Khursheed Ahmad
Alhaj Khursheed Ahmad or Khurshid Ahmad (Urdu: الحاج خورشید احمد) (1 January 1956 – 30 August 2007) was a Naat Khawan from Pakistan. He started to recite Naats when he was only a few years old, and by the time of his death he had recited thousands of Naats. He used to proficiently recite Naats not only in Urdu, but also in other languages such as Punjabi, Saraiki, Pashto and Sindhi. The melody of his voice and the unique way of reciting attracted numerous people towards him and soon he had become a famous Naat Khawan.[1][2]
Alhaj Khursheed Ahmad الحاج خورشید احمد | |
---|---|
Birth name | Khursheed Ahmad |
Also known as | Alhaj Khursheed Ahmad |
Born | January 1, 1956 Rahim Yar Khan |
Origin | Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
Died | 30 August 2007 at age 51 Karachi, Pakistan |
Genres | Na`ats and Hamds |
Occupation(s) | Naat Khawan |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1968–2007 |
Associated acts | live performer on television and Naat writer |
Early life
Khursheed Ahmad was born on January 1, 1956 in Rahim Yar Khan.[2] His parents had migrated from Mandrella near Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.[1] He acquired his basic schooling from Abbasi Primary School and passed Matriculation examination from the Colony High School. Then he did Diploma in Commerce from Government Commercial Institute.
In 1973, he shifted to Karachi[1] and joined Radio Pakistan as a typist. The same year he participated in a Naat competition in Dow Medical College and won 'First Position' in that contest.
Career in Naat Khawani
Mr. Mehdi Zaheer introduced him to Radio as a Naat Khawan and he started reciting Naats in 1968.[1] In 1978, Pakistan Television held a Naat competition for the first time and he secured First Position there, too.[1] At first, the competition was held at Sindh province level and then at Pakistan level. He took first positions in both the competitions simultaneously. His most famous naat among the people and the one which accelerated his fame was "Zameen-o-Zaman Tumhare Liye". The Naat “Yeh Sab Tumhara Karam Hai Aaqa” was liked very much not only in Pakistan but also all over the world. After reciting this Naat, he became even more popular among the people of Pakistan.[1] Then he went on to reciting Naats not only in Pakistan but also almost in every country wherever Muslims lived.[3]
Awards and recognition
- "Khursheed Ahmad had been reciting naats since 1968 and had won first prize in an All Pakistan competition organized by PTV in 1978.[1]
- He was the first Pakistani Naat Khawan to recite Naats throughout the world – United States, Japan, Switzerland, Yemen and France, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Canada and other countries.[3]
- He was honoured with the Nigar Award, a prominent Film Award of Pakistan, for his outstanding Naat reciting skills.
- Pride of Performance Award from the Government of Pakistan in 1996.[1][3][4]
Death and legacy
One major Pakistani English-language newspaper comments about his death, "Khursheed Ahmad had recently returned to the city after attending a mehfil-i-milad in Faisalabad. He started having blood pressure problems and was shifted to a hospital. After remaining under treatment for a week, during which time he was operated upon, he succumbed to a brain hemorrhage."[1] His funeral was attended by many renowned Naat Khawans of Pakistan and media personalities. Qari Waheed Zafar Qasmi, Siddiq Ismail and Rashid Azam are a few to be named. He left behind a widow, two sons and two daughters. Khursheed Ahmad's son Hasan Khursheed and brother Shafiq Ahmad are also naat khawans.[1]
Besides giving performances worldwide, Khursheed Ahmad had also recited naats in the National Assembly of Pakistan before the start of the assembly session.[1]
References
- "KARACHI: Acclaimed na'at khawan Khursheed Ahmad dies". Dawn (newspaper). 31 August 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
- Profile of Khursheed Ahmad on hamariweb.com website, Retrieved 4 December 2018
- Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, Profile and interview of Khursheed Ahmad on nooremadinah.net website, Retrieved 4 December 2018
- Khursheed Ahmad Profile Archived 2017-07-24 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 4 December 2018