Habib Wali Mohammad
Encyclopedia
Habib Wali Mohammad (born 1921) is a Pakistan
i ghazal
singer.
.
During his childhood Habib Wali often listened to Qawwali
music. But due to economic reasons, he gave priority to academics.
He received his MBA
from Syracuse University
in 1947, and then lived in Bombay for about 10 years before moving to Pakistan
. His brother Ashraf W. Tabani
was governor of the province of Sindh
around 1988.)
, gaining the nickname ‘Taan sain’. After completing bachelors in Bombay, he studied for his MBA in USA. In mid 1940s he returned to Bombay.
In 1941, Habib Wali was awarded first prize in a Bombay music competition with 1200 contestants, including the singer Mukesh Chand Mathur. His winning performance was singing the ghazal of last Moghul Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, Lagta Nahin Hai Jee Mera Ujray Diyar Mein.
Encouraged by this honor, at a young age, he took more interest in ghazal singing. During his stay in America, he had been out of touch with music. Hence, he felt lonely and missed his earlier college functions in Bombay. In his own words: He was not happy in ‘Ujray dayar mein’ the same ghazal which had won him an award of a lifetime. He put a lot of effort and came out with a gramophone record of ghazals in his voice. On one side of the record, he dubbed Bahadur Shah Zafar’s ghazals and on the other side, Ghalib's
’s ghazals.
Unfortunately, the Indian public was reluctant to buy them.
From these ghazals, actress Meena Kumari
became a fan of his, and since she was at the time affiliated with Radio Ceylon
, she had his recordings broadcast often. This boosted Habib Wali's sales and caused him to become a celebrity.
After partition
, his family migrated to Pakistan
and established an industrial group which includes the Shalimar silk mills. He gave most of his time to the family business, recording ghazals and geet-s for films in his spare time, however music was not pursued as a profession.
However he still sang ghazals for the gramophone companies.(including a geeth written by Perveen Shakir: ‘Gori karath singhar’) In eighties, he recorded ghazals in audio cassettes which were composed by renowned music director Nisar Bazmi
. In addition, he received offers to record play back songs for the Pakistan film industry.
He has been awarded the Nigar award. His famous ghazals include Bahadur Shah Zafar's 'Na kisi ki Aankh ka noor hoon' and Qamar Jalalavi's 'Kab mera nasheman ahelay chaman'. All of his performances of the ghazals of Bahadur Shah Zafar have been very popular.
His other well known ghazals, include "Aaj jane ki zidd na karo". He also sang the famous national song, "Roshan-o-Rakhshan, Nayyar-o-Tabaan, Pakistan rahay".
, United States
with his wife, Rehana and his family, including his son, Nadeem Wali Mohammad
‘Ye na thi hamari Qismath’: poet: Ghalib
‘Ja kahio unsay naseem-e-sahar’: poet: Bahadur Shah Zafar.
‘Gajra bana kay lay Aa malaniya’: poet: Afshan Rana.
Following are the ghazals, which are considered as a treasure for the Pakistani films:
‘Aaj janay ki zid na karo’: poet: Fayyaz Hashmi, picturised on Nadeem
‘Aashiyan jal gaya’ :poet: Raaz Illahabadi, film: ‘Baazi’
'Raatain theen chandni':Film: ‘Baazi’
'Marnen ki Duawain Kyun Mangon-Jeene ti Tamana kon Kare'
National songs like: ‘Roshan-o- afshan, nayyar-o-taban’
, and on February 28, 2010 in West Virginia
, performing with his son Nadeem Wali Mohammad, and former singer Bela Modi.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
singer.
Early life
Habib Wali Mohammad was born in Rangoon to a conservative Memon family, which later moved to Bombay. His family, Tabani, an industrial house has large business holdings in PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
During his childhood Habib Wali often listened to Qawwali
Qawwali
Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional music popular in South Asia, particularly in the Punjab and Sindh regions of Pakistan, Hyderabad, Delhi, and other parts of northern India...
music. But due to economic reasons, he gave priority to academics.
He received his MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1947, and then lived in Bombay for about 10 years before moving to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. His brother Ashraf W. Tabani
Ashraf W. Tabani
Ashraf W. Tabani was the Governor of Sindh and the Provincial Minister of Finance, Industries, Excise and Taxation between 1981 and 1984 during Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's term of office as the President of Pakistan.-Biography:...
was governor of the province of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
around 1988.)
Career
As a youth, Habib Wali received classical music lessons from Ustad Latafath Husain, nephew of Ustad Fayyaz Khan. In college, he became active in the musical functions of Ismail Yusuf CollegeIsmail Yusuf College
Ismail Yusuf College, or simply IY College, is the fourth oldest college of Mumbai, India. Established 1924, is one of the oldest colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai. The college, situated on a hillock in Jogeshwari in the midst of sylvan surroundings...
, gaining the nickname ‘Taan sain’. After completing bachelors in Bombay, he studied for his MBA in USA. In mid 1940s he returned to Bombay.
In 1941, Habib Wali was awarded first prize in a Bombay music competition with 1200 contestants, including the singer Mukesh Chand Mathur. His winning performance was singing the ghazal of last Moghul Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, Lagta Nahin Hai Jee Mera Ujray Diyar Mein.
Encouraged by this honor, at a young age, he took more interest in ghazal singing. During his stay in America, he had been out of touch with music. Hence, he felt lonely and missed his earlier college functions in Bombay. In his own words: He was not happy in ‘Ujray dayar mein’ the same ghazal which had won him an award of a lifetime. He put a lot of effort and came out with a gramophone record of ghazals in his voice. On one side of the record, he dubbed Bahadur Shah Zafar’s ghazals and on the other side, Ghalib's
Mirza Ghalib
Dabir-ul-Mulk, Najm-ud-Daula Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan , pen-name Ghalib and Asad , was a classical Urdu and Persian poet from India during British colonial rule...
’s ghazals.
Unfortunately, the Indian public was reluctant to buy them.
From these ghazals, actress Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari , born Mahjabeen Bano, was an Indian movie actress and poetess. She is regarded as one of the most prominent actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi Cinema...
became a fan of his, and since she was at the time affiliated with Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon is the oldest radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe.- Edward Harper :...
, she had his recordings broadcast often. This boosted Habib Wali's sales and caused him to become a celebrity.
After partition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, his family migrated to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and established an industrial group which includes the Shalimar silk mills. He gave most of his time to the family business, recording ghazals and geet-s for films in his spare time, however music was not pursued as a profession.
However he still sang ghazals for the gramophone companies.(including a geeth written by Perveen Shakir: ‘Gori karath singhar’) In eighties, he recorded ghazals in audio cassettes which were composed by renowned music director Nisar Bazmi
Nisar Bazmi
Nisar Bazmi was a composer and music director of Pakistan film industry. Bazmi remained one of the most famous musicians of subcontinent. He also introduced new singers like Alamgir. The duo of composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal were musicians with Bazmi in India before partition...
. In addition, he received offers to record play back songs for the Pakistan film industry.
Reception
Habib Wali is practically from the very second group of singers ever to record the art form and is still at his peak today. But probably because of his background and place as a member of a well-established family, Habib Wali has never pursued as aggressive and mainstream a career as a singer as others, though is still highly regarded.He has been awarded the Nigar award. His famous ghazals include Bahadur Shah Zafar's 'Na kisi ki Aankh ka noor hoon' and Qamar Jalalavi's 'Kab mera nasheman ahelay chaman'. All of his performances of the ghazals of Bahadur Shah Zafar have been very popular.
His other well known ghazals, include "Aaj jane ki zidd na karo". He also sang the famous national song, "Roshan-o-Rakhshan, Nayyar-o-Tabaan, Pakistan rahay".
Personal life
Habib Wali Mohammad lives in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his wife, Rehana and his family, including his son, Nadeem Wali Mohammad
Discography
Some of the ghazals, recorded in the voice of Habib Wali Mohammad are listed here below:‘Ye na thi hamari Qismath’: poet: Ghalib
‘Ja kahio unsay naseem-e-sahar’: poet: Bahadur Shah Zafar.
‘Gajra bana kay lay Aa malaniya’: poet: Afshan Rana.
Following are the ghazals, which are considered as a treasure for the Pakistani films:
‘Aaj janay ki zid na karo’: poet: Fayyaz Hashmi, picturised on Nadeem
‘Aashiyan jal gaya’ :poet: Raaz Illahabadi, film: ‘Baazi’
'Raatain theen chandni':Film: ‘Baazi’
'Marnen ki Duawain Kyun Mangon-Jeene ti Tamana kon Kare'
National songs like: ‘Roshan-o- afshan, nayyar-o-taban’
Recent Concerts
Habib Wali Mohammad Recently had a ghazal concert on Saturday February 27, 2010 in Edison, New JerseyEdison, New Jersey
Edison Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. What is now Edison Township was originally incorporated as Raritan Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1870, from portions of both Piscataway Township and Woodbridge Township...
, and on February 28, 2010 in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, performing with his son Nadeem Wali Mohammad, and former singer Bela Modi.