On June 12th, we commemorate the death anniversary of Shakeel Ahmad, the legendary news reader of Radio Pakistan. During the 1965 Pakistan-India war, Radio Pakistan played a crucial role in uplifting the nation's morale through its broadcasts. As the country's only broadcasting medium at the time, Radio Pakistan produced patriotic content, including songs, plays, and poetry, with its news bulletins being notably delivered in the iconic voice of Shakeel Ahmad.
Born as Wakeel Ahmad in 1908 in Malihabad, India, Shakeel Ahmad initially worked in the railways before being introduced to arts and entertainment by Agha Hashar Kashmiri, who also gave him his stage name. Ahmad performed in various stage dramas before joining All India Radio as an announcer in 1937, thanks to the guidance of Z.A. Bukhari.
His career as a news reader began at the Delhi Radio Station, where he captivated listeners during World War II. Post-Partition, he migrated to Pakistan and joined Radio Pakistan, continuing to serve under Z.A. Bukhari. During the 1965 war, Shakeel Ahmad's powerful and resonant voice was instrumental in delivering main news bulletins, significantly boosting nationalistic fervor among listeners.
Rafiuz Zaman Zubairi, the News Editor at Radio Pakistan's Karachi Station during the 1965 war, highlighted Shakeel Ahmad's profound impact, noting how his voice commanded attention and instilled a greater sense of nationalism during a critical time for the country.
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