| Banu, Leila Arjumand (1929-1995)
a music artiste and social worker, was born on 5 January 1929. After
early schooling in Eden Girls' School, Dhaka, she studied Persian and
Philosophy at Dhaka University and obtained her BA degree in 1949.
She took her early professional training in classical music under
Ustad Gul Mohammad Khan. She got training in Nazrul Geeti,
Rabindra Sanggeet, and Ghazal. She performed even in
modern and folk songs. Her extraordinary career as a singer began
with a solo performance during the inaugural broadcast of the
Dhaka Station of All India Radio on 16 December 1939. At the age
of ten she became the first Muslim vocal artiste to perform on
Dhaka Radio.
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Leila Arjumand Banu |
At a time when purda
prohibitions frowned upon women taking part in outdoor cultural activities,
Leila Arjumand Banu, with the active co-operation of her parents, syed
muhammed taifoor, a noted historian, and Sara Taifoor, stood
to fight against such restrictions. She received the Coronation Medal
from the Shah of Iran following her tour of Iran in 1968 and the 'Pride
of Performance' award in 1969 from the President of Pakistan.
She was an honorary Principal of Dhaka Music College
from 1977 to 1986, trustee of the Dhaka Museum, chairman of the Nazrul
Svaralipi Shuddhikaran Board (Nazrul Notation Authentication Board).
Banu represented her country several times in cultural visits abroad.
She died in Dhaka on 10 February 1995. [Shahnaz Huda]
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