4 decades after death, Malika-e-ghazal lives on in many hearts
LUCKNOW :Despite a sea change in the music scenario in the past few decades, Malika-e-ghazal Begum Akhtar still rules the hearts of Lucknowites. Four decades after her demise in 1974, her inimitable style of singing is fresh in many people’s minds.
Remembering her musical genius on the occasion of her birth anniversary on Tuesday, historian Yogesh Praveen who was close to Begum Akhtar said, “I still remember the time when I went to meet her with Krishna Behari ‘Noor’ in a mehfil in the ‘60s. She was smoking a Capstan cigarette. But despite her heavy smoking habit, she was a wonderful singer. During that mehfil she mesmerised the audience, striking a chord with them with the very first couplet of the ghazal. I still remember her keeping her Capstan cigarettes on her harmoium while singing. It was a unique style.”
She respected Krishna Behari Noor because of his knowledge of Urdu and his decent ghazals which made him popular among everyone, he said, adding, “I remember Noor Sahib writing on the back of the cigarette pack about the ghazal which he wanted to hear. She immediately sang the same ghazal. She used to treat me nicely because I was also well versed in Urdu. Her husband Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi who was a barrister also respected me.”
“I remember after the death of Begum Akhtar in 1974, renowned music director Madan Mohan came to the city to visit her grave at Pasand Bagh in Thakurganj. I was given the responsibility of taking him to her grave. When Madan Mohan reached her grave he cried like a child. Begum Akhtar used to treat him as her son. He told me that he would organize a threeday music festival at the grave, in which he would bring artistes from the film industry. He also said he would make her grave of marble. But he was not able to fulfill his commitment because he also died after four months,” said Yogesh Praveen.
Begum Akhtar also sang in two movies ‘Daana Paani’ (1953) and ‘Ehsaan’ (1954) in which Madan Mohan was music director. He came in contact with Begum Akhtar when he was a composer at Lucknow Akashvani. The songs ‘Aye ishq mujhe aur to kuch yaad’ and ‘Hamein dil mein basa bhi lo’ were melodious and very popular, he said.
“In the 1930s, there were two film studios at the place where we have OCR buildings today. The film ‘Rakkasa’ was to be made in these studios. Barrister Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi was one of the financers of the film in which Begum Akhtar was supposed to work. While talking to Begum Akhtar, barrister Abbasi advised her to get married to which she said she would marry the man who had given this suggestion. That is how they both got married in 1945,” said Yogesh Praveen.
Abbasi was from a conservative family so his family imposed many restrictions on Begum Akhtar . She could not sing for almost five years. She fell ill and when Abbasi consulted a doctor he said her only medicine was music. If she were to stay alive, she would have to be permitted to sing. In 1949, she returned to record at the Lucknow radio station and sang three ghazals and a dadra. She felt so satisfied and happy that she wept with joy. She then continued to give public performances and sing in concerts till she passed away, he said.
“Begum Akhtar was so fond of Jigar Moradabadi that she proposed to him through a letter. After going through his poetry, she sent him a post card that she wanted to marry the person who had penned such beautiful ghazals. Till her death she kept a photo of Jigar Moradabadi near her bed despite objections by her family.
“Begum Akhtar wanted to be buried next to her mother in whom she found the love of both parents because she never knew who her father was. She was buried at the same place. Her husband, despite his wish to be buried next to Begum Akhtar in Lucknow, was buried in Harauni by his family members because they always considered her inferior,” he said.
Noted guitar player Sunil Paogi said Begum Akhtar was an outstanding music composer also. All the ghazals which she sang were composed by her.
Teacher in Bhatkhande music Institute Kamlesh Dubey said that Begum Akhtar was a brilliant classical singer too. She was well versed in thumri and other genres of classical music.