Malika Pukhraj
| Malika Pukhraj | |
|---|---|
_in_1920s.jpg) Malika Pukhraj in 1920s in Kashmir | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
1912 Jammu, Kashmir and Jammu, British India |
| Died |
4 February 2004 (aged 92) Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Genres | Folk music and Ghazal |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist |
Malika Pukhraj (Urdu: ملكہ پکھراج ) (1912–2004) was a highly popular Ghazal and folk singer of Pakistan. She was generally called as "Malika" meaning "The Queen" publicly. She is extremely popular for her rendition of Hafeez Jalandhri's nazm song, Abhi tau main jawan hoon ("I am still young"), which is enjoyed by millions not only in Pakistan, but also in India.[1] Her popular numbers were,Lo phir basant aaii and Quli Qutub's Piya baaj piyala piya jaey na and Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Mere qatil mere dildar mere paas raho.
Early life
Malika Pukhraj, was born in Jammu to a traditional Kanjar family. She was given the name "Malika" at birth, by Baba Roti Ram 'Majzoob', a spiritualist, in Akhnoor area, and named Pukhraj by her aunt.[2] [3]
Malika Pukhraj received her training from Ustad Ali Baksh Kasuri, father of legendary singer Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.
Performing career
At the age of nine, she visited Jammu and performed at the coronation ceremony of Maharaja Hari Singh, who was so impressed by her voice that he appointed her as a court singer in his Durbar,[4] and she stayed there as a singer for another nine years.[3]
She was among the greatest singers of British India in the 1940s, and after Partition of India in 1947, she migrated to Lahore, Pakistan, where she received much more fame, through her radio performances with composer, Kale Khan at Radio Pakistan, Lahore. Her voice is most suitable for 'folk songs of the hills' (Pahari Songs).
In 1980, she received the Pride of Performance Award, by the President of Pakistan. In 1977, when All India Radio, for which she sang until the Partition in 1947, was celebrating its Golden Jubilee, she was invited to India, and awarded with the 'legend of Voice' award.[5] Malika Pukhraj also recorded her memoirs in the novel Song Sung True.
Malika Pukhraj, died in Lahore, Pakistan on 4 February 2004. Her funeral procession started from her residence at West Canal bank, and was held in the house of her eldest son. She was buried at 'Shah Jamal' graveyard in Lahore.[6]
Personal life
Malika Pukhraj was married to Shabbir Hussain, a junior government official in the Punjab, and had six children including Tahira Syed, also a singer in Pakistan.[7][8]
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F87TnnTdpw, "Abhi tau mein jawan hoon" song on YouTube by Malika Pukhraj, uploaded 10 May 2010, Retrieved 1 February 2016
- ↑ http://www.dawn.com/news/783586/abhi-to-main-jawan-hoon&sa, Malika Pukhraj article on Dawn, Karachi newspaper, Retrieved 1 February 2016
- 1 2 Biography, Biography of Malika Pukhraj on tripod.com website, Retrieved 1 February 2016
- ↑ Unparalleled queen of gayaki The Hindu, published 4 June 2004, Retrieved 1 February 2016
- ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/fr/2004/06/04/stories/2004060401970600.htm, Malika Pukhraj 'Biography', Unparalleled queen of gayaki, published 4 June 2004, The Hindu newspaper, Retrieved 1 February 2016
- ↑ http://www.radio.gov.pk/newsdetail/342/57, Death Anniversary of Malika Pukhraj, Radio Pakistan News website, published 4 February 2015, Retrieved 1 February 2016
- ↑ http://www.dawn.com/news/783586/abhi-to-main-jawan-hoon&sa, Biography of Malika Pukhraj on Dawn, Karachi newspaper, published 4 February 2013, Retrieved 1 February 2016
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9TG8Dhusg4, Tahira Syed 'Profile' on YouTube, uploaded 9 January 2012, Retrieved 1 February 2016