The National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) hosted the launch of four books by noted music expert and NAPA’s music advisor, SM Shahid, celebrating the lives and legacies of Pakistan’s legendary maestros Mehdi Hassan, Noor Jehan, Kamal Das Gupta, and Tufail Niazi. The event, held on Monday at the Zia Mohyeddin Theatre, began with a panel discussion highlighting Shahid’s contributions to classical music documentation and preservation.
NAPA faculty members Mahmood Ahmed Khan and Murtaza Niazi praised Shahid for his lifelong dedication to promoting classical music. Former senator and NAPA Board member Javed Jabbar commended Shahid’s pioneering role in advertising and his passion for voluntary work. Recalling their shared trip to Tharparkar, Jabbar spoke fondly of Shahid’s talent for photography and mentioned his active involvement in Pakistan’s first Advertising Congress and subsequent Asian Advertising Congress.
Speaking about Kamal Das Gupta, Jabbar noted that the great composer had embraced Islam out of love for the renowned singer Feroza Begum, yet remained largely unrecognized in Pakistan. SM Shahid, in his brief remarks due to health reasons, pointed out that Das Gupta had introduced legendary voices like Talat Mahmood and Hemant Kumar, and worked with icons such as Pankaj Mullick – yet his contributions remain underappreciated.
