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KISHWAR SULTAN - A Biographical Note:

Kishwar Sultan was born in Peshawar in 1936. She died in 2002. She was the only child of Chaudry Roshan Khan (father) and Bakht Nissa (mother). She did not have brothers and sisters of her own but had 4 step brothers (named Nadir, AbduRehman, Meer Ahmed, and Mumtaz). She got her basic education from her husband Mr. Tariq Mahmood, enabling her to read and write Pashto and Urdu. She grew up in Peshawar and was a typical house wife who took care of her kids.

She was introduced to Radio station Peshawar in the early 1950s by her aunt Chishti Chamman Jan, who herself was a well known pashto singer at that time. Popular singers and musicians at the time included Sabar-Un-Nisa, Bacha Zarin Jan, Ustad Dilbar Raj (famous music director and singer at the Radio station, Dehli), Rahdat Hussain (music director and harmoniam player), Barkat Shaheen (music director and singer at the Radio station, Dehli), and Shireen Khan (rabab player).

Her first song (written by poet Gulistan) was:

Ya Illahi rawalay yao zal guli khandan

Her last song recorded in 1991 (essentially a remix of her own old song) was:

Zar sham maida maida maida maida, qurban sham warray, warra warra raza.

Her favorite female singer was Gulnar Begam; whereas her favorite male singers were Khayal Mohammad and Hedayatullah. Of her own songs, she liked the following song (written by Ustaz Amir Ghulam Sadiq for Pashto film Deedan):

"Ruk da meenay noom sha dagha hall ta chi nazar kri sook"

The song was picturized on Pashto film actress Yasmin Khan (1952-1998; may God bless her soul) who loved the song as well.

Kishwar Sultan sang many songs during her music career; her earlier songs are not available though because in those days music programs were live. There are no data even with radio station Peshawar; the quality of songs was not good for the same reason. It was in early 70's (a time when Pashto movies started to be produced) when Pashto music saw a quantum jump in its quality.

Kishwar Sultan was always supportive of new singers and used to advise them that hard work is the key to success; there are no shortcuts to succeed. Kishwar Sultan was born in a family with many relatives associated with the music career. Two of her sons (Wahid Tariq (Late) and now Khalid Khan are actively associated with pashto music. Her daughter (Janana) was also a very good singer during late 1970s, with many great songs to her credit (separate playlist of JANANA that has some of her songs is available on Youtube).

Rahdat Hussain, Rafiq shinwari, and S.T. Sunny were Kishwar Sultan favorite composers whereas Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari and Amir Ghulam Sadiq were her most liked poets. During her music career, she received great help from Farrukh Saihar Shama (Her Music Teacher), and radio and TV producers Arbab Abul Wadood, Nawab Ali Khan, Nisar Muhammad Khan and Farmanullah Jan.

Kishwar Sultan had a sweet and melodious voice that was rich with soz and dard. Among all genre of music, she had great penchant for Pashto Tappa and Baddala, and that is where she had advantage over her competitors (e.g., Gulnar Begum and others). Many pashto movie lovers would primarily flock to the cinema just to listen to her Tappas and Baddala. She was the first lady in Pukhtoonkhawa who was awarded the presidential pride of performance on August 14, 1979.

As a person, Kishwar Sultan was a proud pukhtana who would receive vistors at her home with open heart, and in seconds qahwa (green tea) would be served. The writer had the opportunity to visit her twice at her residence in Jehangirpura, Peshawar, and each time Kishwar Sultan was a proud Pukhtana host. She was very kind and soft spoken. The last time I met her was in 1999 at the Peshawar Television (PTV) Station in a special program organized in her honor by Majeed Ullah Khalil. It was also Kishwar Sultan who gave me Gulnar Begum home address in Bannu so that I can meet her. I will always remember the soft spoken Kishwar Sultan who treated me very kindly and gave me respect.

MAY ALLAH BLESS KISHWAR SULTAN AND HER FAMILY for their services to the Pakhtu music. All Pakhtun love Kishwar Sultan and will always pray for her soul.