Legend Folk Music Singer Jee Jee Zarina Baloch

 

Zarina Baloch daughter of Muhammad Moosa Chand born on 29 Dec 1934 at village Allah Dad Chand of District Hyderabad.  Her mother Gulroz died during 1940 when she was only six years old. She acquired primary education from Primary School Qazi Abdul Qayoom and passed final examination during 1960. Ustad Muhammad Juman (great singer of Sindh) had also her class fellow and studied with her. She was appointed as school teacher in 1967 at Model School of Sindh University. During her service, she boosted up to get qualification by females.  

Her first song was telecasted on Radio Pakistan during 1960 and she received radio music award during 1961. Zarina Baloch was a good folk singer, composer and vocalist. She was well conversant in Sindhi, Urdu and Siraiki languages and had also sung in these languages. She had also got teachings of singing from Ustad Muhammad Juman. Zarina Baloch was also a good actress and she had performed in Sindhi and Urdu dramas. Her famous Urdu dramas are Jungle, Deewrain, Karwan and Aan. She had written many folk songs, stories and poems and her book “Tuhenji Gola, Thunjiyoon Galihyoon” was published in 1992.

Zarina Baloch was arrested and imprisoned in Karachi and Sukkur Jails during 1979 over protests and long march against martial law imposed by General Zia Ul Haq. Over her struggles against ruling classes, gender discrimination, martial laws of Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan and Zia Ul Haq, she was titled by Sindhi community as Jee Jee (mother) of Sindhi people. She was very committed and social lady and she was one of the leading persons in founding Women's Action Forum, Sindhiani Tahreek, Sindhi Haree Committee and Sindhi Adabi Sangat.

Zarina Baloch’s relatives had initially married her with a remote relative from which she had two children i.e Akhtar Baloch alias Zina who born in 1952 and Aslam Pervez who born in 1957. During the course of time, her laws family and husband had argued on her further education and singing resultantly they were separated in 1958. Afterwards, Zarina Baloch married a well known and politician Rasool Bux Palijo at Hyderabad on 22 Sep 1964 and they had born a son namely Ayaz Latif Palijo. Zarina Baloch had retired as school teacher during 1997 afterwards she also continued her social commitments and as well as singing. Her famous folk songs are “mort ho tilay” muhenjay bariray khy lodo diyo, adiyoon muhenjo chalro pani, hin agan tay mor lagi wai bahari. His folk song “tiri pawanda tari gul” sung with famous Sufi singer Alan Faqeer was also became very famous amongst the Sindh community.

Zarina Baloch was awarded Pride of Performance by President during 1994 as well as she acquired Faiz Ahmed Faiz Award, Pakistan Television Corporation Award, Shahbaz Qalandar Award, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Award, Sachal Award, Saga Award, Waheed Award, Ram Panjwani Award, and many other awards in the field of music and social works.

She was suffering from Brain Cancer resultantly; she expired on 25 Oct 2005 at Liaquat National Hospital Hyderabad. She was laid to rest at Qasimabad graveyard.