Lahore (Web Desk): The 16th death anniversary of renowned Pakistani classical and Ghazal singer Iqbal Bano is being observed today (Monday).
Born in Rohtak in 1935, Bano’s journey began in the embrace of classical tradition under the guidance of Ustad Chand Ali Khan.
But her voice was never meant to be confined. In the golden age of Pakistani cinema during the 1950s, she emerged as a defining sound, lending her hauntingly beautiful vocals to films like Gumnaam, Qatil, and Nagin.
The silver screen adored her, but it was in the intimacy of ghazal that she truly found her soul.
Her interpretations of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s verses weren’t mere recitations — they were acts of devotion. She did not just sing “Hum Dekhenge”, she lived it.
Performing the revolutionary anthem at a time when Zia-ul-Haq’s regime tried to silence artistic expression, Bano turned melody into resistance.
That one performance immortalized her as not only a singer, but as a symbol of artistic courage.
Decorated with the Pride of Performance in 1974, she wore the honour with the same grace that defined her every note.
Iqbal Bano passed away in Lahore on April 21, 2009, but her music still lingers — in dimly lit mehfils, in quiet defiance, and in the hearts of those who still believe that a ghazal can change everything.
