Ustad Gul Zaman's Tears Spark Discussion of Retirement for Singers

In an emotional interview with Najiba Faiz on her evening show Bandar with Najiba, composer and singer Ustad Gul Zaman cried over his financial difficulties and squalid living conditions. *This article was originally published in December 2019.

Viewers were shocked to learn that at the age of 82, the beloved singer was living in terrible conditions. Many were worried that he would fall victim to a similar fate as Sarban, who died in poverty.

Ustad Gul Zaman's songs, including the hit song Bibi Shirini, have been playing on Afghan radio stations for over 50 years. He has held thousands of concerts throughout Afghanistan and is lauded for his lifelong his dedication to Pashto music. His enduring Pashto songs have influenced the musical genre to continue growing, and they are credited with supporting the preservation of the Pashto language. The Ustad has said that he chooses to sing as a service to his country.

Despite his patriotism, Ustad Gul Zaman complains that his country has forgotten him in his old age. He decried the government's disregard for older artists and asked President Ashraf Ghani for financial support.

After the shocking interview aired, people were quick to help the ustad. One bought him a house, another paid for his daily living costs. Singer Farhad Darya was also said to have reached out to Ustad Gul Zaman. Some speculated that Darya's controversial "Tauba" utterance during a performance on Setareh Afghan earlier this week was in reference to Ustad Gul Zaman's strife.

This interview and its aftermath raise important issues: Will funds be allotted for Afghan singers' retirements? What responsibility do our governments have to our national heroes?