'Jadon Holi Jaie Lena Mera Naa': A Tribute to Madam Noor Jahan - - 10th Death Anniversary on December 23, 2010

The tenth death anniversary of Melody Queen, Noor Jehan (Noor Jahan), will be observed on December 23. Subcontinent’s legendary singer died on December 23, 2000, in Karachi after prolonged illness at the age of 74.

Noor Jehan (Noor Jahan), born as Allah Wasai on September 21, 1926, also known as Malika-e-Tarrannum (Queen of Melody) in Pakistan. She sung more than 30,000 songs in Pakistani and Indian films. “

(For detailed biography read the following article:

The Queen of Melody (Mallika-e-Tarranum): Noor Jehan - - One of The Greatest Singers of Her Time in South Asia)

National TV channel PTV and almost all private TV channels and radio stations will pay tribute to the singing legend of subcontinent. Different organisations have also planned to observe the death anniversary of Madam Noor Jehan in different cities of Pakistan.  

One of my favourite songs 'Jadon Holi Jaie Lena Mera Naa' ..... by Madam Noor Jehan (Noor Jahan)

Proud Being a Pakistani - - World Record Set by 19 Female Students by Fitting into a Two-door Small Car

After a winning gold medal in the 16th Asian Games, concluded only last month, the girls of Pakistan are feeling proud and enthusiastic; thus bringing another world record to the honour of Pakistan.

Nineteen young girls at the Creek Cub in Karachi managed to fit into a two-door small car in hopes of recording their names in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The whole accomplishment was witnessed by few important personalities like speaker of Sindh Assembly Nisar Khoro and former cricketers Wasim Akram and Saleem Yousuf; other than a huge gathering of people.

These nineteen female students broke the record set by Australians by fitting 18 females into the same type of car. All the formalities have been done already to get the record booked in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Christmas 2010 in Pakistan - - Celebrations of Colours, Lights, Songs and Special Services in Churches

Pakistan is a very diverse society with various ethnic and religious minorities. Christianity is the second largest religion in Pakistan which comprises of 2.5 percent of total Pakistan population. 

Although Pakistan is an Islamic country, but Christmas in Pakistan is the main festival of the 5 millions Christians in Pakistan and is celebrated with religious fervour and enthusiasm like any other minority festival. Christmas also brings forth the various traditions and customs of Christmas celebrations in Pakistan.

As soon as the Christmas is around the corner, the faithful Christian community start to feel the spirit of Christmas. Whether Protestant or Catholic, they start to decorate their churches for Sunday mass. In Christian schools and institutions evenings are delighted with music and plays.

In Warispura vicinity, the largest Christian community in the surroundings of Faisalabad, Christians start decoration of houses and streets. Christmas trees go up in people's homes and new clothes are bought for children. Multicolour stars brighten rooftops. 

Exchanging gifts and presents is an old tradition and the same is observed at the time of Christmas. Christmas is a time for charities to help the poor, the sick and those in prison. Traditionally, gents give glass bangles to ladies of their family. Women, on the other hand, use ‘Henna’ to create traditional hand and foot decorations known as mehndi.

In schools, month of December is thought to be the month for third term exams, but in Christian Schools these exams are often concluded in November or the first week of December so that the rest of the month can be spent in Christmas preparations and celebrations. Students need the time to rehearse for the Nativity play, usually staged on the last days of school of December 20 or 21 before Winter break.

At Midnight and Christmas Day mass churches are full. Those who do not visit the church during the rest of the year; do not miss to attend special services on the Christmas. Christmas is known as Bara Din, the great day, when people put on their brightest clothes to meet others in an atmosphere of brotherhood.

Since December 25 is a national holiday in Pakistan non Christians celebrate it too for it was on his day in 1876 that Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, was born.

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Benazir Bhutto: Assassination 27th December 2007 - - Proceedings in The Investigation Process During 2010, Pervez Musharraf Included Recently

Bhutto was assassinated Dec 27, 2007 after addressing an election rally in the northern Pakistani city of Rawalpindi. A teenaged shooter was seen aiming for her head in the CCTV footage before a powerful suicide blast killed at least 24 people participating in the rally.

The interior ministry at that time had accused the Taliban of plotting to kill Bhutto while the doctors had said that "her head banged against the lever of the sunroof which caused her death".

March, 2010:

UN chief Ban Ki-moon plans to give the panel probing the 2007 assassination of Pakistan’s ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto until late March to complete its work, his spokesman said in a statement on Thursday.

http://www.thestatesmen.net/news/benazir-bhutto-probe-to-be-extended-to-march-2010-un/

April 15, 2010:

A long-awaited UN report into the killing of Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto two years ago has been highly critical of the General Musharaff’s government of the day.

The 65-page report released Thursday (15 April 2010) faults the Pakistani government and local authorities and says that Bhutto's assassination at a rally near Islamabad could have been prevented if proper security measures had been taken by General Pervez Musharraf's government.

http://www.suite101.com/content/benazir-bhutto-death---critical-un-report-released-a226217

April 21, 2010:

Terming Benazir Bhutto's death as murder, the Legal advisor to Benazir's chief protocol officer has alleged that the present Interior Minister Rehman Malik and current Law Minister Babar Awan were involved in Benazir's assassination.

http://news.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/06-malik-awan-involved-in-benazirs-assassination-rs-01

May26, 2010:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday presented an interim challan in the case regarding the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in an anti-terrorist court.

http://news.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/12-interim+challan+filed+in+benazir+murder+case--bi-02

July 9, 2010:

The United Nations dismissed the proposal of reopening of the independent probe into the assassination of former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto as the the work is "complete."

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/07/09/benazir-bhutto-assassination-un-rejects-new-probe.html

Oct 26, 2010:

The Federal Investigation Agency has completed its probe into the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and held the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan responsible for her death in a gun-and-bomb attack, sources in the FIA told Dawn on Monday.

http://public.dawn.com/2010/10/26/fia-holds-ttp-responsible-for-benazir-s-murder.html

Nov 15, 2010:

New findings in the Benazir Bhutto murder case investigation revealed that the suicide bombers and facilitators were all students of Madrassa Haqqaniya, and were constantly in direct contact with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Chief Baitullah Mehsud.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/77618/benazir-murder-investigation-reveals-terrorists-linked-to-baitullah/

Nov 23, 2010: 

 

The government has decided to include former president and military dictator Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf in the investigation into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) joint investigation team (JIT) has prepared a detailed questionnaire that will be forwarded to Musharraf in Britain in a few days, Dawn reported Tuesday.

http://www.siasat.com/english/news/musharraf-included-benazir-murder-investigation

Nov 24, 2010:

Pakistani Talk Show, Views On News 23 Nov 2010, with Dr. Shahid Masood as Host: New Twist in Benazir Murder Probe. Brig (R) Javed Cheema said today he was directed by former President Pervez Musharraf to do press conference on Benazir murder. Guests: Chaudhry Aslam (PPP), Ahmed Reza Kasuri (APML), Sr. Sher Afgan Niazi (APML), Dr. Safdar Abbasi (PPP)

http://pkonweb.com/2010/11/benazir-murder-probe-views-on-news-23-nov-2010/

Nov 29, 2010:

Former President Pervez Musharraf has refused to accept a questionnaire sent by Pakistani investigators to get his views on crucial issues related to former premier Benazir Bhutto's assassination in 2007, according to a media report.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/musharraf-refuses-to-accept-questionnaire-over-benazir-killing-69337

Abida Parveen: A Versatile Singing Legend of Sub-continent - - Getting Back to The Life After Severe Heart Attack at Doctor's Hospital, Lahore

Abida Parveen: The Most Successful Female Sufi Performer

The Queen of Sufi Music Abida Perveen is a rarity in the world of Sufi music, a female lead performer. Abida Parveen is a singer of Sindhi descent and one of the foremost exponents of Sufi music (Sufiana kalaam). 

Abida Parveen is the finest singer of ghazal, geet and sindhi, seraiki and punjabi kafees. “While khayal and thumri became a part of her childhood training, her effective rendering of folk and traditional music with great sophistication and without losing the basic characteristics of the regional music of sindh has made her a versatile singer.”

Abida Parveen sings in Urdu, Sindhi, Seraiki, Punjabi and Persian, and together with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is considered one of the finest Sufi vocalists of the modern era.

Abida Parveen is undeniably a spiritual daughter of great poet, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, the greatest sufi poet of Sindh. 

Abida Parveen: Early Life and Music Education

Abida Parveen (Urdu: پروين  عابده) was born in 1954  in mohalla Ali Goharabad in Larkana (Sindh province, Pakistan). Sindh, a land distinguished for its Islamic theology and quiet discourse on females.

Her father, whom she refers to as reverently as Baba Sain, was also a singer and had his own small music school where he taught only male pupils. He was devoted to the Sufi poets and that is from where Abida gets her devotional inspiration. For her the Sufi poets of Sindh and Punjab are the ones who speak of the inner truths of the self and in their poetry, where she finds solace and peace. As she was growing up, Abida attended her father’s music school and that was where her foundation in music was laid.

Master Ghulam Haider Khan, Parveen’s father, realized at early stages the penetrative powers of her voice.  Abida Parveen, as a child, had early education from her father, later she was trained under Ustad Salem Ali Khan of Patiala Gharana. Much of the credit of her grooming goes to her late husband Shaikh Ghulam Husain who was a music director of Radio Pakistan, Hyderabad. She has vastly travelled abroad enthralling her audiences wherever she goes.

Abida Parveen: Early Days of Music Career

Abida Parveen - a name shines brightly in the music galaxy of the sub-continent. Though she is a versatile singer, Sufi music is her forte - a tradition of hundreds of years that seems to have seeped into her very being and soul. She also sings ghazals, Urdu love songs. 

Hyderabad Radio first introduced her in 1977. She is today the most popular and well-known folk and ghazal singer of Pakistan who breathed a new life into ghazal and semi-classical music. She holds an audience of thousands spellbound. Her appearance is a complete reverse of many other stage performers. She begins each number as solemnly as the previous one as the evening progresses, sinking deeper and deeper into her kafi’s and Sufiana kalam of the mystic poets. She is a woman of very few words and asks to be judged only by her music. This folk phenomenon, called Abida Parveen, is deeply religious and profoundly humble.

Abida Parveen: A Versatile Singing Legend

Her command of kafi of sufi poets such as Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Hazrat Lal Shabaz Qalandar, Hazrat Sacchal Sarmast from sindh, and Hazrat Baba Bulhe Shah, Hazrat Khawja Farid Ganje Shakar, Hazrat Sultan Bahu, Hazrat Mian Muhammad Buksh, Hazrat Ghulam Farid, Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah and Hazrat Shah Hussain from pujab embellishes her versatility. Apart from sufis of Pakistan, Parveen also sings mystic poetry of the Asian Indian subcontinent, which include sufis such as Hazra Amir Khusrau, Hazrat Nizamudin Auliya, Hazrat Kutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti and Hazrat Moulana Jalaluddin Roomi from Turkey.

Her contribution to singing Urdu Ghazals has been noteworthy. She has imported the feeling of a gushing stream to rendering of Urdu Ghazal. Eminent Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi has aptly remarked - "Abida Parveen has given new life to Ghazals - her rendition of spiritual Sufi songs has given new dimensions to the art of Kafi and Ghazal singing." 

Professor G.M. Mekhri of Sind University has rightly said that, “Abida Parveen is the spiritual daughter of Great Sufi Saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. She is the truly blessed voice.” Abida has recorded all the poetry of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, an 18th century poet and composer who blended folk music and classical raga in a style known as kafi from his book called “Shah jo Risalo” according to their respective “Raags” which were also laid down by him. 

Enjoy her most popular "Yar Di Gharoli Bhardi" below:

Abida Parveen: Awards and Recognition

Few days back, Abida Parveen said that she has been getting many offers from Bollywood for singing but this is not the right time to debut in Indian Film Industry.

She has been bestowed many awards notable among them are:

* Shah Abdul Latif Gold Medal
* Sind Graduate Association Gold Medal
* Sachal Sarmast Gold Medal
* Pakistan Television Award
* Qalander Lal Shahbaz Gold Medal
* President's Gold Medal Award for Pride of Performances. 

Abida Parveen: Last Days at Doctor’s Hospital, Lahore

Abida Perveen was admitted at a local hospital after suffering chest pain yesterday (November 28, 2010).

Abida Perveen was admitted at a hospital in Lahore Sunday morning after she suffered a heart attack.

She underwent angioplasty and has been shifted to intensive care unit," the hospital doctors said.

The popular singer has now been out of danger and will be shifted to hospital room after 12 hours, they added.

But just now the TV channels are airing the news of the death of legendary Sufi Singer as on November 29, 2010 at the age of 56, inna Lillah-e-wa-inna Elaihai Rajaoon. May Allah bless her soul with peace and serenity! Ameen 

Death News Verification Note from Author

After searching for the authenticity of the death news of Abida Parveen aired on a Pakistani TV channel; I couldn't find any verification of the news on internet, other TV Channels and online newspapers. Therefore, I feel sorry to post this news without proper verification. Let's hope and pray for the health of legendary Abida Parveen. 

Just now I found a good news for the fans of Abida Parveen on Express News Channel. According to Dr. Haroon of Doctor's Hospital, Lahore; Abida Parveen is recovering from the heart attack and slowly getting stable. She will be hospitalized for 5-6 more days. May Allah bless her with sound health! Ameen.