An evening of Qawwali

Iqbal Hussain Khan (L) and his group performing at the event

Qawwali has its origins in the songs of praise of Sufism. A recent bonus for qawwali aficionados was a qawwali evening organised on December 26 by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and The High Commission of India. The venue:

Osmani Memorial Hall, Dhaka.

The evening began with a spiritually uplifting qawwali by Iqbal Hussain Khan Bandanawazi and his group from India. This group performed songs in the traditional classical style, accompanied by the harmonium, tabla and dhol. One famous number had the audience swaying to its melodious tune. However, his qawwali on the theme of love and disloyalty found an even more attentive audience.

Iqbal Hussain was born in 1947 at Gwalior, the famous centre and seat of numerous internationally famed singers and musicians. His early training in classical vocal music began at the age of six, under the guidance of his celebrated father Ustad Qurban Hussain Khan, court singer of Gwalior Durbar. After the death of his father, his maternal uncle Ustad Rahmath Hussain Khan, also a court singer of Gwalior Raj Durbar, helped him complete his training.

Today Iqbal Hussain is not only known and famous in India for his unique classical style qawwali but also in foreign countries. He has been successful in applying thumri, dadras and khayal, among others, in his classical style qawwali. He also ranks among the fortunate singers who are blessed with a long lineage of celebrated ancestors.

Iqbal has had the privilege of presenting his talent before dignitaries, including the President of India, late Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Begum Abida Ahmed and his successor, Giani Zail Singh, R Venkatraman and Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma. Film personality Dilip Kumar also praised his talent.