PESHAWAR: `My family has been in the business of Rabab crafting for the last more than 150 years.

My grandfather Haji Khan Sher was a master Rabab crafter and Rabab player, who transferred his art to his five sons,` says Wali Sher.

The young Rabab crafter says his grandfather had learnt playing Rabab from his teacher. `About 20 artisans in our family are skilled in Rabab crafting. Most of them can even play it but unfortunately they don`t know how to promote this rare art and local handicraft through internet,` he adds.

The family of Rabab makers resides in Sufaid Sung village, some 30 kilometres south-west of Peshawar. Rabab, Mr Sher says, is in great demand but lack of proper training and education is an obstacle in their way. `Our family, comprising 20 artisans, seeks proper training and modern gadgetry to promote the art at national and international level,` he says.

The artißcersays thattheycraft 10 sets of Rabab in a month. `A simple Rabab having no artwork on its body can fetch us Rs 6,000 but the one embellished with gemstone work earn us Rs12,000 in local market,` he adds.

Mr Sher says that local agents export their crafted art piece to UK, the US, Canada, Germany, India and Gulf States and sell these at a ten times higher price. `The local agents in a way exploit ourcommunity for being ignorant and unsl(illed in trading Rabab in foreign countries. They don`t even allow us to put our signature on our creative product,` he complains.

Experts say Peshawari Rabab can fetch Rs70,000 to Rs90,000 if crafted in a refined manner. The agents, who strike online deals with foreign Rabab buyers, in Peshawar Dabgari Bazaar exploit local talent and keep artisans in dark about original price of their product.

Noor Sher, 45, says that his five sons are Rabab crafters, whodespite hard work receive less in return as local dealers don`t let them know about their international buyers. He says if his sons are trained in using modern gadgetry, they will be able to trade their product at national and international levels and will also promote Rabab crafting at a large scale.

Saleem Jan, a local dealer in Dabgari, says that Rabab artisans are not well-conversant with English because of lack of education. `We don`t exploit rather we help promote their art and craft. Export of Rababcosts much these days, signature or any nomenclature can devalue the product,` he explains.

Most artisans get education till 8th grade and then take up family profession of Rabab crafting. The wood used in Rabab crafting comes from Afghanistan`s Khost province and also from Tirah valley, Naray Baba area while goatsl(in is brought from Punjab.

`If I am given training , workable knowledge of English language and adequate funds for trading Rabab, I am sure, we can earn more and promote Rabab making as a local handicraft,` says Arbaz Khan, another crafter.

Fans of Rabab are many as Pakhtuns consider it king of musical instruments. People in tribal areas, Afghanistan, Balochistan, Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa love it. The tune of hollow wooden box with six to 10 strings deeply touches heart of the listeners. Being a popular musical instrument, Pakhtuns decorate Rabad in their hujra even if no one is able to play it.

Sufi poet Rahman Baba is said to have played Rabab while sitting at the bank of the Bara River near Peshawar.

Senior music director Ali Haider says that traditional orchestra can never be completed without Rabab.

`We should preserve it at any cost.

It is a wonderful instrument.

Pakhtun cannot live without Rabab and tapa,`he says.-Bureau Report