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    Farida Khanum: The Queen of Ghazal

    Written by: Mahnoor Fatima
    Posted on: September 23, 2020 | | 中文

    Farida Khanum at PTV

    Even in her old age, her presence inspires awe and reverence from all, as audiences gather to watch and listen. When Farida Khanum sings of love in her rich and melancholy voice, people invariably stop to listen. Known as Malika-e-Ghazal (The Queen of Ghazal) in both Pakistan and India, Khanum has dedicated her life to honing the musical, technical and literary complexities of ghazal singing. Her life and career have proven to be an extraordinary example of how talent and hard work can come together to move people across borders and generations.

    Khanum was born in 1939 in Calcutta, British India, and shifted to Amristar at a young age. By then her sister, Mukhtar Begum, already established herself as an artist of tremendous beauty and talent. Khanum began to sing at the age of seven, following in her sister’s footsteps. The family shifted to Lahore in modern-day Pakistan when Khanum was 18. Growing up, Khanum was not too fond of studying, but attributes her range and discipline to her teacher, Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan of the Patiala Gharana.

    (L to R) Mukhtar Begum, Actress Nasira Sarfraz, Poet Sahir Ludhianvi, Farida Khanum

    In interviews, she explained that her riyaaz (classical music practice) would last up to 4 hours a day, perfecting the modulations, pitch, notations and breathing. She was trained in the singing styles of ghazal, Khayal, Thumri and Dadra, and continued to be deeply devoted to her riyaaz. With the help of her unique singing skills, creative upbringing, and the overall culture of singing in mehfils (gatherings), success was inevitable. After declining film roles (due to the long and hectic schedules), she began to sing in competitions at age 20, and found her way to Radio Pakistan.

    For much of her career, Khanum remained committed to ghazal singing, and has been closely associated with national broadcasting channels like Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television. She began her career among Radio Pakistan sensations like Mehdi Hassan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Reshma, guided by producers who understood the craft of the ghazal, like the great Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari, the channel’s first Director-General.

    (L to R) Singer Sahira Naseem, Khawaja Najam Hasan, Poet Munir Niazi, Farida Khanum and Anwar Maqsood

    There was no room for error, as there were no second takes in radio broadcastings. However, she recalled the commitment and camaraderie of classical singers which the producers fostered through regular ‘mehfil-e-shab’ (night gatherings), when artists would come together and sing from evening till dawn the next day.

    Her famous performance for Ayub Khan, and the government’s patronage of the arts in the 1960’s, allowed her to gain countrywide success. Khanum received a Pride of Performance Award in 1970, and transitioned easily from radio to television screens. She also began to release albums and live performances from 1978 onwards.

    Farida Khanum with her 'Best Ghazal Singer' Award in 1974

    Meanwhile, Pakistani radio signals used to reach all the way to India, and ghazal enthusiasts were immediately enraptured by her singing. Khanum felt a deep connection to Amristar and Calcutta because of her childhood, and would often perform on the other side of the border, especially at Ghalib’s mausoleum in Old Dehli. She also sang briefly in Afghanistan along with Pashto and Persian artists, to audiences who enjoyed her craft without necessarily understanding the lyrics.

    While words and enunciation are equally important to the ghazal, her use of melody has the power to amplify the depth of the poetry and its meaning. Fans are not only struck by the incredible range she uses to convey a diverse set of emotions, but the careful reflection of Raag (melody) she selects to reach out to the listener’s heart. Through her meticulous technique, she created an intimate but impactful relationship with her listeners, and her songs would often stay with them long after the performance.

    Farida Khanum and Madam Noor Jehan Sharing a Laugh

    Perhaps her most popular ghazal, one which she has continued to sing and be associated with, has been ‘Aaj Jaane ki Zidd Na Kero’ (Don’t Insist on Leaving). She heard the song at a gathering, and fell in love with it, making it her own by performing it everywhere. Written by poet Fayyaz Hashimi and composed by Sohail Rana, this iconic ode to love and longing, with its beautiful melody and poignant lyrics, continues to bewitch audiences of all generations. And Khanum’s honey-soaked voice only added to the magic of the song. After a long hiatus, Khanum returned to perform this song for the public, when she sang the song for Coke Studio in 2015.

    In recent years, Khanum has lamented the lack of ghazal singers and songs released in the mainstream. During a performance at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in 2018, she explained, “Now, it’s about making the song as fast as possible and getting your payment for it. I feel like there is not much to a song these days, you can’t feel the sur (tone), shayer ka dard (the poet’s pain) in the song delivery.”

    Farida Khanum at LUMS in 2018

    She attributes this to many reasons, firstly the lack of skilled musical teachers who could train the next generation of ghazal singers, secondly the lack of commitment to the discipline of classical singing, and thirdly a lack of understanding the various dimensions of Urdu language that is used in the ghazal. For her, the solution is to bring together like-minded people who appreciate classical singing. She is a strong proponent of cultural events and gatherings, where people could come together to keep the craft alive.

    Khanum represents not only a talent that is difficult to reproduce, but an era of Pakistan and India’s history when ghazal singing was understood and appreciated by many. Her commitment to her craft and her grasp of the emotional complexities of the ghazal genre, has allowed her to leave an impact on listeners of every generation. One way to honor her contributions is to heed her suggestion, and continue to keep classical eastern singing alive through discussion and performance.

    All photo credits go to Farida Khanum.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021