Habib Wali Mohammad facts for kids

Habib Wali Mohammad (Urdu: حبِیب ولی محمد) was a famous Pakistani singer. He was born on January 16, 1921, and passed away on September 3, 2014. He was especially known for singing ghazals, which are beautiful poems set to music. He also sang songs for movies.

Early Life and Education

Habib Wali Mohammad was born in Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar) in 1921. At that time, Burma was part of British India. His family, who were Memon people, later moved to Bombay (now Mumbai), India. He grew up there.

As a child, Habib Wali Mohammad enjoyed listening to Qawwali music. However, his family wanted him to focus on his studies and business. He earned his MBA degree from Syracuse University in New York, USA, in 1947. After that, he lived in Mumbai for about ten years before moving to Pakistan.

His brother, Ashraf W. Tabani, later became the governor of the Sindh province in Pakistan in 1988. Habib Wali Mohammad passed away in Los Angeles, USA, in 2014.

A Career in Music

When he was young, Habib Wali Mohammad learned classical music. His teacher was Ustad Latafat Ali Khan. In college, he was very active in music events. He even got the nickname 'Taan Sen' because of his singing talent.

In 1941, Habib Wali Mohammad won first prize in a music competition in Bombay. There were 1200 contestants, including the famous singer Mukesh. Habib Wali Mohammad won by singing ghazals. These included Lagta Nahin Hai Jee Mera Ujray Diyar Mein by Bahadur Shah Zafar and Yeh Na Thi Hamari Qismat by Mirza Ghalib.

He recorded his first music record in the 1950s for Radio Ceylon (now Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation). On this record, he used the stage name Kamal Roy.

Becoming a Celebrity

His early success encouraged him to sing more ghazals. After studying in America, he felt a bit out of touch with music. He decided to record more ghazals on a gramophone record. He sang poems by Bahadur Shah Zafar and Mirza Ghalib.

The famous actress Meena Kumari heard his ghazals and loved them. She was connected with Radio Ceylon and made sure his songs were played often. This helped Habib Wali Mohammad's music become very popular.

Singing and Business

After Pakistan became independent in 1947, his family moved there. They started a large business group. Habib Wali Mohammad spent most of his time working in the family business. He sang ghazals and film songs in his free time. Music was more of a hobby for him, not his main job.

Even so, he continued to record ghazals for music companies. He also sang a song written by the poet Parveen Shakir. In the 1980s, he recorded ghazals on audio cassettes. These were composed by famous music directors like Nisar Bazmi and Niaz Ahmed. He also received offers to sing for the Pakistani film industry.

Habib Wali Mohammad was one of the first singers to record ghazals. Even though he came from a well-known business family and did not pursue singing full-time, he was highly respected by the Pakistani public for his beautiful voice.

Famous Songs

Some of his most famous ghazals include:

• Na kisi ki aankh ka noor hoon by Bahadur Shah Zafar
• Kab mera nasheman ahlay chaman by Qamar Jalalvi
• Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo

He also sang popular national songs, such as "Roshan-o-Rakhshan, Nayyar-o-Tabaan, Pakistan rahay."

Personal Life

Later in his life, Habib Wali Mohammad lived in Los Angeles, California, USA. He lived there with his wife, Rehana, and their family. His sons, Rizwan Wali Mohammad Tabani and Nadeem Wali Mohammad Tabani, are also ghazal and geet singers. His daughter, Rukhsana, lives in Karachi, Pakistan.

Discography

Here are some of the ghazals recorded by Habib Wali Mohammad:

• Lagta Nahin Hai Dil Mera Ujray Diyaar Mein : poet Bahadur Shah Zafar
• Ye na thi hamari Qismath: poet: Mirza Ghalib
• Ja kahio unsay naseem-e-sahar: poet: Bahadur Shah Zafar
• Gajra bana kay lay Aa malaniya: poet: Afshan Rana

Ghazals for Films

Habib Wali Mohammad also sang for films:

• ‘Aaj janay ki zid na karo’: This song was from the film Badal Aur Bijli (1973).
• ‘Aashiyan jal gaya’: From the film ‘Baazi (1970)’.
• 'Raatain theen chandni': Also from the film Baazi (1970).
• 'Marnein Ki Duawain Kyun Maangoon - Jeene Ki Tamanna Kaun Kare': From the film Chand Sooraj (1970).

He also sang several national songs, including: Roshan-o- rakhshan, nayyar-o-taban, Aye nigar e watan tu salamat rahay, Sohni dharti Allah rakhe, Lahoo jo sarhad pe beh chuka hay, and La fata illah ali la saif-o – illah zulfakar.

Awards and Recognition

Habib Wali Mohammad received a Special Nigar Award in 1970 for his contributions to music.

Later Performances

Habib Wali Mohammad continued to perform later in his life. He had a ghazal concert in Edison, New Jersey, in February 2010. He also performed in West Virginia with his son Nadeem Wali Mohammad. In April 2012, he performed in San Jose, California, for a fundraising event for the Human Development Foundation.

Death and Legacy

Habib Wali Mohammad passed away in Los Angeles, California, on September 4, 2014, at the age of 93. He was a beloved singer who left behind a rich collection of ghazals and film songs.