Rubeena Qureshi

Rubeena Qureshi was a prominent Pakistani folk singer who specialized in Sindhi music. Known widely as the Nightingale of Sindh, she performed songs in Sindhi, Urdu, Punjabi and Saraiki.

Early life and education

Born on 19 October 1940 in Hyderabad, Sindh, the singer was originally named Aisha Shaikh. Her father, Illahi Bux Shaikh, raised her in the British Raj era. Although her family did not follow a typical singing tradition, her brother Abdul Ghafoor Shaikh worked as a local singer. She began performing at school functions while she attended primary school. The musician and educationist Dadi Leela Wati provided encouragement that inspired her vocal talents.

When Radio Pakistan Hyderabad opened on 17 August 1955, the station sought talented youth from local schools. Rubeena was a student in class IX when she auditioned as a child singer. Broadcaster M. B. Ansari and musician Master Muhammad Ibrahim conducted her audition. She passed the test on her first attempt. Her debut Sindhi radio recording featured the song "Paren pawadee san, chawandi san, rahi waj rat bhanbhor men".

She pursued higher education at the University of Sindh. After completing her studies, she earned a Master of Arts degree in Muslim History. During the 1967–68 period, she worked as a high school teacher at Himayat-ul-Islam Girls High School in Hyderabad.

Career

Qureshi contributed significantly to traditional wedding music through "Sahera" songs. She performed these alongside fellow singers Zarina Baloch, Amina and Zeb-un-Nissa. These recordings remain popular throughout Sindh today. Her professional versatility extended to film playback, where she sang for Sindhi movies such as Ghoonghat Lah Kunwar and Sassi Punhoon.

Following her move to Lahore in 1970, she studied music under Chhottay Ghulam Ali. This period expanded her repertoire to include Pashto and Bengali. She holds the distinction of being the first female artist to help strengthen Pak-China relations. Z A Bhutto sent her to China, where she performed songs in the Chinese language. Her international reach included performances in Indonesia, Turkey, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Personal life

She married the actor Mustafa Qureshi in 1970. The couple relocated to Lahore to support his career in film and television. She died on 13 July 2022 in Karachi. Her burial took place in the Abdullah Shah Ghazi compound. She is survived by her husband, her daughter Arabella and her son Aamir Qureshi, who is a film actor.

Awards and recognition

The administration at Radio Pakistan Hyderabad recognized her work in 2012. On 14 August 2021, the Government of Pakistan announced the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz for her contributions to the arts.