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Iqbal Bano gets her very own Google Doodle

Iqbal Bano gets her very own Google Doodle

The illustration celebrates the the classical singer famous for her renditions of ghazal, nazm and other classical forms
Updated 28 Dec, 2019

Google honoured acclaimed singer Iqbal Bano with her very own Google Doodle on what would have been her 81st birthday.

The illustration, designed by Karachi-based guest artist Samya Arif, celebrates the classical singer famous for her renditions of ghazal, nazm and other classical forms, as well as music for film and patriotic songs. She passed away in 2009 in Lahore.

Iqbal Bano was born in 1938 in Delhi and studied with Ustad Chand Khan, a master of classical Indian vocals, and began singing on All India Radio as a teenager. She moved to Pakistan in 1952 and sang on Radio Pakistan, provided vocals as a playback singer for popular movies and attracted large crowds to her live concerts. She was awarded the Pride of Performance Award in 1974.

During the regime of General Ziaul Haq, Iqbal Bano sang Faiz Ahmad Faiz's poetry in a black sari before a crowd of 50,000 at a Lahore stadium in 1985, becoming a symbol of resistance. She was subsequently banned from performing or appearing on TV. Faiz had written the poem critical of military rule while in prison and the sari had been declared "un-Islamic".

Google Doodle has also honoured notable Pakistani figures in the past, such as Nusrat Fateh Ali khan, Abdul Sattar Edhi, Noor Jehan, Waheed Murad, Nazia Hassan and Fatima Surayya Bajia.

Comments

Cris Dan Dec 28, 2019 11:47am
Super!!!Iqbal Banis' ghazals are an integeral part of Pakistani cultural heritage. She is alive in the history of Ghazal in sub-continent.
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Amer Ijaz Khan Dec 28, 2019 12:01pm
"Arsa" hua hai daawat e mizhgan kiye hue. Ptv programme Nikhar,1974. Her rendition of Ghalib's ghazal is my favorite. Ghalib's 222bd birthday was just yesterday, by the way. The great Iqbal bano. Pride of Pakistan. Amer Khan
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AZAM AKBAR Dec 28, 2019 04:27pm
Rest In Peace.
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Ehsan Dec 28, 2019 08:05pm
Didn’t know about her resistance to zia, love her even more for that
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Eaterrr Dec 28, 2019 09:40pm
Thank you ,Google for recognizing this great singer.
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Nusrat Dec 28, 2019 10:20pm
That’s great recognition. Thank you.
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