21/07/2024
Tariq Salman Khan Farani (Late) was the In charge of Nazir Ahmad Music Society. He had been admitted in Intermediate (F.A) in 1963 and graduated from GC while holding his master's degree. As music was his great passion, he had learned it from his Ustaad. During his college days, he had been a member of the College Football & Swimming team and had remained a great fan of sports. Many young music lovers were inspired by him as a student, teacher, and In charge of the Music Society. For him, music was the purest form of expression of human emotions through sound.
He had joined Government College in 1985 and had been given the charge of Nazir Ahmad Music Society. Additionally, he had organized co-curricular activities in numerous colleges across Punjab as a program officer in D.P.I College Punjab office. Under his command, the Music Society had always pursued art over entertainment and popularity. It was due to this culture that the society had produced eminent names in the Pakistani Music Industry such as Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, Rustam Fateh Ali Khan, Jawad Ahmad, Hadiqa Kiyani, Ali Zafar, Waris Baig, and many more. The society had also been acclaimed at various state-level functions and had held numerous international and national awards under Mr. Farani's kind guidance. It went without saying that his name has been synonymous with music at Government College University. Being one of Pakistan’s well-known musicians, Mr. Farani had not only been a classical flute player but had also excelled in literary music by composing Kalam-e-Iqbal, Ghazliyat of Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Nasir Kazmi, and Arifana Kalam of Baba Bulleh Shah, Shah Hussain, Khawaja Fareed, Mian Muhammad Baksh, and two Milli Taranay, one about Pakistan and the second about Quaid-e-Azam.
This entire score was composed for the Government College students which they have been singing since 1987 in competitions and on national days. Two years ago, the Central Production Unit Radio Pakistan Lahore had started recordings of the entire literary score for their literary archives. He had an honor for composing the anthem of Government College University which was played at every university celebration. In 2010, a sports anthem was composed by him for the opening ceremony of the GCU sports. This tradition has been observed at the place of Olympics opening ceremony. Mr. Farani was one of the few Old Ravian’s who really knew the culture and traditions of Government College, which had been diminishing gradually. The Government College University was the only institution in the country where music and performing arts were being practiced for the last so many years, and the outcome of which was seen on the horizon of artists at national and international levels. In 2012, for the first time ever in history, the Government College University presented a tribute to recognize his invaluable services spanning over three decades as a music composer, artist, and teacher at Nazir Ahmad Music Society. Old Ravian’s Union had conferred the “Lifetime Achievement Award – 2018” for his services rendered for the Government College University.
On January 17, 2021, Mr. Tariq Farani passed away, leaving behind a legacy that resonates deeply within the corridors of Government College University and beyond. His life was a symphony of dedication, passion, and artistic brilliance, woven into the fabric of Pakistan's cultural and musical heritage.
Mr. Farani was not merely a composer or an educator; he was a custodian of traditions and a beacon of inspiration for generations of students. His compositions, such as the anthem of Government College University and the sports anthem for GCU, became anthems of unity and pride for the institution. Through his leadership at the Nazir Ahmad Music Society, he nurtured countless talents, shaping them into accomplished artists who graced national and international stages.
His commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage was unparalleled. The recordings of his literary scores by Radio Pakistan Lahore and his contributions to the performing arts at GCU underscored his profound impact on Pakistan's cultural landscape.
Following his passing, on February 27, 2021, the students of Nazir Ahmad Music Society and Government College University came together to pay tribute to the maestro. A slate bearing his name was ceremoniously placed on the wall of the society, forever memorializing his contributions and the indelible mark he left on the institution and its students.
Mr. Tariq Farani's life was a testament to the transformative power of music and education. His spirit continues to resonate through the melodies he composed, the lives he touched, and the enduring legacy he leaves behind.
