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Malika Pukhraj

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Malika Pukhraj
ملكہ پکھراج
PP
Malika Pukhraj in the 1920s, Jammu.
Malika Pukhraj in the 1920s, Jammu.
Background information
Born1912
Hamirpur Sidhar, Jammu, British India (present-day Jammu and Kashmir, India)
OriginJammu
Died4 February 2004(2004-02-04) (aged 91–92)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
GenresFolk music and Ghazal
OccupationsGhazal and folk singer, Kathak dancer
Years active1921 – 2004
LabelsRadio Pakistan
All-India Radio

Malika Pukhraj (Punjabi, Urdu: ملكہ پکھراج) (1912 – 2004) was a highly popular Ghazal and folk singer of Pakistan.[1] She was generally known as "Malika", meaning "The Queen", publicly.[2][1]

She was 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.[3][4]

Others among her popular numbers in Urdu language were Lo phir basant aaii, Quli Qutub's Piya baaj piyala piya jaey na, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Mere qatil mere dildar mere paas raho.[5]

Early life

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Malika Pukhraj was born in Hamirpur Sidhar to a family of professional musicians.[6] Originally, she belonged to the Dogra family of the Jammu region in what is now Indian administered Kashmir. She was given the name "Malika" at birth by Baba Roti Ram 'Majzoob', a spiritualist, in the Akhnoor area, and named Pukhraj (yellow sapphire) by her aunt who herself was a professional singer-dancer.[7][8]

Malika Pukhraj received her traditional musical training from Ustad Ali Baksh Kasuri, the father of legendary singers Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and ghazal singer Barkat Ali Khan.[9] In addition to classical music, she also specifically studied kathak dance.[10][11]

Performing career

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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.[12][13] She stayed there as a singer and dancer for another nine years.[8][4]

She was among the well-known professional singers of India in the 1940s by singing on All India Radio.[14] 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.[15] Her voice is most suitable for 'folk songs of the hills' (Pahari Songs).[14]

In 1980, she received the Pride of Performance Award from the President of Pakistan.[1][14]

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.[16][14] Malika Pukhraj also recorded her memoirs in the novel Song Sung True.[1]

Personal life

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Malika Pukhraj was married to Shabbir Hussain Syed, a junior government official in the Punjab, and had six children, including Tahira Syed, also a singer in Pakistan.[4][17][18]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Language
1939KajalHindi
1940Azadi-e-WatanHindi
1940Aflatoon AuratHindi
1940Manzil Door NahiHindi
1950ShammiPunjabi

Death

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Malika Pukhraj died in Lahore, Pakistan on 4 February 2004.[1] Her funeral procession started from her residence at West Canal bank, and the ceremony was held in the house of her eldest son.[1]

Awards and recognition

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Amjad Parvez (19 June 2018). "Malika Pukhraj — a strong, unique and tuneful voice". Daily Times (newspaper). Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  2. ↑ SP Sharma (8 March 2017). "Forgotten Melody Queen?". The Statesman. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  3. ↑ "Abhi tau mein jawan hoon" song on YouTube by Malika Pukhraj Uploaded 10 May 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2022
  4. 1 2 3 Asif Noorani. "Malika takes a final bow". DAWN Images. Archived from the original on 14 February 2004.
  5. ↑ Irfan Aslam (13 June 2021). "NON-FICTION: A WOMAN AHEAD OF HER TIMES". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  6. ↑ Prof RL Kaul, Kashmir and Jammu: A History pub Jammu: Indar V Press, 1955, p. 102
  7. ↑ Malika Pukhraj Dawn (newspaper), Retrieved 7 July 2022
  8. 1 2 Profile of Malika Pukhraj on tripod.com website. Retrieved 7 July 2022
  9. ↑ "Death anniversary of Malika Pukhraj observed". Geo TV.
  10. ↑ "Malka Pukhraj - Song Sung True". Boloji. Retrieved 29 February 2004.
  11. ↑ "MALiKA PUKHRAJ (1912-2004)". Streeshakti. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "Malika Pukhraj lived here in Jammu". The Dispatch. 3 July 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  13. ↑ "Unparalleled queen of gayaki". The Hindu newspaper. Archived from the original on 23 June 2004. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "15th death anniversary of Malika Pukhraj observed". Radio Pakistan website. 4 February 2019. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "Her Swan Song". Caravan Magazine. 4 December 2021.
  16. 1 2 Wajiha Naqvi (18 June 2021). "Mallikas of yesteryear". HIMAL SOUTHASIAN magazine. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 Profile of Malika Pukhraj Dawn (newspaper), Published 4 February 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2022
  18. ↑ Tahira Syed 'Profile' on YouTube Uploaded 9 January 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2022
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