KARACHI: The legendary ghazal singer and former playback singer of Lollywood, Mehdi Hasan, 84, had been laid to rest at Shah Muhammad Shah graveyard on Friday.
A large number of people belonging from every segment of the society, including his fans, famous singers, politicians, social workers, actors, friends and family members, attended the funeral of the legendary singer, held after Friday prayers at Noorani Mosque, Al-Noor Society. He passed away on Wednesday after protracted illnessMehdi Hasan has left 14 children, nine of whom are boys and five girls. Mehdi Hassan stepped down from playback singing due to his severe illness in late 80s. Later his illness had compelled him to completely bid farewell to music. He spent his last years of life in Karachi.
The leaders from MQM and PPP, including Raza Haroon, Wassay Jalil, Rauf Siddiqui, Rashid Rabbani, Nisar Khuhro, Pir Mazharul Haq and many others attended the funeral ceremony. However, people from show-business, including film star Nadeem, Qazi Wajid, Lehri, Qazi Wajid, Ustad Salamat Ali, Amjad Sabri were also present on the occasion. Senior Education and Literacy Minister Pir Mazharul Haq, while talking to media after the funeral of legendry ghazal vocalist, said that artists like Mehdi Hassan were born in centuries and his name would always remain alive in the world of music. He said that Mehdi Hassan was not only the greatest ghazal vocalist but was also a very kind-hearted and nice person.
“Whenever the people will talk about ghazal singing, Mehdhi Hassan’s name will always tops the list.” Mazhar expressed his deep sorrow and condoled with Mehdi Hassan’s son, Arif Mehdi and son-in-law and offered prayer for the departed soul.A LOOK ON THE LIFE OF THE SINGER: He was famously known as the ‘King of Ghazal’. He ruled the Pakistan film industry along with Ahmed Rushdi. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions: the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz granted to him by General Ayub Khan; the Pride of Performance bestowed on him by General Ziaul Haq; and the Hilal-i-Imtiaz conferred by General Pervez Musharraf.
Besides the Nigar Film and Graduate Awards from Pakistan, he was presented the Saigal Award in Jalandhar, India, in 1979, whereas the Gorkha Dakshina Bahu Award was given to him in Nepal in 1983. Mehdi Hassan was born in 1927 in a village called Luna in Rajasthan, India into a family of traditional musicians. He claims to be the 16th generation of hereditary musicians hailing from the Kalawant clan of musicians. Mehdi Hassan had his musical grooming from his father Ustad Azeem Khan and uncle Ustad Ismail Khan who were both traditional Dhrupad singers.
The life story of Mehdi Hassan is a journey of trials and tribulations. After partition the family migrated to Pakistan and suffered severe financial hardships.To make both ends meet, Mehdi started working at a bicycle shop and later became a car and diesel tractor mechanic. Despite the hardships, his passion for music didn’t wither and he kept up the routine of practice on a daily basis. The struggle ended when Mehdi Hassan was given the opportunity to sing on Radio Pakistan in 1957, primarily as a Thumri singer, which earned him recognition within the musical fraternity. At the time, Ustad Barkat Ali Khan, Begum Akhtar and Mukhtar Begum were considered the stalwarts of ghazal gayaki. – Nation
