Malika Pukhraj

Malika Pukhraj in 1920s in Kashmir

Malika Pukhraj (Urdu: ملكہ پکھراج ) (b1912 - 2004) was a highly popular singer of Pakistan. She was generally called as "Malika" meaning "The Queen." She is extremely popular for her rendition of Hafeez Jalandhri's song, Abhi to main jawan hoon ("I am still youthful"), which is enjoyed by millions not only in Pakistan, but also in India ^[1]. Her popular numbers were,Lo phir basant aaya and Quli Qutub's Piya baaj piyale piya jaye na and Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Mere qatil mere dildar mere paas raho.

Biography

Malika Pukhraj, was born in village Mirpur, on the banks of the River Akhnoor, 16 miles from Jammu ^[2], and as she grew up her mother moved to Kanak Mandi area of Jammu, presently known as Jammu and Kashmir, where she spent early years of her life. She was given the name "Malika" at birth, by 'Majzoob', 'Baba Roti Ram, a spiritualist, in Akhnoor area ^[3], and named Pukhraj by her Aunt ^[2]

Malika Pukhraj who was coached by Ustad Ali Baksh Kasuri-father of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. At age nine, At 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 for another nine years ^[2].

Over the next 8 decades she captivated her audience with her command over the singing genres of Thumri, Ghazal, Bhajan and folk Pahari Geet, including Dogri folk songs ^[5]. She was among the greatest singers of British India in the 1940s, and after Partition of India in 1947, she migrated to Lahore, Pakistan ^[6], where she received further fame, through her radio performances with composer, Kale Khan ^[7].

In 1980, she received the Presidential Pride of Performance Award, Pakistan ^[8]. In 1977, when All India Radio, for which she sang until Partition, was celebrating its Golden Jubilee, she was invited to India, and awarded with the 'legend of Voice' award ^[9]. Malika Pukhraj also recorded her memoirs in the novel Song Sung True.

Malika Pukhraj, died in Lahore on February 4, 2004 ^[7]. Her funeral procession started from her residence West Canal bank, and she laid to rest at her ancestral 'Shah Jamal' graveyard in Lahore ^[8].

Personal life

Malika Pukhraj was married to Syed Shabbir Hussain Shah, a Government Officer and had 6 children,including Tahira Syed, one of Malika Pukhraj’s two daughters, emerged as a well-known singer in her own right. Her other daughter, Tasneem, is married to famous lawyer and senator S.M. Zafar.She has 4 sons,her eldest son is Tarique,next Tauqeer, then Tanveer ,and Tasvir.

References

1. ^ Abhi to main jawan hoon
2. ^ ^{a b c} Biography
3. ^ Malika Pukhraj’s memory still ‘jawan’ in Jammu The Tribune, February 8, 2004.
4. ^ Unparalleled queen of gayaki The Hindu, June 4, 2004.
5. ^ Mallika was a real Pukhraj The Hindu, April 26, 2004.
6. ^ Obituary -2004 - मलिका पुखराज BBC Hindi.
7. ^ ^{a b} Pakistani folk music doyenne dies BBC News, February 4, 2004.
8. ^ ^{a b} Renowned Classical Singer Malika Pukhraj Pakistan Times.
9. ^ Malika takes a final bow Dawn, February 15, 2004.

External links

• Malika takes a final bow - Daily Dawn

Persondata
Name	Pukhraj, Malika
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1912
Place of birth
Date of death	2004
Place of death