Malika Pukhraj (Punjabi, ) (1912 – 2004) was a highly popular Ghazal and folk singer of Pakistan. She was generally known as "Malika", meaning "The Queen", publicly.
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."Abhi tau mein jawan hoon" song on YouTube by Malika Pukhraj Uploaded 10 May 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2022
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.
Early life Malika Pukhraj was born in Hamirpur Sidhar to a family of professional musicians.Prof RL Kaul, Kashmir and Jammu: A History pub Jammu: Indar V Press, 1955, p. 102 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.Malika Pukhraj Dawn (newspaper), Retrieved 7 July 2022 Profile of Malika Pukhraj on tripod.com website. Retrieved 7 July 2022
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. In addition to classical music, she also specifically studied kathak dance.
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. She stayed there as a singer and dancer for another nine years.
She was among the well-known professional singers of India in the 1940s by singing on All India Radio. 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 from 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. Malika Pukhraj also recorded her memoirs in the novel Song Sung True.
Personal life 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.Profile of Malika Pukhraj Dawn (newspaper), Published 4 February 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2022Tahira Syed 'Profile' on YouTube Uploaded 9 January 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2022
Filmography Film Year Film Language 1939 Kajal Hindi 1940 Azadi-e-Watan Hindi 1940 Aflatoon Aurat Hindi 1940 Manzil Door Nahi Hindi 1950 Shammi Punjabi
Death Malika Pukhraj died in Lahore, Pakistan on 4 February 2004. Her funeral procession started from her residence at West Canal bank, and the ceremony was held in the house of her eldest son.
Awards and recognition Legend of Voice Award (1977) by All India Radio Pride of Performance (1980) by the President of Pakistan
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