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Noor Jehan's daughters remember her fondly on her 20th death anniversary

Noor Jehan's daughters remember her fondly on her 20th death anniversary

She loved Pakistan, they shared. "Pervez Musharraf visited our home and told mother that we listened to your songs during war."
23 Dec, 2020

A larger than life woman whose voice dominated Pakistani film and television to become its indisputable queen, Noor Jehan, also recognised by her honorary title as Malka-e-Tarannum, was a force to be reckoned with.

Today, on the icon's 20th death anniversary, her daughters, Hina Durrani, Mina Hassan and Nazia Ejaz Khan sat down to remember their mother; renowned as one of the greatest and most influential singers in all of South Asia — her magnificent career in the public eye and her loving nature in private.

The video was released on Durrani's new YouTube channel where she'll be divulging her wisdom and life experiences.

"Mother had an older sister, Api Eedat," the daughters informed the audience, wondering why the information was lesser known to public. "She was gorgeous, looked like Kate Winslet and was like a mother figure to our mother," they added, revealing she was home for Noor Jehan.

However, most of the girls' caretaking was done by Huma Ji, their aunt, who used to step in when their mum was out establishing her singing career.

"She was ahead of her time," the daughters agreed, sharing how despite separating from her husband, she always maintained a relationship of mutual respect, often looking after her then ex-spouse, Ejaz and making breakfast for him out of love and the status he held as the father of her children.

"Mother loved and adored Pakistan," revealed Hina, as she spoke about how she would literally bend down to kiss the ground of her watan (nation) as soon as they flew back from abroad.

"Pervez Musharraf visited our house once and told mother that we used to listen to your songs during war, and they would entice jazba (passion) within us for our homeland."

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The sisters were sent to boarding school after their parents' divorce but Noor Jehan would miss her children terribly, sending the girls and the entire student body loads of lychees and trucks full of home-cooked food.

"One time, she sent three sacrificial sadqa goats in a trunk that randomly showed up to boarding school because mother had a nightmare," the girls laughed.

"Our birthdays were also lavish affairs where no matter whose big day it was, all three of our entire class mates were invited," they remembered, saying how everyone would start buttering them up weeks in advance to be invited to the glorious celebrations where their mother would often sing.

"She may have sent us to boarding but we were always included. We were also the only children who would go out and meet them every weekend. She gave us the best of both worlds."

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"When our mother would write, Ahmed Faraz sahab would correct my mother and edit her work", they said, stating how their mother was fond of poetry to a great extent.

"The world was at her feet, but for Noor Jehan, her six children were her world. She never saw a fault in her kids. She just adored them — all her days, nights, free moments were reserved for them, and that's what we've taken so many traits from her. We're all similar mothers to our own kids now," the three agreed, remembering how much they had picked up from her and applied in their own lives.

Noor Jehan was also someone who was always growing.

"If you look at her pictures from her 20s to her 30s and so on, you'll see her style was always evolving. She would pick her own trends, be ready to change and run with it. We would open our eyes and watch her dress up; that's where we learnt how to groom ourselves too."

"She not only had a great voice but also a great personality. Many fans would come, especially at odd times when we were in London, and I've never seen her say no to them. She was so humble, I never saw her think of herself as some glorious Madam Noor Jehan. She would do intense charity, but she would always spot even a beggar or needy woman sitting behind a tree, knowing they need help. She did it all her life."

"She was a master of her own art, but she always taught us one thing — beta koi rasta chalta bhi kuch sikha jaye toh haath jor kar seekh jao." (If someone even just passing by teaches you something, humbly join your hands and learn from it.)

That was Noor Jehan for you; beautiful, magnificent and timeless in all her glory. You can watch the complete heartfelt interview here.

Comments

M. Emad Dec 23, 2020 04:09pm
Pakistan President General Yahya Khan was a big fan of Malka-e-Tarannum Noor Jehan.
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Solomon The King Dec 23, 2020 04:24pm
she had a complete control on her voice and that what enabled her sing any song at any velocity required by its note/tune . Another artist who could do so was Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. They were born to sing, and their love for the practice of surs/musical notes made them invincible singers and musicians
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Ajo Dec 23, 2020 04:30pm
Ayub Khan and Noor Jahan two great lovers of Pakistan
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Laila Dec 23, 2020 04:35pm
First time I see her children together like this. I remember her voice because her music was always popular in our home too.
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Karachiwala Dec 23, 2020 04:52pm
@M. Emad You Indian and BD trolls are funny.....your comment is so obtuse that 90% of readers do not understand it...:))
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RationalBabu Dec 23, 2020 04:53pm
@M. Emad a well known but hardly mentioned fact!
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Dec 23, 2020 05:07pm
Do they remember Yahya Khan?
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Silent Observer Dec 23, 2020 05:32pm
@M. Emad .... the whole Pakistani nation regard here as a legend. BTW he has fans in the RSS troll army aswell ;-)
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Silent Observer Dec 23, 2020 05:33pm
@Solomon The King ..... you missed Ali Azmat too... who does not have any control when he strucks a higher cord ;-)
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Chrís Dăn Dec 23, 2020 06:08pm
@M. Emad we ALL are her fans. Yahyah was not an exception
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RationalBabu Dec 23, 2020 06:12pm
@Karachiwala actually, 90% of readers do understand it!
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Jonathan Dec 23, 2020 06:12pm
Which of these girls studied at Queen Mary College?
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Surya Kant Dec 23, 2020 06:18pm
Be blessed. I still listen to her song.
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Praveen Dec 23, 2020 06:25pm
We non artistic people only need to enjoy these artist's passion and colour which they filled in this world to make this colourful and livable . Thanks Madam Noor Jahan. By the way I am Indian
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saeeds Dec 23, 2020 06:37pm
All her daughters are graceful , she gave them nice upbringing.
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Laila Dec 23, 2020 06:49pm
Dawn, write more articles about our classical singers like Noor Jehan, Tahira Sayed, Nahid Akhtar, Reshma. I want to know their stories and struggles.
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Mahmood Ahmad Dec 23, 2020 07:01pm
Don’t weary about dead people take care of living people!!
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Ekramul Majid Dec 23, 2020 09:24pm
@M. Emad Your point?
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Laila Dec 24, 2020 01:12am
@M. Emad Noor Jehan was famous all over Pakistan. So I'm not really sure I follow what you are trying to say?
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Reality check Dec 24, 2020 06:36am
Our people look and sound best when they speak their own language of Urdu. There is no need to pepper it with English.
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Laila Dec 24, 2020 03:29pm
@Ajo you should be ashamed of yourself for talking such slanderous and defamatory nonsense about a woman who is no longer alive or able to defend herself.
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Laila Dec 24, 2020 07:45pm
@Reality check and our urdu language is slowly dying because our media and entertainment industry are too lazy to use urfu. Instead English is rampant especially in dramas when we gave Urdu words for those English words.
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Ali asaf Dec 25, 2020 06:49pm
Just great,,,
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Dec 25, 2020 07:09pm
Salute to the one and the only undisputed melody Queen of the World; Madame Noor Jahan, born and raised in the centuries old historic city of Qasoor, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Rest as they say is history.
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Ashar Dec 26, 2020 11:20am
I earnestly request media not to publisize or publish comments of hate against artists personal life just for sake of publicity.
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Ravi-Pune Dec 26, 2020 01:48pm
Noor Jahan's all daughters weared Indian costumes, Sarees..
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Laila Dec 26, 2020 10:48pm
@Ravi-Pune it's not a costume. It's a dress. Many Pakistanis also wear saris. There is no obligation on a Pakistani or Muslim to wear only shalwar kameez. Muslims outside the subcontinent wear jeans, dresses of all lengths shorts, pants, blouse, track suits. That's doesn't make it western costumes. Go to Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iran. Kindly broaden your mind. Wear what you like. Let others wear what they like. No harm to you.
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