ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, the 23rd anniversary of the legendary Qawwal, musician, and poet Aziz Mian’s passing, admirers from all walks of life paid heartfelt tributes to his remarkable life’s work in the entertainment sector through various media channels.
Born as Abdul Aziz in Delhi in 1942, Aziz Mian adopted the moniker “Mian,” frequently used in his qawwalis, as part of his stage name. Renowned for his Qawwali-style renditions of ghazals, he introduced himself as Aziz Mian Mairthi, with “Mairthi” denoting Meerut, the city in northern India from which he migrated to Pakistan in 1947, according to reports from private news channels.
Commencing his journey in the art of Qawwali at the age of ten under the guidance of Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan, Aziz Mian honed his skills over sixteen years at the Data Ganj Baksh School in Lahore. He also earned degrees in Urdu literature, Arabic, and Persian from the University of Punjab, Lahore.
Aziz Mian, distinguished as a non-traditional Pakistani Qawwal, possessed a raspy and powerful voice. Notably, he was the sole prominent Qawwal who composed his own lyrics.
In recognition of his contributions to philosophy and music, the Government of Pakistan gave him the Pride of Performance medal in 1989. Beyond his original compositions, Aziz Mian also performed on the poetry of Allama Iqbal and various contemporary Urdu poets.
Aziz Mian succumbed to complications of hepatitis in Tehran on December 6, 2000, leaving behind a legacy of unforgettable musical and poetic achievements. —APP
