Munshi Raziuddin

Pakistani performer of Qawwali music

PP Munshi Raziuddin Ahmed Khan Pride of Performance
Born	1912 Delhi, British India
Died	2003 (aged 90–91) Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Occupation(s)	Qawwal musician of Qawwali
Known for	Delhi gharana of Qawwali musicians
Awards	Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1967

Munshi Raziuddin Ahmed Khan (1912 – 2003) was a Pakistani Qawwali singer, a classical musician and a researcher and scholar of music. He belongs to the well-known Qawwal Bachchon Ka Gharana of Delhi.^[1]^[2]

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 along with his cousins, Bahauddin Qawwal and Manzoor Ahmed Niazi.^[3] 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.^[3]^[2]

He trained his sons Farid Ayaz & Abu Muhammad, Ghulam Akram and Ali Akbar. He also trained his nephews Qawwal Najmuddin - Saifuddin & Brothers (Sons Of Bahauddin Qawwal), and his other nephews Abdullah Manzoor Niazi & Masroor Ahmed Niazi (sons Of Manzoor Niazi).

Munshi Raziuddin was succeeded by his sons, Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad, who perform as Fareed Ayaz Qawwal in 2022.^[1]^[2]^[4]

Awards and recognition

For his contribution and devotion to Sufi music, he was awarded with the Pride of Performance Award in 1967 by the President of Pakistan.

References

^ ^a ^b Peerzada Salman (13 August 2018). "Farid Ayaz & Abu Mohammed pay tribute to their father Munshi Raziuddin". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 22 March 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Karach's heritage: Qawwali gali The Express Tribune (newspaper), Published 29 June 2014, Retrieved 22 March 2022
^ ^a ^b 'This way to Qawwali Gali' (Qawwal Street) in Saddar Town, Karachi Dawn (newspaper), Published 24 Oct 2015, Retrieved 22 March 2022
^ KARACHI: Homage paid to Qawwal Munshi Raziuddin Dawn (newspaper), Published 9 July 2007, Retrieved 22 March 2022