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.