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Her death may be a tragic loss for the music industry, but it is no doubt that her family bears the agonising pain of living their lives without her.
The Express Tribune recently had the chance to talk to Zoheb while he was visiting Karachi. In a brief interview and amidst flowing tears, Zoheb talked about losing his sister and living life without her.
Reflecting upon Nazia’s philosophy on life, Zoheb said that she was a humanitarian. “I always told her that she should not be a singer,” he said, adding that he had asked her why she was a star. “She had no airs about herself. But she believed she could reach the hearts of millions through music and singing, and could do good humanitarian work.”
He explains how with his pain, his respect for his sister grew after her death. “Her charitable work, most of which I became aware of later, showed me how deeply humane she was,” he said, amazed by her work. But then he grew more serious. As he spoke of her fast-paced approach to life, he shook his head sadly, “I would tell her I can’t keep pace with you. But she never told me she was going to die so soon,” he said. “I will never forgive her for this.”
Looking troubled, Zoheb explained how he was with her in the last year and a half of her life; how we watched her wilt away. Although the doctors informed the family that Nazia would not survive, she was optimistic. “She wanted to live for her son,” Zoheb said. “She wanted to do another album with me!”
He said that she kept the family in the dark about her marriage, and never shared what she had to endure till she was finally divorced days before her death. But Zoheb said it was worse that she had deluded them into believing that she would survive. “She left us in no-man’s land,” he said.
Zoheb also said that being a music composer, his sister’s input was invaluable as it was always constructive criticism from a professional partner. “That is not there anymore,” says Zoheb, indicating that making music without Nazia is not easy.
But he agrees that life moves on. “We are going on — with a certain part of our heart missing,” he exclaimed. He said that natural deaths allow loved ones to accept the loss with time but for him “the wound will always be there”.
“She died an unhappy person and she died in pain,” Zoheb said with shining eyes. “This was a devastating reality for us to know. To see your loved one die in pain is the most frightening experience,” he said, adding that watching a loved one’s painful demise “kills the family from within”. At the end (and on a lighter note), Zoheb spoke with pride about Nazia’s voice — the gift she is remembered for. Of all her songs, he loves “Dil Ke Lagi” but his personal favourite is “Koi Nahi”.
“I love that track,” Zoheb says, the respect clear in his voice. “She sang it like nobody can ever.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2012.
COMMENTS (53)
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its not forgive its forget in title
I first heard her in 1980 when I was 10 years old and I was so fond of her voice at that age. Her voice was so different and beautiful. I'm so proud to own all of there albums. In 2000, when I heard she past away. I was so heartbroken. Anyway may Nazia rest in peace. Lol to the Hassan family:)
Just heard an interview of Zoheb-comes across as a rooted, gentleman. Hats off to the parents of Zoheb and Nazia, their upbringing and values have given Gems to our generation.
They are Jewels of Pakistan and its neighbours (like we Indians) are proud of their legacy. Rest in peace Nazia!
I am 39 years old and remember those early 80s when my Chachu brought on an HMV record of Disco Deewane-the whole day that album used to play in our household with some soulful voice of Nazia. This has stuck in my memory bigtime (I being around 6-7 years old then). Then as we grew up and became more involved in career/studies, could not keep a track of Nazia and Zohaib. It was last week I saw in a press release that Disco Deewane would be featuring in a new Bollywood movie. That was a drive to dwell into my favourite album one more time, and now that internet being there, I downloaded all my favourite Nazia numbers. I also browsed net for information on Nazia and believe you me I got shock of my life hearing of her demise a decade back. I could not just hold back tears. I am aghast. She had a soulful quality to her voice. Some of the best Pop numbers are credited to her. I still am unable to come to terms with this sad fact that Nazia is no more. Truely a Legend of Global Pop music. Could I get contact email of Zohaib Hassan? We are blessed to have been born in an era graced by Hassan duo!
i Am Fan of Nazia Didi From 1980 when my age is only 6 years , She always live in my Hart forever.
Nazia was a beautiful person inside out. her songs make me teary eyed.... i used to listen to her song "thali de thale/kariye pyar diyan gallaan" on ptv as a kid... and other songs too.... i dunno why i still can not accept her death! she is a true pakistani star, a true legend. God Bless her soul. ameen
"Forgive" for not letting him know she will be leaving him soon. Whats the problem people there is nothing wrong in the title.
RIP Nazia....
@ Dear All, thank you for all your comments. There is nothing wrong with the title, it was something said, and it was quoted as it is....rest be assured, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. It has nothing to do with getting hits or amiss! Thanks
Indeed a great loss ever for Pakistan... May Allah rest her soul in peace ameen
@ET, For God's sake plz correct the title... it shud be forget instead of forgive.. or this has been purposely done to attract more hits???
Guys, read the quote. He does say he will never forgive her.
Please correct headline
I will never forget her instead of I will never forgive her.
She was a great singer,A LEGEND WHO NEVER DIED IN THE HEARTS OF.HER FANS....!!!!
grow up.
My favourite singer nazia hassan.
I don't know whether to curse her former husband or feel sorry for him for mistreating a gem.
One word: LEGEND.
*evergreen talent and personality
How sad ! She died too young.......extremely talented young lady! May God bless her soul!!!
Nazia Hassan, the Princess Diana of Pakistan. RIP.
a prodigy and everliving celeberity.
The article took me back to my growing up years in which Nazia / Zoheb's tracks were an endible part of !!! They had created absolute magic with thier music throughout the world !!!Made my nostalgic .. and sad :( May her soul rest in peace!!!
She was a pleasant sensation; May her soul rests in Peace!
She is no more here but her work is alive after her death.
Rest in peace......
More than a star or a pop icon she was a beautiful person and a pure soul who rendered her humble and humane services for the eradication of social evils from the society e.g. drugs etc. May Allah accept her work and reward her accordingly.
may her soul rest in peace...
The more I listen to her the more I miss her. She was a true legend.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Depression does not cause cancer! How do people make up things like this on their own...
she was the true legend of pakistan...
May allah forgive all her sins........... ameen...she was the pride of Pakistan....and unluckily we lost the star...
RIP
As a school going kid in a small village in Kerala (deep south India), back in 1981, I was presented a cassette of Nazia hasan by a uncle from Mumbai. I fell in love with that voice, and heard that album a few thousand times. I didn't know who Nazia Hassan was, or that she was a Pakistani. But, I can still recall each and every song of that album 'disco deewane'. I only heard her other songs a few years later.
She had an amazing quality in voice. Later in life I learnt that she was a great humanitarian too. But, that was after I read about her demise.
It is such a cruel thing that we are all denied of the presence & contributions of such a great talent and soul.
RIP pop princess.
Zoheb, you are not alone in this. We share your grief. Nazia and you were mega stars in Afghanistan in 80s where I got to listen to your songs. She touched the hearts of millions and will never be forgotten. RIP, Queen of Pop.
She had Metastatic ovarian cancer dear ET. Get your facts straight you are a newspaper for gods sake.
she was beautiful, elegant and a wonderful singer. I started listening her songs recently and they are so simple yet mesmerizing. I heard from my parents that she was a heartthrob of millions!
forgive or forget? weird headline
a true legend of pakistan
Get a hold boy.
Nation's sweetheart... May Allah forgive all her sins and grant her a place in paradise...
Rest in peace and may her family have patience
Nazia....a living legend of all time. She's unforgetable. Gifted with the touching and melodious voice! Proud of her being Pakistani
Only Al-Mighty Allah knows as why did she became a cancer patient.
Late Nazia belongs to well to do family and no body knows about her personal life after her secret marriage with a business tycoon who later also became a media person as how Nazia was kept by her husband after the marriage.
Probably, Nazia would have regretted after her marriage and due to depression and continuous thinking about the future, should would have developed the deadly disease of cancer.
May Al-Mighty Allah rest her soul in peace. Ameen.
We all miss her, may Allah rest her soul !!!
Zoheb speaks for all music lovers of the nation - no fan of hers will ever reconcile to Nazia's demise so early in life. She was gifted the most delicate sense of music and a most ethereal voice by Allah's grace. A real hero and source of pride for every Pakistani.
May he and the rest of the family find solace in the knowledge that her songs are cherished by millions and she lives on in a million hearts through her songs - just see the dedications and comments for her songs on youtube and know that she is a source of joy and inspiration to fans so many years after her demise.
Rest in Peace Nazia !!!!