Manzoor Ali Khan
Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan (Sindhi: استاد منظور علي خان) (1922 – 9 September 1980) was a Sindhi classical singer belonging to the Gwalior gharana (singing style). He was the first classical musician of the twentieth century who knew about the regional music of Sindh.
Manzoor Ali Khan | |
|---|---|
استاد منظور علي خان | |
| Born | 1922 Shikarpur, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Died | 9 September 1980 (aged 57–58) Tando Adam Khan, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Occupation | Classical music singer |
| Years active | 1940–1980 |
| Awards | Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1978 |
Early life
Manzoor's father had migrated from Gurdaspur, Punjab, British India and came to live at Khairpur,[1] Sindh because of the ruling Talpurs, who were quite fond of his music. In a short period of time, the family shifted to Shikarpur.[2]
Manzoor was born in 1922 in Shikarpur, Sindh, Pakistan. He studied there up to secondary school level and later moved to Tando Adam Khan with his father in 1940.[2][3]
Musical career
Manzoor Ali Khan took musical lessons from his father, Jamalo Khan and another musician Seendo Khan.[2] His parents took him to musical events in Sindh and India. Manzoor Ali Khan's biggest achievement was that he beat Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in a music contest held in Lahore in 1940.[2] He was a maestro in singing "Thappo",[4] a kind of classical music, in Pakistan. He made various compositions.[5] He composed and sang Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai's poetry in all forms. He performed at Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Karachi and then at Hyderabad since 1955, and Pakistan Television Corporation Karachi center in the same years. Many cassette companies have released the volumes of his programs.[3]
Mother tongue
His mother tongue was Punjabi, however he used to speak and write in Sindhi. His children also received education in Sindhi language.[2]
Awards
Manzoor Ali Khan received several awards. He was honored with the title of "Bahar-e-Moseeqi" by Makhdoom Talib ul Mola at the Urs of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai in 1960.[2]
Government of Pakistan awarded him "Tamgha-e-Husne Karkardagi" (Pride of Performance) in 1978.[6]
Death and legacy
He died from a heart attack on 9 September 1980. His son Ustad Fateh Ali Khan follows in his tradition of classical singing.[3][1][7]
In December 2010, Sindh Minister for Culture Sassui Palijo, paying tributes to Manzoor Ali Khan, called him the symbol and identity of Sindhi classical music.[5]
Former Chief Minister of Sindh, Ghous Ali Shah was a fan of Manzoor Ali Khan for a long time. He recalled that he could not forget the excellent performance of Manzoor Ali Khan at the wedding ceremony of brother of noted story writer Naseem Kharal. He also said that Manzoor Ali Khan could sing, with equal mastery, poetry of almost all Sufi poets of Sindh including Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.[1][3]
References
- Classical singer Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan remembered Dawn (newspaper), Published 9 November 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2019
- "اUstad Manzoor Ali Khan". encyclopediasindhiana.org. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- Faizan Hashmi (7 September 2016). "36 Death Anniversary Of Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan To Be Observed On September 8". urdupoint.com website. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- "The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: South Asia : the Indian subcontinent". google.com.pk. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- Book on Manzoor Ali Khan launched Dawn (newspaper), Published 8 December 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2019
- "Tando Adam Khan". dostpakistan.pk. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- "38th death anniversary of renowned singer Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan today". The Sindh Times (newspaper). 9 September 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2019.