Munshi Raziuddin

Munshi Raziuddin Ahmed Khan (1912 – 2003) was a renowned Indian-Pakistani Qawwal, a classical musician and a researcher and scholar of music. He belongs to the well-known Qawwal Bachchon Ka Gharana of Delhi.^[1]

Career

Initially, he performed in the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad, India with his cousin Bahauddin Khan. However, after the fall of Hyderabad in 1948 to India, he moved to Karachi, Pakistan. In 1956, he formed a qawwali group Munshi Raziuddin, Manzoor Niazi & Brothers, along with his cousins, Bahauddin Qawwal and Manzoor Niazi.^[2] This ensemble or group lasted until 1966.

After 1966, Munshi Raziuddin turned to solo work, forming his own Qawwali party, and was a successful qawwal until his death in 2003. Traditional Qawwali singing heritage of the city of Karachi can still be felt and seen in a small neighborhood in Karachi named Qawwali Gali (Qawwali Street) in the Saddar Town area of Karachi city, where a street is named after Munshi Raziuddin Qawwal.^[2]

Munshi Raziuddin was succeeded by his sons, Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad, who perform as Fareed Ayaz Qawwal in 2016.^[3]

Awards and recognition

• Pride of Performance Award in 1967 by the President of Pakistan.

References