NickiStpierre68 at 14:02, 10 February 2026

2026-02-10T14:02:50Z

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{{short description|Pakistani classical and ghazal singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Iqbal Bano
| image = Iqbal Bano Pakistani Singer.jpg
| caption = Iqbal Bano
| image_size = 190px
| honorific_suffix = [[Pride of Performance|PP]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|8|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Delhi]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2009|4|21|1928|8|28|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab, Pakistan]]
| other_names = ''The Queen of Ghazal''<ref name=JangNews/>
| occupation = Singer
| years_active = 1939 – 2009
| children = 3
| style = [[Ghazal]] • [[Thumri]] • [[Dadra]] • [[Khayal]]
| awards = [[Pride of Performance]] (1974)
}}

'''Iqbal Bano''' ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|اِقبال بانو}}}}; born 1928 in Delhi – died 21 April 2009 in [[Lahore]])<ref name="bbc"/><ref name="inde"/> was a [[Pakistani]] singer who specialized in [[ghazal]]. She is popularly known by her honorific title ''Malika-e-Ghazal'' ''(The Queen of [[Ghazal]])'' in both [[Pakistan]] and [[India]].<ref name=JangNews>{{cite web|url=https://jang.com.pk/news/630363|title=ملکہ غزل "اقبال بانو"|website=Jang News|date=April 26, 2023}}</ref> She was known for her semi-classical [[Urdu]] [[ghazal]] songs and classical [[thumris]], but also sang easy-listening numbers in the 1950s films. In 1974, she became the recipient of the [[Pride of Performance]] award.<ref name="bbc"/><ref name=TheGuardian/>

==Early life==
Iqbal Bano was born in 1928 in [[Delhi]], [[British India]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8011930.stm |title=Pakistani singer Iqbal Bano dies|author= M. Ilyas Khan|website= BBC News website |date= 22 April 2009 |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="TheGuardian">{{cite news |date=10 May 2009 |title=Iqbal Bano – Renowned Pakistani singer of Urdu ghazals |newspaper=The Guardian (UK newspaper) |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/11/iqbal-bano-obituary |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="inde"/> From a young age, she developed a love for [[music]]. 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 in [[Rohtak]] near Delhi.<ref name=TheGuardian/>

In Delhi, she studied under [[Ustad]] Sabri Khan and Ustad Chaand Khan of the [[Delhi gharana]], an expert in all kinds of pure classical and light classical forms of [[vocal music]].<ref name=TheGuardian/><ref name=Dawn>[https://www.dawn.com/news/944800/iqbal-bano-ghazal-personified Iqbal Bano ghazal personified] Dawn (newspaper), Published 22 April 2009, Retrieved 3 July 2020</ref>

He instructed her in pure classical music and light classical music within the framework of classical forms of [[thumri]] and [[dadra]]. She was duly initiated ''Ganda-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).<ref name="inde"/>

==Career==
Ustad Chaand Khan referred her to [[All India Radio]], [[Delhi]], where she sang on the radio and recorded her first songs.<ref name="Dawn" /><ref name="bbc" /> In 1948, aged 21, she migrated to Pakistan and also married into a land-owning family in [[Multan]], [[Pakistan]].<ref name=Dawn/><ref name=TheGuardian/> She moved to [[Multan]] 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 known [[lyricist]]s such as the poets [[Saifuddin Saif]] and [[Qateel Shifai]] and composers such as [[Master Inayat Hussain]] and [[Rasheed Attre]].<ref name=KhawajaNajamul/> She had become a 'singing star' by the 1950s, singing soundtrack songs for famous [[Pakistani]] Urdu films like ''Payal Mein Geet Hai Cham Cham Ke'' (Film ''[[Gumnaam (1954)|Gumnaam]]'', 1954), ''Ulfat ki Nai Manzil ko Chala'' (''Qatil'', 1955),
''Chhor Hamen Kis Des Sudharay Sayyan Hamaray'' and ''Dono Dillon Peh Hua Ulfat Ka Asar'' (''Inteqaam'', 1955), ''Taaron Ka Bhi Tu Maalik'' (''Sarfarosh'', 1956), ''Pareshan Raat Sari Hai'' (''[[Ishq-e-Laila]]'', 1957), and ''Ambva ki Darrion pe Jhoolana Jhoolae Ja'' (''Nagin'', 1959).<ref name="KhawajaNajamul">{{cite news |last1=Saiyid |first1=Dushka |title=Khawaja Najamul Hassan's Encounters with Iqbal Bano and Musarrat Nazir: Part VI |url=https://www.youlinmagazine.com/article/khawaja-najamul-hassan-encounters-with-iqbal-bano-and-musarrat-nazir-part-vi/MjIyOQ== |access-date=21 February 2023 |work=Youlin Magazine |publisher=Youlin Magazine}}</ref><ref name=Dawn/><ref name="bbc"/> Iqbal Bano was later invited by [[Radio Pakistan]] for classical performances on the radio. Her debut public concert took place in 1957, at the [[Lahore Arts Council]].<ref name=Dawn/><ref name=TheGuardian/>

Throughout her musical career she also appeared on [[Pakistan Television]] programs in addition to conducting concerts.<ref name="KhawajaNajamul"/><ref name=Queen/> By 1970s, Iqbal Bano had achieved fame as a popular artist and her stature had grown in the Pakistani cultural community as an accomplished [[ghazal]] singer for which she was critically acclaimed by her artist [[Peer group|peers]]. 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 as [[Hafeez Jalandhari]], [[Ahmed Faraz]], [[Amjad Islam Amjad]], [[Kishwar Naheed]], [[Ashfaq Ahmed]] and [[Nayyara Noor]] could be seen in the audience.

Her husband died in 1980,<ref name=Dawn/> after which she moved to [[Lahore]] from [[Multan]]. It was observed by many music critics that her temperament was particularly suited to vocal genres like [[thumri]], [[dadra]], and [[ghazal]]. According to [[BBC]] News website, "Few singers of classical music matched the brilliance of her voice and her command over musical notes".<ref name="bbc"/><ref name=Dawn/>

== Ghazal specialist ==
Iqbal Bano is regarded as an accomplished [[ghazal]] singer around the world who took the sub-continental ghazal singing to new heights and has been called the "Queen of Ghazal".<ref name="Queen">{{cite web |last1=Tayyebi |first1=Aaliyah |title=The Queen of Ghazal: Iqbal Bano A musical journey of resistance |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-queen-of-ghazal-iqbal-bano-the-citizens-archive-of-pakistan/awUhm-S3c_WmLA?hl=en |website=/artsandculture.google.com |access-date=21 February 2023}}</ref>
Her repertoire include ghazals of numerous poets, including [[Mirza 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''),<ref name=Queen/><ref>{{cite web |title=dagh-e-dil hum ko yaad aane lage |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ghazals/daag-e-dil-ham-ko-yaad-aane-lage-baqi-siddiqui-ghazals |website=rekhta |access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref> [[Daagh Dehlvi]] (''[https://www.discogs.com/release/12293342-Iqbal-Bano-Best-Of-Iqbal-Bano Tere Wade Ko - Daag]''), [[Nasir Kazmi]] (''Kuchh To Ehsas-e-Ziyan Tha Pahle'') and [[Ahmed Faraz]] (''[[Ranjish Hi Sahi]]''). However, in her later career she was recognized particularly for singing [[ghazal]]s of [[Faiz Ahmed Faiz]], a [[Lenin Prize]]-winning poet,<ref name=TheGuardian/><ref name=Dawn/><ref name="bbc"/> such as ''Aaiye Haath Uthaen'', ''Mere Dil Mere Musafir'', ''Yeh Mausam-e-Gul'', ''Rang Pairahan Ka'', ''Na Ganwao Nawak-e-Neem Kash'' amongst others;<ref name=Queen/> her rendition of [[Faiz Ahmad Faiz]]'s Dasht-e-Tanhai Mein has become a timeless classic.<ref name=KhawajaNajamul/> In addition to [[Urdu]], she also sang in [[Saraiki language|Saraiki]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and [[Persian language|Persian]], 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, the ''Jashn-e-[[Kabul]]''.<ref name="bbc"/><ref name=Queen/><ref name=TheGuardian/>

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.<ref name="bbc"/><ref name=Dawn/> 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 to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KSqGufOJwg folk songs].

Music lovers noted some similarities between Iqbal Bano and [[Begum Akhtar]],<ref name=Dawn/> especially some marked resemblances in their styles of singing. Bano's recitals stuck to a [[Classicism|classical style]] that lays more stress on the ''[[Rāga|raag]]'' purity.<ref name=Dawn/>

== Defiance and activism ==
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.<ref name="IqbalBano">{{cite news
|author=Staff Report
|title=Iqbal Bano
|newspaper=Dawn, Karachi, Pakistan
|date=2019
|url= https://images.dawn.com/news/1184309
}}</ref> From 1977 to 1988 [[Pakistan]] was under the military dictatorship headed by General [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]].<ref name="ZiaCoup77">{{cite news |last1=Rehman |first1=I.A. |title=40 years of Zia |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1342765 |access-date=February 19, 2023 |work=Dawn |agency=Dawn |publisher=Dawn Media Group |date=July 5, 2017 |ref=Pakistan Coup d'etat 1977}}</ref><ref name="ZiaCancelNYT">{{cite news |last1=Borders |first1=William |title=Zia Cancels Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/10/02/archives/gen-zia-cancels-vote-in-pakistan-set-for-oct-18-general-zia-cancels.html |access-date=February 19, 2023 |work=New York Times |agency=NYT |date=October 2, 1977}}</ref> By 1986 Zia’s regime was in full swing with severe curtailment and [[Human rights abuses in Pakistan under Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|abuses]] 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 the [[sari]], a common attire for women of all religions in many countries in the sub-continent, as un-Islamic.<ref name="CSM" />

Iqbal Bano had worn sari for decades and appeared in concerts, radio and television programs<ref name="Obituary">{{cite news |last1=Massey |first1=Reginald |title=Iqbal Bano Obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/11/iqbal-bano-obituary |access-date=19 February 2023 |work=The Guardian |agency=The Guardian |date=May 11, 2009}}</ref> and was famous for rendering the poetry of [[Faiz Ahmad Faiz]]. Not long after Zia's regime issued the edict that sari was to be banned from the public sphere,<ref name="CSM">{{cite news |last1=Fouquet |first1=David |title=Zia leads Pakistan deeper into Islam |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1983/0830/083047.html |access-date=19 February 2023 |work=Christian Science Monitor |agency=Christian Science Monitor |publisher=Christian Science Publishing Society |date=August 30, 1983}}</ref> Iqbal Bano donned a black [[sari]] and appeared at the Al-Hamra hall in [[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]] on 13 February 1986<ref name="BanoAlhamra">{{cite news |last1=Hashmi |first1=Ali Madeeh |title=When Iqbal Bano Defied Zia's Dictatorship To Sing 'Hum Dekheinge' At Alhamra |url=https://medium.com/@nayadaurpk/when-iqbal-bano-defied-zias-dictatorship-to-sing-hum-dekheinge-at-alhamra-81f971eebe3d |access-date=20 February 2023 |work=Medium.com |agency=Medium.com |publisher=Naya Daur Media |date=Sep 4, 2019}}</ref> in front of a large audience. This was an event to commemorate anniversary of the renowned poet [[Faiz Ahmad Faiz]] who was himself out of favour with and surveilled by Zia's regime due to his progressive views and anti-fascist writings.<ref name="FaizProtest">{{cite news |last1=Dubrow |first1=Jennifer |title=Faiz, India and protest |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1566933 |access-date=19 February 2023 |work=Dawn, Karachi, Pakistan |agency=Dawn, Karachi, Pakistan |publisher=Dawn Media Group |date=July 5, 2020}}</ref> 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 sing [[Faiz Ahmad Faiz]]'s famous poem of resistance [[Hum Dekhenge]] (We shall see),
<ref name="IqbalBano"/><ref name="Obituary" /> in an act of defiance against General [[Muhammad 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.<ref name="IqbalBano" /><ref name="SingerSong">{{cite news |last1=Bhattacharjee |first1=Govind |title=Singer and the Song |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/singer-and-the-song-1502848056.html |access-date=19 February 2023 |work=the statesman |publisher=The Statesman Ltd |date=January 22, 2020}}</ref><ref name="bbc"/>

==Personal life==
Iqbal Bano married a landlord in 1948 and had three children including two sons named Humayun and Afzal, also a daughter named Maleeha.<ref name=Dawn/><ref name=TheGuardian/>

==Illness and death==
After a short illness, at the age of 80, Iqbal Bano died in [[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]] on 21 April 2009.<ref name="bbc"/><ref name=Dawn/><ref name=TheGuardian/><ref name="inde">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/iqbal-bano-singer-who-transformed-the-genre-of-the-ghazal-1679025.html |title=Iqbal Bano: Singer who transformed the genre of the ghazal|author=Ken Hunt|newspaper= The Independent newspaper [UK]|date= 5 May 2009|access-date= 3 July 2020}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Award !! Category !! Result !! Title !! Ref.
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Pride of Performance]]'' || ''Award by the [[President of Pakistan]]'' || {{Won}} || ''Arts'' ||<ref name="bbc"/><ref name=TheGuardian/>
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|1531060}}
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8011930.stm BBC report of Iqbal Bano's death]
* [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/iqbal-bano-singer-who-transformed-the-genre-of-the-ghazal-1679025.html Obituary in The Independent (UK) by Ken Hunt]

{{Pride of Performance for Arts}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bano, Iqbal}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:Singers from Lahore]]
[[Category:Pakistani ghazal singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Delhi]]
[[Category:Urdu-language singers]]
[[Category:Pakistani playback singers]]
[[Category:Women musicians from Delhi]]
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Pakistani women singers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Pakistani people of Haryanvi descent]]

Iqbal Bano - Revision history

NickiStpierre68 at 14:02, 10 February 2026