2017-10-07 Sat

“Khuch to duniya ki Inaayat ne dil tod diya
Aur khuch kalikha-e-halat ne dil tod diya”.

This popular ghazal was sung by Begum Akhtar. She achieved enormous fame and gave joy to many listeners! She was born on 7th October 1914 in Faizabad town of Uttar Pradesh. Her name was Akhtaribai Faizabadi though she was much popular as Begum Akhtar. Her family belonged to the upper class of the society and was not even inclined towards music. She showed interest in music at a very young age and was sent to train under the great sarangi player, Ustad Imdad Khan. Later, she learned classical music from great exponents of this field like Mohammad Khan, Abdul Waheed Khan and Ustad Jhande Khan Saheb. She sang her emotions and poetries in the form of Ghazals.

Begum Akhtar performed for the last time in a concert in Ahmadabad and while singing her health got deteriorated. She was taken to the hospital and breathed her last on 30th October 1974.

To commemorate such a legendary singer, India Post issued a stamp in 1994 of INR 2 portraying Begum Akhtar. It was withdrawn soon after the issue because of the water-soluble ink. A 5 Rupee commemorative coin of Begum Akhtar was also issued in 2014.