Music in Mardan

Akbar Hoti

There is no doubt that Pushto Singers and Musicians of Mardan are well known throughout Pukhtoonkhwa and Afghanistan. On the one hand the poets have written beautiful poetry and on the other hand the musicians and the singers have worked hard to convert these into beautiful songs.

The majority of this traditional group of singers and musicians are living in Par Hoti Mardan. Most of them have come from Marghuz and Baja Bam Khel in Swabi and some from Swat. The reason of coming to Mardan was the hardships of life in their villages and the relatively closer geographical position of Mardan to Peshawar. From here they used to visit other places to perform .They also used to go to Peshawar Broadcasting Station for recording of the songs. There were small studio rooms where people used to visit and listened to the music in Par Hoti. For this reason this area was called the music bazaar of Mardan.

Badshazarin Jan

Akbar Hoti
Badshazareen Jan is one of the famous Pashto singers. She comes from Mardan and started singing in a very young age. Her first song was played by Radio Peshawar in 1949 when she was only 7 year old.This great singer was born in Par Hoti in 1942.Her father was Abdul Rahim who concentrated on her education. She was the first Pashto female singer who passed Metric exam from a local school for girls

She got the initial music lessons from her elder sister, Dilbar Jan Balelai and later on regular training from Pazir Gul Ustaz. She is the only singer who has sung in Pashto, Hindko, Punjabi, Farsi, Potohari, Saraiki and Urdu languages. Apart from every corner in Pakistan, she has performed in India as well.She is not only a good singer but also played a central role in Radio dramas like Jalat Khan-Mahbooba and Sher Alam-Mamoonai.

She was given an award for best performance in 1960s and in 2000 she received a Medal of distinction.

She remained single and dedicated her life to Pashto music. Like everything else the good time has come to an end. Badshazareen Jan is living quietly in Gulbahar Peshawar. The grant from Radio has been stopped and she is facing financial problems. She deserves more what she received for her good work.

She has recorded many songs but the ones we like are

 پناه ولاړه يمه             هلکه بلۍ مه نړوه                         ليدې مې نۀ شې  او زۀ  

Aw za pana walarha yama...Halaka balai ma narhawa, leedey mey na shey

2.ما  پر ے  سيز ے            ځې په مکيزونو  ياره        هوجرې له بله ډيوه و ړ ے       

      Maa pe sezey..... Zey pa makezoono yara....Hujrey la bala deva worey...

Qamro Jan

By Akbar Hoti

Mardan is playing a very central role in keeping the Pukhtoon culture alive. Apart from literary activities, it has produced some very top singers who have performed at the top levels. These traditional singers are not only known to the people of Mardan but are very popular in the entire Pukhtoon population throughout the world.

Qamro Jan is one of these singers .This vocalist was born in 1944 in Par Hoti. Her father Nawab Khan was a musician and a good Harmonium player.

Qamro Jan was fond of music and had a beautiful voice since young age. Her first song was broadcasted from Peshawar Radio Station in 1959 and she was only 15 year old at that time. The producer was Rashid Ali Dehqan and the director was Qazi Saeed. This was the song that popularized the poet Ali Haidar Joshi and the story of Yousaf Khan Sher Bano. The song called "Badala" was a hit and following this Qamro Jan became a famous artist.

Initially she used to sing on Radio only as there was no television or Pushto movies. She rented an accommodation in Qissa Khwani and was paid fifty rupees for each recording of the song. Later on she sung on stage and television.

She received an award for her best performance from Peshawar Radio Station. She sung patriotic songs and anthems at the time of wars in 1965 and 1971 but she has never been awarded for this by the National, Provincial or the divisional authorities.

This great singer is still alive. She even does not have her own house. She is living in Par Hoti in a small house made of mud and clay. She is paying 600 rupees per month to the landlord.

Qamro Jan played her role to popularize Pushto music and Mardan. Now it's up to the authorities and the people of Mardan to take care of this wonderful singer. She is passing through the most difficult period of her life.