Iqbal Bano(1935-2009)

Iqbal Bano was born in Delhi, British India in 1935. Her family were originally from Rohtak, Punjab, India. She showed keen interest in music from her childhood. Iqbal Bano's friends and family urged her father to allow her to learn music and he agreed to do it.As a result,Iqbal Bano learned classical music,including 'Thumri' and 'Dadra' from Ustad Chand Khan of Delhi Gharana.Later,Ustad Chand Khan recommended Iqbal Bano to All India Radio,Delhi,where she sang for some years.Her family moved to Pakistan in 1952.In the same year 1952, at age 17,she married a landlord who promised to support her endeavors in music.Then she moved to Multan with her husband. Although Iqbal Bano is known more for singing 'ghazals',particularly those written by renowned Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz,Iqbal Bano also did playback singing for Pakistani films in the 1950's and had many hit songs to her name.Her first public concert was in 1957 at the Lahore Arts Council.Iqbal Bano was awarded the 'Tamgha-e-Imtiaz' (Pride of Performance) medal in 1974 by the government of Pakistan.After her husband died,she moved to Lahore from Multan.Anwar Maqsood,a well-known Pakistan TV anchorperson is quoted as saying,"Her command over the 'taal'and 'sur' of classical music was just perfect".Iqbal Bano was highly respected among the public for her services to Pakistan.