New Delhi: Begum Akhtar, born in Faizabad District, Uttar Pradesh, would have been 100, had she been alive today. Begum was just seven when she was captivated by the music of Chandra Bai, an artist who worked with a touring theatre group. On being insisted by her uncle, she was trained under Ustad Imdad Khan, and later under Ata Mohammed Khan of Patiala. Later, she went to Calcutta with her mother for her training in music from Mohammad Khan, Abdul Waheed Khan of Lahore. Finally, she became the disciple of Ustad Jhande Khan.
A two-day festival in the city from Oct 6 will celebrate the centenary of the inspiring works of ghazal and thumri singer Begum Akhtar, the organisers said on Friday. The festival "Jamal-e-Begum Akhtar" will bring ghazal maestros like Pankaj Udhaas, Anoop Jalota, Penaz Masani, Talat Aziz and Chandan Dass on a platform together to recite her popular ghazals.
She gave her first public performance at the age of fifteen. On being appreciated by Sarojini Naidu, during a concert that was organised in the aid of victims of a Bihar earthquake of 1934, she felt encouraged to continue singing ghazals. As we celebrate her centennial birth anniversary, we present to you a playlist of her popular ghazals and thumris.
(With inputs from IANS) ####
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