Zubeda Khanum. PHOTO: FILE
Many think that Zubeda Khanum died on Saturday, but considering the enormous talent she possessed, she died the day she was asked not to sing anymore. She was told to live like a ‘good woman’ and a ‘good wife’. She was gradually pressured into staying at home and caring for her children.
This came from a husband who was Syed by ‘ethnicity’ and explained to her in many ways that women of Syed families do not perform. Not to mention that he himself got his name and livelihood by being a photographer in Lollywood and his brother, of course also Syed, earned his name, his status and his income from being a director in the film industry. The same film industry was an institution of opportunity and creative expression for both brothers, while it was a stigma for Zubeda. Perhaps I forgot to mention that Zubeda was a star on her way to the top when she was chosen by this Syed family for marriage. It was a big thing to marry the most popular singer of the time, with a promise that she would not be stopped from singing. She and her mother also saw comfort and security in a family much established in the industry and thought it would give her singing career some protection. The lucrative world of cinema was harsh to single, young and beautiful women. Little did she know that this protection would come at a very high price. She would have to eventually kill the artiste in her. This was not a death of her talent within her, but a murder - on the part of her family, the film industry and the society at large. The famous singer Zubeda Khanum died decades ago and no one shed a tear.
Zubeida Khanum was as famous as Madam Noor Jehan at one point. Her top hits included Teri ulfat me sanam dil ne bohat dard sahey; ae chand un se ja ker mera salaam (film: Sarfarosh); Kia hua dil pe situm (film: Raat ke Raahi); Aaey musam rangeeley suhaney; ghungat uthaun ke ghungat nikalun (film: Saat Lakh); and rotey hen chum chum nain (film: Sola Aney). Her Punjabi hits also acclaimed popularity across the country like Desan da raja mera babal da piara (film: Kartar Singh); Reshum da lacha (film: Yakey Wali); Bundey chandi de soney di nath (film: Chun Mahi); Sayio ni mera dil dharkey (film: Shiekh Chilli); and meri chuni dian reshmi tandan (film: Shehri Babu). The rising star caught everyone’s attention in the 1950s and took over the business of playback singing. Noor Jehan at the time was only singing for her own roles in films.
I described my meeting with Zubeda in detail in the last chapter of my book, “Forgotten Faces” (published by Lok Virsa) where I was trying to convince her to appear in a PTV show I was hosting. This was about women artistes who were very famous at one point but then vanished away from the lime light. I was a big fan of hers but with all my persuasive skills I was not able to get her in my program. Her family strictly forbade her.
She was not only stopped from singing but her past was weighed upon her as a stigma, especially when it was time to marry off her daughters. She was even forbidden to sing her songs in private gatherings. I will never forget the helplessness and yearning to sing in her eyes I saw that day. She told me she could not stand other young singers re-singing her songs. She said she still had enough in her to sing them herself if she could. Her eyes got wet when she made this claim. She had a hard time opening her heart to me but spoke in half sentences with a lot of hesitation. She only satisfies herself by singing religious songs during muharram at private majalis. Even permission for this was considered a big favour.
Ironically, her Syed son also chose the showbiz as his forte. Upon pressure from some senior television personalities he was convinced to get his mother on television a couple of times for an interview in her later life.
How many Zubedas will be murdered for the hypocrisy of our society and the fake and lopsided concept of ‘honour’. I am sorry for the person who died a few days ago but my hero who was a star and one of the best singers in South Asia was murdered a long time ago and everyone remained silent.
(The writer is a women’s rights activist and an authority on folk music and culture. She blogs on fouziasaeed.wordpress.com and tweets @fouziasaeed)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (34)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1731330066-0/BeFunky-collage-(40)1731330066-0-165x106.webp "article")
1731326358-0/Express-Tribune--(9)1731326358-0-270x192.webp "mastermind of karachi airport suicide attack arrested")
Fascinating article by Fouzia Saeed, who is truly a national treasure, given her breadth of knowledge and passion for Pakistani culture and Pakistani artists, her progressive approach, and her related writings and interviews/programmes, etc. I am filled with gratitude and admiration for her work in this area. I'd like to add, however, that I agree with what many commenters have said, that being a Syed is entirely irrelevant to understanding Zubeida Khanum's experience. Syeds can be as progressive or as conservative as any other group in our society and there can be as much diversity of opinion within a Syed household as within any other household on any given issue! So I am glad that Fouzia Saeed issued a much-needed clarification of this fact in her follow-up comment. She correctly clarified that "we all know that this is a patriarchal mindset and can be found in any community of our country, even the families of professional musicians. I think the main point of hypocrisy is clear, where the same family ethnicity, “honour”and the “bad mahaul” of film industry is okay for men and can be used as an excuse to restrict women."
Thank you FS for showing us the mirror. Of course some of us would not like that but most people are happy that you have raised valid questions. In our culture there is oppression using the name of religion. In no other country or society the women are oppressed, denied their rights under the name of religion. Women are deprived of their fair share (equal) from their inheritance which is normal practice in Pakistan. My mother gave all her kids equal after her death and Islam allows that but few men would allow this practice and continue to preach equality. Please ignore the shallow comments of some who want to divert the discussion. The truth is you are the only one (in my knowledge) who has written from a deeper prospective and told us about her true thinking not the public face.
@Nobody: I call anyone who belongs to the in-human fraternity of feminism, a misandrist group of cut throats, bent on destroying the structure and sanctity of family in the name of "liberating" women. What a woman decides to do is not my business, but if anybody makes it their business to show a woman choosing family life over a career as evil perpetrated by men, then I'll certainly step in and have my say. And marriage/babies isn't such a horrible thing because that is the natural path for a woman, as opposed to the unnatural urge of feminists to first try and emulate and then emasculate men. You may be sick of my old-school mentality, but I call that my culture, and I'm sick of liberals and pseudo-intellectuals like you trying to shove everything that's bad with the western culture down our throats.
Why Fauzia would not name names and stop at tarnishing syed brothers and syeds in general? Does it occur to her at all that may be Zubeida became very religious herself and decided on her own to stop singing? Who is Fauzia to speak for Zubeida? I think Fauzia has an agenda against syeds and a particular sect.
Once you read a writer calling herself "ACTIVIST" you should not read any further. These are westoxicated scum and tumors on Pakistan. Need to be surgically removed.
Yes, it was not necessary to specify "Syed family". "A conservative" family would have sufficed.
Marsiyas are actually sung, to a melody and a metre as are Hamds or Naats. At least those that are renred well, Jrust because they are not accompanied by musical instruments does not make them "recitations"!
Wasn't "Gaari Ko Chalana Baabu" also by her?
The article by Ms.Fauzia Saeed is very nice and poignant but it should have focused more on artistic accomplishments of the singer, rather than lamenting on something which, the author has herself agreed later, not limited to any particular clan or family. Zubeida Khanum was a very gifted singer and even now her songs trigger off quite evocative nostalgia, transporting one into reigns of love and romance - but again niceties like truth, beauty and romance are short lived reigns. Adieu to another icon of beauty in the form of innocent, intense love songs with lilting tunes.
Nice article by Dr. Fouzia. Really shocked to read about the murder of her art. I did not know about her personal life. She got such fame due to her art not due to she belonged from Sayed family. Her songs will always keep her alive.
@Naeem: How is a woman advocating other women's right to choose their OWN path in life two faced? And yes, I whole heartedly believe if a woman doesn't want to marry or have a family and decides to take her own path entirely she should do exactly that. Why is it that narrow minded societies only accept/praise a woman's path if she chooses ONE path: marriage/babies? There are other options out there. So sick of this old school mentality that never seems to leave.
@AB: there's no literal difference between word sing and recite FYI. Its just how we satisfy ourselves by thinking that the word SING is for songs and word RECITE is for respectful things. here's definition for recite (to repeat (a piece of poetry or prose) before an audience, as for entertainment.) So if I ask you... does our majlis take place for entertainment? Its ok to describe nohas as religious songs, because many a people will not get what noha and marsiya means... What are other mistakes which author made? you wrote it in your last comment...
@naeem.. there is a way to balance both career and home life. The point is, she was being forced to stay away from what she loved. The point is NOT about getting divorced for career... come on !!
It is an eye opening article and a clear reflection of how we deal with women. Women in this society, (despite of all the qualities, strengths, passions and talents) are just women who have ultimately go to the kitchen and look after their family in order to become 'acceptable' in the society. The taboo attached to women artists keep them pushing back continuously and finally either they end up making their significant others.
I can recall Naheed Akhtar as a same example who after getting married stopped singing. I recall the appreciative news on the newspapers that read, 'Naheed Akhtar ab gana nai gaein gi, balkeh ek achi beewi ki tarah ghar sambhalein gi'. We can find so many examples in this part of the world where women are not recognized by their talents but by their good skills of compromising with all the family decisions.
Thanks Fouzia for keeping us informed.
Thank you Dr. Fouzia Saeed for writing this article. A lot of us didn't know much about her.
Women in South Asia as well in Pakistan are oppressed just because they are women. Art and specially performing art is tough field, and once respected families had an eye on during stardom these families put compulsions just to make them realize that 'respected families had after all accepted them'. I know many girls who were at peak of professional career and once they got married, they never been allowed to continue their professional fields. Aahhh ! Alas !! Writer gave a food for thought and I don't think any defense statements could start roaming on social networks, still freedom of speech is everyone's right ;) acceptance is great thing and for brave people it is larger then life.
My point is when you enter a stinky room you smell the bad odor immediately but if you stay there for long you get immune to the smell. I am so sorry you found myself to be a pious person, that was not the point.
@Syed:
Please feel free to enjoy your new found piety. However, reign in the urge to preach. Let others live as they choose. Rest assure, you will not have to carry the burden of others on the day of judgement.
Literally speaking this article is eye opener for me. Yes there isn't any doubt that there are many families who have created gender disparity at their homes. This comes when somebody wears sleeves of a particular faith, religion or ethnic group, with some interpretations made by himself. The theoretical things which are being practice in this country will lead to the death of many talents in future as well. Let us get free from misogyny.
@Salman: What I got from the article is all very Weak research done to write it and it has lot of mistakes on part of writer and Editor. This is not the way we can take our culture further, What is wrong should be condemned and what is right should be encouraged.
Fouzia Saeed Sometimes I really feel that the local culture overtakes your religious beliefs. I am not sure what the Sunni school of thought says about music but I can tell you that music is forbidden in the Ahle Tashee school of thought. It does not matter if half of the entertainment industry is full of the Shias. What is wrong is wrong. There was a time I used to listen to music all the time but thank God I have stopped listening to music. I also want to point out that even if I drank, I wouldn't want my children to drink. If someone has committed mistakes in the past or has issues, they still don't want their family to experience the same. So you can't blame the family either.
@AB: are you joking? That's all you got from the whole article?
“She only satisfies herself by singing religious songs during muharram at private majalis.”
@Fouzia Saeed: Still you didnt realise the BIG mistake you are committing by misguiding the people about Songs and Poetry Recited during Majalis. Correct yourself and make changes in the extract above as well. Thanks
The article is about Zubeda and therefore it had to mention Syeds, as having a Syed susral was thrown in her face throughout her life. However, we all know that this is a patriarchal mindset and can be found in any community of our country, even the families of professional musicians. I think the main point of hypocrisy is clear, where the same family ethnicity, "honour"and the "bad mahaul" of film industry is okay for men and can be used as an excuse to restrict women. So many of our actresses left their work after getting married. If they do it with their own choice that is fine but many are pushed to do so.
Clarification on the song: Zubeda was one of the few singers in desan da raja, written by Waris Ludhianvi for film Kartar Singh (released at Eid ul Azha,1959). The music was composed by Salim-Iqbal and yes Naseem was the lead singer in this song. Zubeda was taken as the lead for another song in the same film, Gori Gori Chandni di Thandi Thandi Chhan ni.
How many Zubedas will be murdered for the hypocrisy of our society and the fake and lopsided concept of ‘honour.
The above sums up tragically the mindset of the society we live in.
Let us not despair, I am optimistic that given time, change will come.
In fact, Pakistan (society) is a blackhole for artistic/creative talent. In West Pakistan the souls of the artists were murdered. In 1971 in East Pakistan (Bangladesh), Pakistan Army physically murdered hundreds of singers, actors, painters, writers etc artists.
In future, if Taliban (TTP like groups) or jihadi elements in forces capture power, 1971 East Pakistan will be repeated in remaining Pakistan.
Oh it should've been better to get divorced, leave the protection of her "oppressive four walls", destroy her family life, choose the career, and keep on singing, and one day die nameless as has happened to artists before in the industry. Then what would have happened? the feminist,hence anti-family writer, and people who blindly agree with her, wouldn't have missed her, nobody would be writing article about her freedom of choice, and the illustrious career that she had. Shame on the double standards of people here, especially the two-faced feminists.
"She only satisfies herself by singing religious songs during muharram at private majalis."
Madam Fouzia Saeed.... Please correct your facts; there arent any songs sang in the Majalis. They are called Marsia, Noha's, Qasidas, and Salams. We recite them not SING them, there is a difference in reciting and singing. ET should do some research before publishing the articles. This is irresponsible behavior from the writer and the Editor as well. Please Edit it.
I haven't heard her songs much, i am not even into old music... but somehow, reading this made me really sad. It was ok if she stopped singing by her own will... it was ok if she had made peace with the fact of never singing again... but its devastating that she missed it so much and wanted to pursue it by every mean... how would it effect someone's honor if his wife/mother/sister is a playback singer and lure people with her amazing voice... it could be out of jealousy, many a men can't see their wife more successful than them (seen a few cases around me). Whatever the real reason was, its really sad... i hope she finds peace now, amen... and i can imagine her singing now, wherever she is...
I would've liked to read a article celebrating her life and her singing not a article about how miserable she was. She passed away and we should remember her in happy memories. Her not being able to sing was unfortunate but that wasn't the only thing that defined her as a person.
thank you..It was an eye opener. I didn't know about her....
This kind of honor has killed many women before their death!
I have read the entire article and have notice that the writer Fouzia Saeed who is also a women’s rights activist and an authority on folk music and culture has accused time and again that since Zubeda Khanam was married in Syed family, therefore, despite her rising fame in 1950's, she was not allowed to sing.
Syed or no Syed, it is matter of the particular mindset of the famillies whether they allow their daughters or daughter-in-laws to excell in respective fields or not?
There are many female artists e.g. singers or actors who belong to Syed families and are excelling in their field and there are also many female artists who belongs to non-Syed families who also have been asked not to perform any more, once they get married.
So Fouzia Saeed, don't get biased against Syed families. Syed's are also human beings like other people.
This is a fantastic article highlighting gender disparities in Pakistani society and how women's talent is killed in the name of family honour informed by caste system. .
As a Nation we know nothing but to continue to be slaves - first the Raj, then the Americans, IMF/WB then came the Saudi and their hypocritical version of Islam with the oppressive religiosity, which has taken its aim towards everything progressive.
Now the air we breathe feels heavier than stone and culture pointier than rocks.
Religion in Pakistan it seems, instead of making our lives easier, now weighs on our consciousnesses like Procrustean bed, cutting away any individuality in the same of arbitrary honor and righteousness.
Desa da Raja was sung by Naseem Begum and not Zubaida Khanum. Gori Gori Chandni Di Thandi Thandi Chaan was sung by Zubaida ji. Its reall sad that an artist of her caliber was pulled inside fur walls of house and denied the life she deserved. This is one reason why Pakistani film industry is suffering so badly. In one interview even Lata Mangeshkar spoke so highly of Zubaida Ji. There is no doubt, Zubaida was one of the greatest singers not only of Pakistan, but of entire Indian subcontinent. May God bless departed soul. We will always remember you Zubaida Ji through your songs.