Written by: Muhammad Suhayb
Posted on: July 24, 2024 | 
| 中文
Zohra Sehgal and Uzra Butt
The partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 had profound and often heartbreaking effects on families, particularly siblings. Many families moved to Pakistan and frequently met their relatives in India, but the meetings decreased with time. Usually, we hear that many people who migrated to ‘the land of the pure’ excelled professionally, while those who stayed back struggled. Sadly, that is not the case and a list has been compiled of a couple of siblings; who excelled in their fields, be it the foreign office, cinema, television, medicine or music.
The longest-serving Pakistani who had a brother in India was Sahibzada Yaqoob Khan, famous for being associated with the Foreign Service for over three decades. A diplomat, an army officer, and a linguist, he was a man of many talents. Born in 1920, he opted for Pakistan and fought in the first Indo-Pak War on Kashmir, where Major Yaqub was shot in the arm by none other than his elder brother, Major (Sahibzada) Younus Khan. Both brothers belonged to the Royal family of Rampur, served in the Royal Indian Army, and earned the Indian General Service Medal. Yaqub was captured by Italian and German forces in 1942 near the Egypt-Libya border, a reason why he mastered these two languages, along with several others. Released after the war was over, he opted for Pakistan and met his brother in 1982, when he traveled to India as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan.
Sahibzada Yaqub
At the time of partition, Mr. Abdul Rashid Kardar was a famous producer/director in United India, with a studio of his own. He promoted talent that came over to Mumbai (Bombay back then) from Lahore; legendary singer Muhammad Rafi, singer-turned-veteran actor Allaudin, lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri and music director Naushad were his discoveries. A successful movie-maker, he decided to stay in India after doing a recce in the initial days of Pakistan, yet his younger brother Akhtar J Kardar did not. Known to his friends as Aejay, he managed to make a film that heralded Pakistan’s arrival in the international arena. Collaborating with the legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Kardar made Jago Hua Savera (1959), which was the first Pakistani film to submitted for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Film Category. He also directed Qasam Us Waqt ki, (1969), which was the first movie that focused on the Pakistan Air Force.
Abdul Rashid Kardar and Akhtar J. Kardar
We all loved reading Naunihal when we were kids; always fought for an extra glass of Rooh Afza at the Iftar table, and welcomed the easy-to-read Seerat-un-Nabi books for kids. All these lovely memories remind one of the angelic face of Hakeem Muhammad Saeed, the founder of the Hamdard Foundation in Pakistan. Hakeem Saeed was a philanthropist, medical researcher, and scholar, who also served as Governor of Sindh for a short period. A writer of over a hundred books on religion, medicine, health and social issues, Hakeem Saeed opted for Pakistan in 1947. Very few people are aware that his elder brother, Hakeem Abdul Hameed stayed back. 12 years senior to Saeed, Hakim Hameed was a physician of traditional medicine and a founder chancellor of Jamia Hamdard. He was instrumental in establishing several academic institutions like Hamdard National Foundation, Hamdard Education Society, Hamdard Study Circle, Hamdard Public School, Hamdard Institute of Historical Research and the Ghalib Academy. In 1965, he was honored with the award of Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award Padma Bhushan in 1992 by the government of India. Hakim Saeed was assassinated in 1998 in Karachi, while Hakim Hameed died a natural death a year later.
Hakim Abdul Hameed, Hakim Saeed's brother
Many associate the veteran Indian actor Iftekhar as the ‘ultimate’ Police officer in Bollywood movies, but very few are aware that the actor was the brother of the television artist Imtiaz, who went by the name of Imtiaz Ahmed. Like Sahizada Yaqub and Hakim Saeed, Iftekhar was also born in 1920. At the time of partition, he was a struggling actor, who decided to stay back. His family moved over and settled in Karachi. Younger brother Imtiaz featured in the Pakistan television, Karachi serials of Fatima Surayya Bajiya and Haseena Moin, and is known for his roles in Afshan and as Baba in Tanhaiyan.
Zohra Sehgal and Uzra B were born five years apart in a Muslim family of Rampur. Zohra (1912-2014) and Uzra (1917-2010) had a long as well as a big life. They both acted in Prithvi Raj Kapoor’s theatre in the 40s and 50s. Zohra worked in Neecha Nagar, directed by Indian director Chetan Anand. The film is considered one of the first projects of the parallel cinema movement in the subcontinent. It was screened at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or. Uzra Butt moved to Pakistan in 1964 but remained active in television and theatre. Both sisters joined hands to do a play titled: Ek Thi Nani in 1993, first in Lahore and years later in India.
Amjad Pervez and Mushtaq Hashmi
When it comes to music, people who were growing up in the 70s, loved the music of Khayyam. A disciple of famous music director Baba G A Chishti, Muhammad Zahoor Khayyam Hashmi was part of the famous music duo Sharma ji-Verma ji in the 50s. Verma ji migrated to Pakistan and became Rehman Verma, while Sharma ji decided to go solo as Khayyam. He rose to prominence in the 70s, with Yash Chopra’s Kabhi Kabhi (1977) and Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jan (1981). It was common knowledge in the 70s that Khayyam also had a brother who moved to Pakistan, joining singer Dr. Amjad Pervez in music programs of the ‘70s. Mushtaq Hashmi and Amjad Pervez sang folk and pop songs on television and became quite famous. Mushtaq retired as GM of Pakistan International Airlines and died in 2015, Khayyam outlived him by four years.
I hope you don’t know that the Pakistan television’s legendary actress, Roohi Bano and Ustad Zakir Hussain, were related. Yes, Ustad Zakir Hussain was the son of Allah Rakha Qureshi and so was Roohi Bano. This makes the actress half-sister of the tabla maestro. Roohi Bano was a force to reckon with when it came to tragic roles, as she was equally at ease with comic ones like Kiran Kahani (1973) and Zair Zabar Pesh (1974). She even ventured into films, but with the declining state of affairs, stayed with television. Her famous drama serials were Kiran Kahani, Dehleez, Zard Gulab and Darwaza. On the other hand, Zakir Hussain is considered the greatest tabla player of all time, and was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023 by the Government of India. Hussain has received seven Grammy Award nominations, with four wins as well.
Roohi Bano and Ustad Zakir Hussain
We have an interesting history of siblings who opted for different countries, Pakistan and India, and yet excelled in their fields.
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