Ashfaq Kamyakhyani/Barmer

Fakira Khan may be the only Indian artist to present 490 shows in the famous Zingaro theatre of Paris and that is a matter of huge prestige, yet his father had wished his son to become a government servant and rid the family of poverty.

Folk singer Fakira Khan is the sensational voice that has emerged from Western Rajasthan also known as Thar ki Thati for the land is native to a number of talented singers who have showcased their talents across the world.

Fakira Khan was born in 1974 in the house of Manganiyar Basar Khan in Vishala, a small village in the Barmer district. His father Basar Khan was also a folk singer and earned by singing music at social functions like weddings etc. Basar Khan was keen to get his son educated and get a government job thereafter to rid the family of poverty.

However, destiny had other plans for his son. After passing his eighth grade, Fakira, who by then had learnt singing from his father, was spotted as a sensational voice and a great talent by his music teacher Ustad Sadiq Khan.

Though Ustad Sadiq Khan passed away too early, Fakira paired up with another talented man, Anwar Khan Bahiya, and the duo never looked back. Fakira-Anwar created a new genre of Sufiana mixed in folk music and the music lovers simply went into a trance listening to them.

Bollywood came calling and Fakira’s voice lent charm to the famous numbers of Hindi films like Romey, Nayak, Lagaan, Lamhe etc.

Fakira Khan has so far worked with Ustad Zakir Hussain, Bhupen Hazarika, Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Kailash Khair, A.R. Rahman, etc. and left a mark in jugalbandis (duets) with renowned singers.

Fakira’s performances have elevated folk songs and music to the international level as he had performed in more than 40 countries so far. Given the fact that he is 35 years old, many more accolades are awaiting him.

Fakira may be the only Indian artist to present 490 shows in the famous theatre Zingaro of Paris. Fakira has so far performed her fun in more than 40 countries including Paris, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Israel, USA, Belgium, Hong Kong, Spain, Pakistan.

However, Fakira considers his presentations on the national festival Republic Day in the years 1992, 93, 94, 2001, 2003 and 2004 at the Parade Ground in New Delhi as the most memorable. Fakira Khan has increased the honor of folk music by participating in many national level festivals.

He has given his presentations on all AIR Kendras, Doordarshan Kendras, Dish channels. Fakira Khan made a splash with her folk singing at The Sufi Festival was organized by Jordan's Ministry of Culture in September 2009. Sufiana style was is close to the traditional folk songs of Rajasthan.

Fakira is training the children of the Manganiyar community in Jangra folk music, hymns, folk speech and Sufiana style. Fakira recently performed with 57 eminent artists from 32 countries organized by the 'World Music Festival', Chicago.

Fakira Khan was honoured by the Dalit Sahitya Akademi and he has won several awards before too. He says, “folk music is in his blood, a child in my community comes to this world by crying in music.”

After many local artists lost their musical instruments  in the flash floods during a Jangra session, Fakira Khan had managed to get special assistance from the government to some 2,000 folk artists.