Mohammad Imtiaz of Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has collected about ‘five thousand’ records of old Indian, Pakistani and Pashto songs.
He has set aside a room in his house for this rare collection where he listens to them with the help of an old record player.
Imtiaz, 50, told Independent Urdu that his father was fond of collecting songs since 1952. ‘I started collecting records of old film songs from 1985 and am still doing it today.’
He said that he went to India for the first time in 1989 to bring old records. He has visited India 10 times so far and the last time was in 2014.
During this time, he collected two, three hundred records and continued to make part of his collection.
Imtiaz said he only had 78 rpm records for five thousand, with one song on one side and the other on the other.
They also have some Pakistani and old Pashto language records of Subat Khan and Muzaffar, he said.
‘I keep the records I like. I will spend whatever it takes to get this record.’
He said that if someone has an old record at home and there is no one to play it, he gives it to me.
“Old and rare records cost more, often reaching up to Rs 10,000.”
On the question of whether there are any more enthusiasts listening to old records on a record player? So Imtiaz said that in all the big cities of Pakistan, there will be a lot of enthusiastic people.
Quetta has the most enthusiasts, followed by Karachi and Lahore. Almost all the enthusiasts in Peshawar have died.
He said that only I am in Mardan and I have a friend in Swabi, there are only two, three record enthusiasts in KP.
According to Amitaz, record enthusiasts from all over Pakistan sometimes gather in Quetta, with each participant trying to show off his rarest collection.
He said that now a record player is very difficult to find. ‘I have dad’s imported record players lying around, which I fix myself if they ever break.’
When did audio records start being made?
Imtiaz, an avid record collector, said that two-song 78 rpm records started being made even before 1932.
‘Then came the EP record, which was smaller in size and six minutes in duration, played at 45 rpm and recorded four songs.
‘Then large-sized records began to be made, LPs, 12 minutes long and running at 38 rpm, with six songs on one side and six on the other. These records stopped being made in 2010.’
He said that he has the most Indian records lying around, mostly songs by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi and Shamshad Begum.
“Also, I have enough records of L Sehgal, Pankaj Malik, CH Atma, Kamala Jaria, Jotika Roy and Malika Pakhraj.”
According to Imtiaz, his wife also enjoys listening to records. ‘All the record buffs have wives against it, but my wife sometimes sits down and listens to Lata Mangeshkar.’
He said that there is a big difference between modern and old music. ‘I have no interest in new music, nor do I understand it.’
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,’script’,
‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘2494823637234887’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
#Mardan #Imtiaz #collects #thousands #records #songs
**Interview with Mohammad Imtiaz: A Passionate Vinyl Collector**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mohammad Imtiaz. It’s fascinating to hear about your extensive collection of records. Can you tell us how you got started on this journey?
**Mohammad Imtiaz:** Thank you for having me! My passion for collecting records started back in 1985. My father was an avid collector himself, and I grew up surrounded by music. He began collecting songs in 1952, which inspired me to continue this tradition.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that you’ve traveled to India multiple times to expand your collection. What drives you to seek out old records across the border?
**Mohammad Imtiaz:** The quest for rare and unique records is what motivates me. After my first trip to India in 1989, I returned with hundreds of records, and each visit has added to my collection. The thrill of finding something that resonates with my love for music is incomparable.
**Interviewer:** Your collection consists of around five thousand records. What types of music do you prefer, and do you have any rare gems in your collection?
**Mohammad Imtiaz:** Most of my records are old Indian, Pakistani, and Pashto songs, notably a lot of 78 rpm records. I treasure songs by artists like Subat Khan and Muzaffar. The rarity of these records often drives their prices into the thousands, sometimes reaching up to Rs 10,000.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like you take great care of your collection. How do you maintain the old record players, and how difficult is it to find them these days?
**Mohammad Imtiaz:** It’s indeed a challenge to find old record players nowadays, but luckily, I have my father’s imported models. I’ve learned to fix them myself whenever something goes wrong, which is quite handy. It’s all part of the love for this medium!
**Interviewer:** Are there many other vinyl enthusiasts in Pakistan?
**Mohammad Imtiaz:** While interest in vinyl has waned in recent years, there are still dedicated collectors in big cities like Quetta, Karachi, and Lahore. Sadly, many enthusiasts in Peshawar have passed away. In Mardan, I believe I’m among the few remaining collectors, with a friend in Swabi as the only other serious enthusiast I know.
**Interviewer:** That’s a unique perspective. How do record collectors connect with one another, especially in these digital times?
**Mohammad Imtiaz:** Occasionally, we gather in Quetta, where collectors showcase their rare finds and share stories. These meet-ups foster a sense of community, and it’s always exciting to see what others have collected over time.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mohammad, for sharing your passion for vinyl with us. Your dedication to preserving this music is truly inspiring.
**Mohammad Imtiaz:** Thank you! It’s a pleasure to share my story. Music is a vital part of our culture, and I hope to keep these memories alive for future generations.
