Born on October 19, 1940 in Hyderabad, Rubina’s real name was Aisha Shaikh. Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Indonesian President Sukarno were among her admirers.
Sindh Courier
Rubina Qureshi, the legendary singer, known as the ‘Nightingale of Sindh’, who departed for eternal abode on July 13 in Karachi at the age of 81, performed in Sindhi, Urdu, Punjabi and Siraiki, Pushto and Bengali languages since early 1960s.
Born on October 19, 1940 in Hyderabad, Rubina’s real name was Aisha Shaikh. Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Indonesian President Sukarno were among her admirers. It is said that when the Indonesian leader Sukarno (Soekarno) had visited Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, in 1963, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, then Foreign Minister of the country, had hosted reception in his honor in Karachi, and Rubina Qureshi had mesmerized the audience with her songs. President Sukarno was so impressed that he invited Rubina to perform in Indonesia.
Rubina Qureshi had been suffering from cancer for the past two years. She had been undergoing treatment at the Aga Khan Hospital but could not recover and was in a coma for the past two months. She leaves behind her husband, film star Mustafa Qureshi, her son film actor Aamir Qureshi and a daughter. She was laid to rest in the compound of Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine.
Rubina was awarded the Presidential Pride of Performance but she did not feel well enough to go to the Governor’s House to collect her award on March 23.
Rubina gained fame for her Sindhi songs in the early 1960s on Radio Pakistan from where she had started her career. She got married with legendary actor Mustafa Qureshi in September 1970.
Being one of the leading Sindhi classical singers of Pakistan, Rubina was very popular during the period from 1960s to 1990s. She was also one of the earliest Sindhi female singers introduced by Radio Pakistan Hyderabad, Sindh. She has mostly sung Sufi songs.
She had been honored with several awards including Qalendar Shahbaz Award, Khuwaja Ghulam Fareed Award and PBC Hyderabad Award.
Early life
Rubina was born in Hyderabad, Sindh. Her real name was Aisha Shaikh and her father’s name was Illahi Bux Shaikh. Though, she did not belong to a typical singer’s family, her brother Abdul Ghafoor Shaikh was a local singer. She started singing in school functions and events when she was studying in a primary school. Renowned Educationist and Musician Dadi Leela Wati encouraged and inspired her for singing.
On 17 August 1955, Radio Pakistan Hyderabad was established. The administration of this newly established Radio Station wrote letter to all major schools of Hyderabad for introducing talented boys and girls on the Radio. Rubina was studying in class IX, when she gave audition at Radio Pakistan Hyderabad as a child singer. Famous broadcaster M.B. Ansari and renowned musician and singer Master Muhammad Ibrahim took her audition. She passed audition in the first attempt. Her first Sindhi song recorded for Radio was “Paren pawadee san, chawandi san, rahi waj rat bhanbhor men” (پيرين پوندي سان چوندي سان، رهي وڃ رات ڀنڀور ۾). This song became very popular among the radio listeners and she became popular all over the Sindh. Along with her singing career, she studied at the University of Sindh and received the Master of Arts degree in Muslim History. She served as a High School teacher in the Himat-ul-Islam Girls High School Hyderabad in 1967–68.
Contributions
Radio Pakistan Hyderabad recorded hundreds of songs of Sufi poets including Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sachal Sarmast, Budhal Faqir, Manthar Faqir and others in her voice. She also sang many marriage songs called “Sahera” along with her fellow singers Zarina Baloch, Amina and Zeb-un-Nissa. These sehra are still popular all over Sindh. She also sang as a playback singer of some Sindhi films including Ghoonghat Lah Kunwar (گهونگهٽ لاھ ڪنوار) and Sassi Punhoon (سسئي پنهون). After her marriage with famous film actor Mustafa Qureshi in 1970, she shifted to Lahore with her husband. In Lahore she got music lessons from Ustad Chhottay Ghulam Ali. In Lahore, she also sang in Urdu, Punjabi, Siraiki, Pushto and Bengali. She also performed in Indonesia, China, Turkey, India, United Kingdom and United States of America.
Rubina Qureshi was also a social worker. She had played a leading role in the Blind Welfare Association (Ladies Wing) of Pakistan.
Famous songs
Rubina sung hundreds of songs. Most of these songs are available in the music library of Radio Pakistan Hyderabad. The list of some of her most popular songs is presented below:
Aaee Mund Malhari way (آئي مند ملهاري)
Achi Lalan Latej Miyan, Munhinjo Lorh Lakun Men (اچي لالڻ لٽيج ميان، منهنجو لوڙھ لڪن ۾)
Akhiyoon Aarzoo, Akhiyoon Iltijaoo (اکيون آرزوئو، اکيون التجائو)
Dachi Waliya More Muhar way (ڏاچي واليا موڙ مهار وي)
Hoej Hoshiyar, Khabardar, Tirkan Aahay Tar Men ( هوئج هوشيار خبردار، ترڪڻ آهي تر ۾)
Mor Tho Tilay Rana, Gujjar Jo (مور ٿو ٽلي راڻا، گجر جو)
Na Mahelan Men Soonhen Thi, Noori Nimani (نه محلن ۾ سونهين ٿي، نوري نماڻي)
Nangra Nimani da, Jewen Teewen Palna (ننگڙا نماڻي دا، جيوين تيوين پالڻا)
Paan Punhu Aaoon Aahiyan Ree, Bhaner Bhuly Nahiyan (پاڻ پنهون آئون آهيان، ڙي ڀينر ڀلي ناهيان)
O Tuninjoon Galhiyoon Sajjan, Man Paee Gaeendis, (ُ او تنهنجون ڳالهيون سڄڻ مان پئي ڳائينديس)
Sajjan Karay Seengar, Aayo Munhinjay Agan Tay (سڄڻ ڪري سينگار، آيو منهنجي اڱڻ تي)
Umar Moon Na Wanan Tuninjoon Mariyoon Ala (عمر مون نه وڻن تنهنجون ماڙيون الا)
Umar Aaoon Weendaro Puchhan ko Ala, jitay Muhinja Maroo (عمر آئون ويندڙو پڇان ڪو الا، جتي منهنجا مارو)
Yar Sajan Jay Firaq Aaoon Mari (يار سڄڻ جي فراق آئون ماري)
Watch and listen to Rubina Qureshi’s famous song: Dachi Waliya
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Source: HMOOB, Aaj TV, Radio Pakistan, APP
