Abida sultana biography
ABIDA SULTANA
INSPIRATION
I grew up with a wide range of cultural practices in a warm environment. Unquestionably, my father is my first inspiration. The person whose contribution is prodigiously motivational to my passion is none but my mother. Their heavenly shelter has made me what I am today. Moreover, my siblings and many of my relatives are also inclined to music and other forms of arts. My husband has always been my inspiration in flourishing my potential. Additionally, the love that I have found from my audience is also my inspiration.
PHILOSOPHY
Since my childhood, I used to be very polite and subservient. I never show instantaneous reactions to silly matters. Rather, I always try to keep my patience regardless of the situation. I always try to be good to others and keep myself away from arrogance or impoliteness. I think that, to love others is the best way to live a peaceful and successful life.
VIEWS ON HER PROFESSION
Singing is both my passion and profession. At the very beginning of my singing career, it was quite challenging to take it as a profession. Hence, I must say that my passion for singing came first, and then it became my profession. The current atmosphere of our music industry is quite good. Nowadays the singers have more opportunities to gather detailed information of every song. The newcomers are doing really well and I appreciate their talents and efforts. It is my request to the young generation to be punctual and sincere at their workplace. The young artists should take singing as their profession and treat it with love, and they should always be respectful to their instructors.
MUSIC
I spend my leisure listening to different forms of music. Yet, my thirst for the ghazals of Mehdi Hassan is eternal. It has an amazing charm which never fails to amaze me.
FILMS
I have enjoyed a huge number of movies of different languages. The Pianist, Arth, Two Women and Moroner Pore are some of my most favorite movies.
Abida Sultan
Princess Suraya Jah, Nawab Gowhar-i-Taj
Princess Suraya Jah, Nawab Gowhar-i-Taj (born Abida Sultan Begum Sahiba; 28 August 1913 – 11 May 2002), also known as Abida Sultaan, was the eldest daughter of Hamidullah Khan, the last Nawab of the Bhopal state, and his wife Begum Maimoona Sultan.
Early life and birth family
Abida Sultan Begum Sahiba (begum being a Muslim woman of high rank) was born on 28 August 1913, the daughter of Hamidullah Khan, the Nawab of Bhopal and Begum Maimoona Sultan. She was the eldest of three children; she had two younger sisters Sajida Sultan, and Rabia Sultan.
The Begum of Bhopal, Sultan Jahan, was her grandmother, and her predecessor Shah Jahan Begum was her great-grandmother. Her grandmother brought her up, and her own mother "had nothing to do with [her]". Her grandmother, who was nearly 70 when Abida was born, brought her up very strictly. She had to rise at 4am to read the Quran, and had to do menial duties such as sweeping the floor, but she was also allowed to do all the same activities as the boys did, including sports, music, and horse riding.
From the age of nine, Abida drove a Rolls-Royce.
She was also known as Abida Sultaan.
Marriage and governing
In 1926, at the age of 12, she married Nawab Mohammad Sarwar Ali Khan, ruler of Kurwai State, who was a childhood friend.
In 1928, at the age of 15, she was recognised as the heiress apparent to the Bhopal throne. She then managed her father's cabinet from 1935 until 1949, when Bhopal was merged with the state of Madhya Pradesh. During this time, she met Mahatma Gandhi, Motilal Nehru, and his son, Jawaharlal Nehru, first prime minister of India.
She had been completely unprepared for her wedding day, and her marriage broke
hat is Bhopal like?
he country is a little bit hilly, if you've been to Portugal, ups and downs and rivers, plenty of water, plenty of greenery. Beautiful jungles, lots of wild animals. Our lives were more a country life.
e had 88% Hindus and 12% Muslims, no feelings at all, never a single riot, never a single killing. There was no difference. The Prime Minister was a Hindu.
or Eid, the first tray of Sehri, it used to be sent by the Hindus to the mosques. We used to go to their Holi and Dassera and all their functions. We used to be drenched in rang [colors] and gowar [grains] and we used to enjoy it thoroughly.
awab Qudsia Begum, the first women ruler [from 1819-1837], was illiterate and uneducated, to the extent that she couldn't even sign her name. At the age of 18, her husband was assassinated, and she had a 2 year-old girl. She suddenly took it on herself that this girl was the rightful heir and successor and declared the child to be the future ruler. Then she challenged all the male members of her family to overturn her decision. No one dared.
hat's how she ruled, until this child, Sikander Begum, became of age. She also never observed purdah [wore a veil]. She was trained in all the martial arts, she fought many battles. After she died, again there was only one girl, so she too was brought up without purdah.
ow were you brought up?
was actually brought up by my grandmother, Sarkar Amman [Nawab Sultan Jehan Begum, who ruled Bhopal State 1901-1926], like her own daughter. My own mother had nothing to do with me. My grandmother had lost her two daughters, so when I was born, she just picked me up, took me to her own room and there I remained for 17 years, until Sarkar Amman died. I was her favorite. She didn't mean to be cruel, she didn't mean to be harsh, it was just this sort of fear that she didn't have enough time to prepare a girl who would come up to her standards of Muslim womanhood.
arkar Amman, being nearly 70 when I was bo
Abida Sultana
Bangladeshi singer
Abida Sultana is a Bangladeshi adhunik singer.
Early life and career
Sultana was born to Abdus Salam and Muslima Begum. She completed her bachelor's in political science. She got her musical breakthrough in 1974. She performed as a playback singer for the films Abar Tora Manush Ho (1973), Alo Tumi Aleya and Yea Kore Biye. She was one of the playback singers of the film Simana Periye (1977), composed by Bhupen Hazarika.
Sultana can render songs in 32 languages.
Sultana was awarded by Bangladesh Performing Media Centre (BPMC) in 2008.
Personal life
Sultana is married to the musician Rafiqul Alam since 14 April 1980. Their one son, Farshid Alam, is the main vocalist of the band Bohemian. She has four sisters, Rebeka Sultana, Rehena Sultana, Chitra Sultana and Salma Sultana, and two brothers, Shawkat Ali Emon and Mohammad Ali Shumon. Salma (d. 2016) was a singer.
Notable songs
- Tumi Cheyechile Ogo Jante
- Eki Badhone Bolo Jorale
- Ami Sath Sagor Pari Diye
- Bimurto Ei Ratri Amar
- Noyone Rekhe Noyon Kore
- Ekta Dolna Jadi
- Hiroyer Duri Achena Nadi
- Harjit Chirodini Thakbe
- Hate Thak Duti Haath
- Madhu Chandrimar Ai Raat
- Rongila Pakhire
- Ami Jotishir Kase Jabo