Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz ( great sufiyana music maestro of kashmir)

Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz was born in the year 1940 at Danamazar Safakadal Srinagar Kashmir. He is the son of great sufiyana music maestro Ustad Ramzan Joo, who learned the sufiyana music from his father Ustad Wazir joo, Uncle Ustad Ameer joo, and his brother ustad Sidiq joo. Ancestors of the Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz were the masters of the sufiyana music (the classical music of Kashmir).
Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz belongs to the family of Ustad Hadi joo, who came to the Kashmir during the times of Mughals. Saznawaz learned this art right from his childhood when he was only 6 years old under the guidance of his father Ustad Ramzan joo and his Uncle Ustad Sidiq joo. Though being a group member of father and uncle, saznawaz learned this art with a great perfection. Saznawaz attain fame very quickly as his father and uncle was already well recognized sufiyana maestros.
Sufiyana master which can play all the five instruments like santoor, sitar, tabla, saz-e-kashmir & madham used in sufiyana orchestra is called Panjhatheyari. Since saznawaz is able to play all of these instruments is also khown as Panjhatheyari. He knows all the muqams (ragas) and difficult talas (bandish) like mukhammus, neemsakeel, neemdour etc. used in sufiyana music. He has a great control on laikari (rhythm). Saznawaz loves to sing Persian poetry. He has an attractive voice as a result of which people like him very much.
Saznawaz was initially employed in Radio Kashmir as staff artist in the year. There are so many records of saznawaz in the radio Kashmir. Because of his hard work, he becomes most popular musician of the valley. He has performed in hundreds of programs in and out of the state. Ustad saznawaz has been honored by many appreciations and awards by state as well as central government like, “sanad” appreciation by Sadiq memorial committee, sangeet natak academy award by central govt., Tulsi award by Madhya Pradesh govt., Shakir and Aslam award by state govt., Sher-e-kashmir sheikh Mohammed Abdullah award by sopori academy (SAMAPA) and also so many appreciations from the state govt. saznawaz was honored as “Man of the year 2001” by American biographical institute (ABI).
At present, saznawaz is heading an institution of name Saznawaz sufiyana training institute (SSTI) where many of the students come to learn this art without any remuneration. Saznawaz is teaching these students free of cost in order to keep this heritage alive that he has inherited from his maestros. Saznawaz has three sons, Mushtaq saznawaz, Shabir saznawaz and Rafiq saznawaz. Mushtaq and Shabir both are “A” grade sufiyana artists. Shabir has got an award from sangeet natak academy New Delhi recently.

Mushtaq Ahmad saznawaz ( maestro of sufiyana music of kashmir)

Mushtaq Ahmad Saznawaz is the son of the most prominent musician of the Kashmir Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz. Mushtaq Ahmad Saznawaz was born in the year 1962 at Danamazar Safakadal Srinagar kmr. He received early training from his father Ustad G M saznawaz and gained an ample experience in playing all the instruments used in Sufiyana music especially “Saz-e-kashmir” which is the essential instrument used in sufiyana music.Mushtaq saznawaz is specialist in playing saz-e-kashmir. Mushtaq Ahmad Saznawaz belongs to the reputed gharana of Kashmir (Ustad Ramzan Joo Gharana). He attained grade “A” in the field of sufiyana music in the year 2000 through the Music audition board of New Delhi
Mushtaq Ahmad Saznawaz has participated in hundreds of musical programs organized by Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar, All India radio, J&K academy of art culture and languages, sangeet natak academy New Delhi and also by department of information in and out of the state. He has also sung in various cassette formats and also in the CD “Vijdan” released by the department of information Srinagar. Recently Mushtaq saznawaz performed in the music festival “Jashn-e-Aman” at New Delhi through the department of information.
Mushtaq Ahmad Saznawaz has produced musical programmes of five episodes for Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar. He is also running training programs under “Saznawaz sufiyana training institute” in order to keep this art alive. He is presently working as santoor player/vocal sufiyana in the department of information.

Shabir Saznawaz (Sufiyana music maestro of kashmir)

Shabir Ahmad Saznawaz is the son of most popular musician of the Kashmir “Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz. Shabir Ahmad Saznawaz is the resident of Danamazar Safakadal Srinagar kmr. He has received early training from his father Ustad GM Saznawaz, who has received many awards from state and central govt. Shabir Ahmad Saznawaz, received first training in tabla/vocal from his father and gained an ample experience in the field of classical music of Kashmir. Shabir Ahmad Saznawaz belongs to the reputed sufiyana gharana of Kashmir (Ustad Ramzan Joo Gharana). He is the first after his father who attain grade “A” in sufiyana from all India radio in the year 1995. He has been awarded recently by sangeet natak academy with “Ustad bismillah khan yuva purskar”.


Shabir Ahmad Saznawaz has participated in hundreds of music concerts organized by All India radio, Doorshan, J&K academy of art, culture & languages in and out of the state. Shabir Ahmad Saznawaz has sung in various musical features of national network and also sung in various cassette formats. Shabir Ahmad Saznawaz is experienced in essential talas like Mukhammus, Neemdour, Neemsakeel and so many.

Shabir Ahmad Saznawaz has produced musical programmes of six episodes for Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar. He is also running training programs under “Saznawaz sufiyana training institute”. He is presently working as instructor (santoor) in the institute of music and fine arts Srinagar.

Ustad G M Saznawaz

Ustad Ramzan joo

Ustad Ramzan joo was the father of Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz.