 | Hassan Liaquat: A gem hidden in Chakwal
01 August 2012
|
| 
CHAKWAL:
“Jins-e-hunnar ka kaun kharidaar hai Faraz,
Heera, keh pathro’n sey bhee sasta dikhai day.”
This couplet, penned by the legendary romantic rebel of Urdu poetry, the immortal Ahmad Faraz, aptly describes Hassan Liaquat, a man who remains in the shadows despite being exceptionally talented. Thirty-five-year-old Liaquat, who was born in Chakwal, is blind since birth. While he has never seen the inside of a school, not only is Liaquat a great singer but also has a strong grasp over the works of noted poets, writers and philosophers.
Liaquat fell in love with music very early in his childhood. When he was five years old, he would sing famous songs of his era by reputed singers like K L Sehgal, Mohammad Rafi, Talat Mehmood and Lata Mangeshkar. Due to his disability, Liaquat could not be admitted to any school. But his father took it upon himself to educate him, while also teaching him how to play the flute.
His formal music education, however, was received from the famous Ustad Ejaz Khabu of Lahore and for this, Liaquat has been visiting his teacher’s house for the last 10 years. His passion for music, the hard work of his teacher and the active support of his father and other family members have moulded him into a great singer who has yet to perform at a big theatre.
Despite having few opportunities to draw attention to his talent, Liaquat has some big prizes under his belt. In 2005, he performed in a ceremony organised by the Pakistan Army at the Mangla Cantonment where he won the prestigious “Sword of Honour” presented to him by the then Core Commander of Mangla Cantonment Lieutenant General Javed Alim. In 2009’s All Pakistan Blind Singers Competition in Multan, Liaquat clinched the first prize.
Among his favourite poets, Waris Shah and Ahmad Faraz are the most prominent, while he also has great admiration for Punjabi poets Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Majeed Amjad, whose works he has recited and recorded.
Whenever he receives a new book on poetry, his wife reads the ghazals before him and he learns it after which he records it in his own voice.
Liaquat currently teaches music at The Educators, a private educational institution, where he has trained five disciples to move the audience by playing the flute.
He aspires to sing the entire “Heer Ranjha” by Waris Shah. “Although many great souls like Iqbal Banu and Abida Parveen have sung ‘Heer’ by Waris Shah, no singer has done the whole epic poem. I want to do it and am working on it,” he says.
The state of art and literary heritage in Pakistan pains Liaquat greatly. “Talent is being wasted in Pakistan and it seems that classical music, art and heritage are being slaughtered through a well-thought out plan,” he says, adding that talented artists are not encouraged while pseudo artists are being promoted just because of their physical appearances. “Talent does not matter here,” he sighs.
Commenting on the plight of blind singers, Liaquat laments that it is unfortunate that Pakistan neglects his kind while India celebrates blind artists like Ravinder Jane, K C Day and Pandat Omi. | | See Also in Showbiz News
|
|  Teen star Zendaya finishes 1st on 'Dancing' finals
22 May 2013
LOS ANGELES: Four finalists are vying for the ``Dancing With the Stars'' title, and just one point separates the top two contestants.
A new champion will be crowned Tuesday.
Football pro Jacoby Jones, Olympian Alexandra Raisman, singer Kellie Pickler and 16-year-old Disney Channel star Zendaya each did three dances on Monday's episode of the ABC competition.
Zendaya was perfect in the judges' eyes, earning the maximum score for each routine.
``You've only just scratched the ... Full Story |  Matilda tops US Drama Desk awards
22 May 2013
NEW YORK BBC : British musical Matilda has topped the Drama Desk awards with five prizes.
The Broadway show, based on Roald Dahl’s book, won outstanding musical, while Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull took outstanding actor in a musical and Tim Minchin won for outstanding lyrics, other than book and set design prizes.
US critics gave it rave reviews when it transferred to Broadway in April from London’s West End.
Dennis Kelly won another award for Matilda for outstanding book of a musical. ... Full Story |  Lindsay Lohan sued for $5 million
22 May 2013
LOS ANGELES: Lindsay Lohan is being sued for $5 million. The Scary Movie 5’ star is being counter-sued by clothing manufacturer D.N.A.M. Apparel Industries, who claim she is the reason a business deal for her 6126 clothing line fell apart, according to TMZ.
Lindsay had originally started legal action against the company, claiming they didn’t honour a licensing fee agreement and seeking $1.1 million in damages. However, D.N.A.M. claim they attempted to sell the Lindsay’s 6126 clothes to ... Full Story | Kelly Rowland joins X Factor USA
22 May 2013
LOS ANGELES: Pop singer Kelly Rowland and Mexican singer-actress Paulina Rubio have signed onto “The X Factor” judging panel replacing Britney Spears and music mogul LA Reid, the ... Full Story | Hangover 3 goes out with a bang in Sin City
22 May 2013
LAS VEGAS : One of the oddest moments for Todd Phillips, director of the “Hangover” movies, was meeting a Zach Galifianakis lookalike on the Vegas Strip who refused to have his ... Full Story | Coen brothers comedy leads at Cannes
22 May 2013
CANNES : A Coen brothers comedy and a divorce drama by an Iranian Oscar winner emerged as the breakout favourites as the Cannes Film Festival hit the halfway mark ... Full Story | Zeta-Jones completes bipolar treatment
22 May 2013
CONNECTICUT: Catherine Zeta-Jones has completed her treatment for bipolar II disorder. The ‘Chicago’ actress checked into a clinic to monitor her ongoing battle with the condition ... Full Story | Doors co-founder Ray dies
22 May 2013
LOS ANGELES: Ray Manzarek, co-founder of legendary 1960s group The Doors and creator of their signature organ sound, died Monday after a long battle with cancer, his manager said. ... Full Story |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| | Manahil Aur Khalil Cast: Kivanc Tatlitug, Sedef Avci
Shooting Location: Berlin, Germany
Istanbul, Turkey |
| | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
