Pak-born daughter of Alla Rakha faces hard times
Lahore, July 25: Pakistan-born daughter of Indian tabla maestro Alla Rakha has fallen on hard times, grappling with psychological problems and living in solitude since her only son was murdered eight years ago.
Roohi
Bano,
the
half-sister
of
acclaimed
musician
Zakir
Hussain,
was
back
in
the
news
recently
after
thieves
stole
Rs
1
million
and
some
valuables
from
her
house
in
Gulberg
area
of
Lahore.
A
star
of
TV
serials
made
in
the
1970s
and
1980s,
Bano
lost
her
only
son
Ali
when
he
was
shot
dead
in
2005
under
mysterious
circumstances
at
the
age
of
20.
Since then, she has lived alone, battling medical and psychological problems. Trash and old furniture lie strewn outside her home, which lacks basic amenities such as gas. The furniture inside is broken and the only working appliance Bano owns is her television. According to a report in The Express Tribune, Bano's mental state has deteriorated as she is unable to speak clearly or coherently.
"I just sit all day and watch television. I may clean up the house one day," a dishevelled Bano told the daily. Responding to calls from artistes in Lahore, the government has pledged to provide her financial support. Screenwriter Suraj Baba is at the forefront of efforts to bring Bano's plight to the knowledge of officials. He said he felt distressed after recently visiting her at her home.
"I request the government to provide her at least a maid and a security guard who can take care of her," he said. Baba is now trying reaching to mobilise the television fraternity to raise funds for Bano. The daughter of late Alla Rakha and a woman from Faisalabad, Bano witnessed the birth and golden age of Pakistan's television industry and worked in popular serials and dramas like "Darwaza", "Kiran Kahani" and "Zard Gulab".
She has won several awards, including the prestigious Pride of Performance. Bano was recently treated for psychological problems at Lahore's Fountain House and doctors say she has improved considerably. PML-N legislator Kanwal, also the Punjab government's adviser on culture, visited Bano and assured her that the government would provide her financial support.
Kanwal said the provincial government had allocated Rs 20 million for the welfare of artistes and another Rs 20 million had been sought for the same purpose.
PTI