Iqbal Bano | |
|---|---|
 Iqbal Bano | |
| Born | (1928-08-28)28 August 1928 |
| Died | 21 April 2009(2009-04-21) (aged 80) |
| Other names | The Queen of Ghazal[1] |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1939 – 2009 |
| Style | Ghazal •Thumri •Dadra •Khayal |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Pride of Performance (1974) |
Iqbal Bano (Urdu:اِقبال بانو; born 1928 in Delhi – died 21 April 2009 inLahore)[2][3] was aPakistani singer who specialized inghazal. She is popularly known by her honorific titleMalika-e-Ghazal(The Queen ofGhazal) in bothPakistan andIndia.[1] She was known for her semi-classicalUrdughazal songs and classicalthumris, but also sang easy-listening numbers in the 1950s films. In 1974, she became the recipient of thePride of Performance award.[2][4]
Iqbal Bano was born in 1928 inDelhi,British India.[2][4][3] From a young age, she developed a love formusic. It was a crucial moment of her life when her friend's father told Bano's father, "My daughters do sing reasonably well, but Iqbal Bano is especially blessed in singing. She will become a big name if you begin her training." Her father allowed her to study music. She spent her childhood years inRohtak near Delhi.[4]
In Delhi, she studied underUstad Sabri Khan and Ustad Chaand Khan of theDelhi gharana, an expert in all kinds of pure classical and light classical forms ofvocal music.[4][5]
He instructed her in pure classical music and light classical music within the framework of classical forms ofthumri anddadra. She was duly initiatedGanda-bandh shagird (formally initiated disciple; Ganda-bandh is a traditional knot-tying-ceremony which cements the relationship between guru and student) of her Ustad (teacher).[3]
Ustad Chaand Khan referred her toAll India Radio,Delhi, where she sang on the radio and recorded her first songs.[5][2] In 1948, aged 21, she migrated to Pakistan and also married into a land-owning family inMultan,Pakistan.[5][4] She moved toMultan with her husband who promised her that he would never try to stop her from singing, but would rather encourage and promote her. In her earlier career Iqbal Bano collaborated with well knownlyricists such as the poetsSaifuddin Saif andQateel Shifai and composers such asMaster Inayat Hussain andRasheed Attre.[6] She had become a 'singing star' by the 1950s, singing soundtrack songs for famousPakistani Urdu films likePayal Mein Geet Hai Cham Cham Ke (FilmGumnaam, 1954),Ulfat ki Nai Manzil ko Chala (Qatil, 1955),Chhor Hamen Kis Des Sudharay Sayyan Hamaray andDono Dillon Peh Hua Ulfat Ka Asar (Inteqaam, 1955),Taaron Ka Bhi Tu Maalik (Sarfarosh, 1956),Pareshan Raat Sari Hai (Ishq-e-Laila, 1957), andAmbva ki Darrion pe Jhoolana Jhoolae Ja (Nagin, 1959).[6][5][2] Iqbal Bano was later invited byRadio Pakistan for classical performances on the radio. Her debut public concert took place in 1957, at theLahore Arts Council.[5][4]
Throughout her musical career she also appeared onPakistan Television programs in addition to conducting concerts.[6][7] By 1970s, Iqbal Bano had achieved fame as a popular artist and her stature had grown in the Pakistani cultural community as an accomplishedghazal singer for which she was critically acclaimed by her artistpeers. An example of this was seen in a memorable concert in a television program called 'Nikhar' in the early 1970s; in the recordings of this program numerous literary and musical artists of Pakistan such asHafeez Jalandhari,Ahmed Faraz,Amjad Islam Amjad,Kishwar Naheed,Ashfaq Ahmed andNayyara Noor could be seen in the audience.
Her husband died in 1980,[5] after which she moved toLahore fromMultan. It was observed by many music critics that her temperament was particularly suited to vocal genres likethumri,dadra, andghazal. According toBBC News website, "Few singers of classical music matched the brilliance of her voice and her command over musical notes".[2][5]
Iqbal Bano is regarded as an accomplishedghazal singer around the world who took the sub-continental ghazal singing to new heights and has been called the "Queen of Ghazal".[7]Her repertoire include ghazals of numerous poets, includingMirza Ghalib (Muddat Hoi Hai Yaar Ko),Quli Qutub Shah (Piya Baaj Piyala, Piya Baaj Jaay Na),Baqi Siddiqui (Daagh e Dil Humko Yaad Anay Lagay),[7][8]Daagh Dehlvi (Tere Wade Ko - Daag),Nasir Kazmi (Kuchh To Ehsas-e-Ziyan Tha Pahle) andAhmed Faraz (Ranjish Hi Sahi). However, in her later career she was recognized particularly for singingghazals ofFaiz Ahmed Faiz, aLenin Prize-winning poet,[4][5][2] such asAaiye Haath Uthaen,Mere Dil Mere Musafir,Yeh Mausam-e-Gul,Rang Pairahan Ka,Na Ganwao Nawak-e-Neem Kash amongst others;[7] her rendition ofFaiz Ahmad Faiz's Dasht-e-Tanhai Mein has become a timeless classic.[6] In addition toUrdu, she also sang inSaraiki,Punjabi andPersian, the latter introducing her to audiences outside the sub-continent in Iran and Afghanistan. In pre-1979 Afghanistan, she was often invited to the annual cultural fair, theJashn-e-Kabul.[2][7][4]
In light classical, her presentation of Thumris in Raag Khamaj (Kaahe Sataye Mohey), Raag Tilak Kamod (Sautan Ghar Na Ja), Raag Des (Nahin Pare Mohe Chain), Raag Pilu (Gori Tore Naina Kajar Bin Kaare) and other such renderings which have become ever-green classics.[2][5] Iqbal Bano was well known for her versatility as a singer and vocalist; she was not only at ease with classical, light-classical, film and popular music but also rendered her classical training tofolk songs.
Music lovers noted some similarities between Iqbal Bano andBegum Akhtar,[5] especially some marked resemblances in their styles of singing. Bano's recitals stuck to aclassical style that lays more stress on theraag purity.[5]
Although Iqbal Bano was not directly involved in politics or political campaigning, she made an effective protest that has gone down in history as an iconic symbol of resistance and as legend.[9] From 1977 to 1988Pakistan was under the military dictatorship headed by GeneralMuhammad Zia-ul-Haq.[10][11] By 1986 Zia’s regime was in full swing with severe curtailment andabuses of basic human rights, so much so that various restriction were placed on what clothing could be worn by public figures, particularly women. One such curtailment of basic human rights was the banning of thesari, a common attire for women of all religions in many countries in the sub-continent, as un-Islamic.[12]
Iqbal Bano had worn sari for decades and appeared in concerts, radio and television programs[13] and was famous for rendering the poetry ofFaiz Ahmad Faiz. Not long after Zia's regime issued the edict that sari was to be banned from the public sphere,[12] Iqbal Bano donned a blacksari and appeared at the Al-Hamra hall inLahore,Pakistan on 13 February 1986[14] in front of a large audience. This was an event to commemorate anniversary of the renowned poetFaiz Ahmad Faiz who was himself out of favour with and surveilled by Zia's regime due to his progressive views and anti-fascist writings.[15] At the event in 1985, Iqbal Bano resplendent in a black sari, a universal color of protest and a garment banned by Zia's regime, and went on to singFaiz Ahmad Faiz's famous poem of resistanceHum Dekhenge (We shall see),[9][13] in an act of defiance against GeneralMuhammad Zia-ul-Haq's diktat and rule. This simple act of defiance led to a crackdown by the Zia regime, persecution of the organizers of the event and a ban on Iqbal Bano appearing on national stage as a singer.[9][16][2]
Iqbal Bano married a landlord in 1948 and had three children including two sons named Humayun and Afzal, also a daughter named Maleeha.[5][4]
After a short illness, at the age of 80, Iqbal Bano died inLahore,Pakistan on 21 April 2009.[2][5][4][3]
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Title | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Pride of Performance | Award by thePresident of Pakistan | Won | Arts | [2][4] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
