Ahmad Zahir was born on 23rd of Jauza, 1325 (June 13, 1946) in Laghman, Afghanistan, the third child of Dr. Abdul Zahir. He was the most celebrated popular Afghan music phenomenon of his era and, for many, the purest embodiment of modern Afghan music.

Ahmad Zahir's father, the late Dr. Abdul Zahir, was born into a rural family in the Nangarhar Province. He finished his secondary school in Kabul and attended University in the United States. He received his Ph.D. in the medical profession from the United States.

Ahmad Zahir was not born into a musically rich family and his earliest musical influence was not family members. Therefore, the artistic talents of Ahmad Zahir developed naturally.

Still, young Ahmad Zahir followed his own dreams and ambitions. According to Rishad Zahir, the first instrument that Ahmad Zahir learned to play was the mandolin. He knew the quality of his talents very well and wanted to maximize those talents. Ahmad Zahir's first significant step towards a musical career took place when he was in high school at the age of fifteen.

His debut song "Aye Bulbul-I Shorideh" was performed at Hibibia High School. Ahmad Zahir was still a ninth grader when he made appearances on the stage at school concerts with the accordion, his favorite instrument. By memorizing his lyrics, he was free to effectively interact with the crowd. The song with which he debuted at Lycee Habibia, "Aye Bulbul-I Shorideh", was also his first song recorded at Radio Afghanistan.

After his father was appointed Afghanistan's Ambassador to India, Ahmad Zahir continued his studies in the field of education in New Delhi. Apart from his studies, Ahmad Zahir did not neglect his musical career. The influence of great Indian musical legends fastened his interest to music. As a result, he left his studies and arrived at the presence of great musical masters. During his two years in India, he absorbed an enormous wealth of knowledge and experience.

Upon his return to Afghanistan in 1969, Ahmad Zahir accepted a position at Kabul Times and simultaneously was employed at Afghan Films. At this time, Ahmad Zahir also got married. More astonishing than these turning points was the evolution of Ahmad Zahir's musical talent at the youthful age of twenty-three. He had developed into a complete musician who had excellent knowledge of Western and Eastern arts of music.

His choice of poetry included classical Pashto and Dari poets, his era's contemporary poets, and also young aspiring poets like Hafiz Shirazi, Sa'di Shirazi, Jalaluddin Balkhi, Pashman Bakhtjaar, Dr. M.H.A. Ibaadi, Froghi Basmaani, Rai Mehri, Ghulam Reza Qudsi, Yasemin Bahbahani, Ustad Khalilullah Khalili, Mehdi Sahidi, Bhadur Jagaana, Hussain Manzowi, Nizam Wafa, Abu Al-Qasim Lahuti, Dr. A. Dehqaan, and Sadiq Sarmat. However, Ahmad Zahir also wrote his own lyrical poems such as "Ghwaab az chashmaanam raboudi," "Boye tu khizad hanooz," "Iyn shehr ra baraaye tu megoyam," "Bigardam doure khaakat maadare man," and "Aye khuda maadare man baaz ba man dee."

Although he accepted works from great composers such as the late Naynawaz and Taranasaz, the majority of his musical compositions were his own. Unlike the current trend in music, Ahmad Zahir did not copy others and revered originality. In fact, he once remarked, "Copy khani hunar nist." (Copying is not a talent). His style of music evolved into his own unique musical identity. "Ahmad Zahir's School of Music," is followed by younger musicians even today, twenty years after his death.

By 1973 (1352), Ahmad Zahir's popularity had developed into a national frenzy.  He had become an icon and his popularity spilled over national boundaries. He sang "Banu Banu" while on tour in Iran. During this time, Ahmad Zahir earned the national title, "Singer of the Year."

In spite of his free-spirited posturing, Ahmad Zahir remained studiously polite to his elders and was devoted to his mother. In fact, his mother's death came at a stressful time in his life. It moved him so much that he wrote one of him most passionate songs for her: "Binazam qalbi pak az madar-e- man siya shood, khuda-ya madaram az man juda shood."

When the country became a republic in 1973, he congratulated the new government by singing two songs "Da Jamhoriat" and "Mubarak Jamhori Mubarak." Accordingly, when he noticed that the republic was full of empty promises he again raised his voice. His song "Ilahi man namedanam, bah ilmi khood tu medani," which was recorded and played on the radio became a controversial song in the mid-70's. According to insiders, the song's verse "Tu padshah-e haft kishwar" drew some criticism from the government. The Administration assumed Ahmad Zahir had denounced President Daoud Khan who was also Minister of numerous Cabinet positions. Soon radios stopped playing the song because of political pressure levied by the government. However, that did not bother the free-spirited Ahmad Zahir.

When April 1978 the republic was replaced by a dictatorial regime led by President Taraki and then eventually Hafizullah Amin, everyone was fearful for their lives minute-by-minute and nobody was safe from the regime, even their comrades-in-arms. Yet, Ahmad Zahir built up courage among those in the resistance movement against oppression. In

 one of the private recordings of Ahmad Zahir, he voiced political protest against the Taraki-Amin regime in at least three songs. One song "Safar bih roshenahi" contains straightforward demonstrative lyrics: "Chi mulk ra baad az shahi deda bashi, pas az shahi gadahi maslihat nist, safar bih roshenahi maslihat nist." Moreover, then he refers to Traci as Tahriki (darkness) during his song.

Unfortunately for his family, friends, and his country this young man was taken from the ones he loved so much through an alleged traffic accident north of the Salang Kotal on Wednesday, Jauza 23, 1358 (June 13, 1979). Many people including his son are convinced the traffic accident story was a cover up for an assassination by the Taraki-Amin regime. He remarks, "It was a way for the government to intimidate other people, so they would not stand up against the regime."

Ahmad Zahir (33 years old) turned his eyes form this world on the same day he was born into this world. The night before his death, he was awaiting the birth of his second child. Ahmad Zahir had said that he would name the child, Shabnam. Rishad Zahir laments that, "His life was cut short while another precious life, Shabnam's was coming into his life. He was happy and looking forward to his new life with his new wife and new child."

Ahmad Zahir left behind two children, Rishad (29 years old) and Shabnam (20 years old). Rishad Zahir was born in Seattle, Washington while his parents were on vacation. He and his family left Afghanistan in 1979 and after a brief stay in Germany, they immigrated to the United States. Like her stepbrother, Shabnam and her immediate family immigrated to the United States in the early 1980's. She is attending university at this time.


Source: http://www.ahmadzahir.com




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The End. Nov 17 2004