be offered at his ancestral graveyard, Syed Budhal Shah, in Kothri.
