Habib Painter or Habeeb Painter (1915 – 22 February 1987) was a noted Indian Qawwal and a folk singer. There is a park named in honour of Habib Painter in Aligarh near Paan Wali Kothi named as Bulbuley Hind Habib Painter Park [1][2]
He was born in 1915 and brought up in Aligarh.[2] He started his profession as a billboard painter, hence he became known as "Habib Painter". Once Rais Mirza, a host of poetry-reading events (mushairas) saw him singing Qawwali, he brought him to Delhi and introduced him as a Qawwal.[1][2]
Habeeb Painter had a good voice as well good command over the language. Habib Painter is still considered an important Qawwali performer in the Indian subcontinent.[2]
He was a spiritual disciple of Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya and the thirteenth century legendary poet/musician Amir Khusro.[2] [3]
During the war between India and china, Indian artists contributed their voice to inspire the nation. And Habeeb, too, sang for the troops. The then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru honoured him with the title "Bulbul-e-Hind" (Nightingale of India).[1][2][4]
There is a park named in honour of Habib Painter in Aligarh near Paan Wali Kothi named as Bulbuley Hind Habib Painter Park