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{{short description|Pakistani singer}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2016}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Malika Pukhraj
| image = Malika Pukhraj (1912-2004) in 1920s.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Malika Pukhraj in 1920s, Jammu.
| image_size =
| landscape = 
| honorific_suffix = [[Pride of Performance|PP]]
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| alias =
| birth_date = 1912
| birth_place = Hamirpur Sidhar, [[Jammu]], [[British India]] (present-day [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]])
| origin = [[Jammu]], [[India]]
| death_date = 4 February 2004 (aged 92)
| death_place = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], Pakistan
| genre = [[Pakistani folk music|Folk music]] and [[Ghazal]]
| occupation = Vocalist
| instrument =
| years_active = 
| label = [[Radio Pakistan]]<br>[[All-India Radio]]
| associated_acts =
| website = 
}}

'''Malika Pukhraj''' ({{lang-ur|ملكہ پکھراج }}) (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]].<ref>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</ref> Others among her popular numbers in [[Urdu|Urdu language]] were ''Lo phir basant aaii'', [[Quli Qutb Mulk|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 Singer family of professional musicians.<ref>Prof RL Kaul, ''Kashmir and Jammu: A History'' pub Jammu: Indar V Press, 1955, p. 102</ref> 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.<ref>http://www.dawn.com/news/783586/abhi-to-main-jawan-hoon&sa, Malika Pukhraj article on Dawn, Karachi newspaper. Retrieved 1 February 2016</ref><ref name=tri>[http://members.tripod.com/oldies_club/malika_pukhraj.htm Biography], Biography of Malika Pukhraj on tripod.com website. Retrieved 1 February 2016</ref>

Malika Pukhraj received her traditional musical training from Ustad Ali Baksh Kasuri, the father of legendary singer Ustad [[Bade Ghulam Ali Khan]].{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

==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 (court)|Durbar]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040623080727/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/06/04/stories/2004060401970600.htm Unparalleled queen of gayaki] [[The Hindu]], published 4 June 2004. Retrieved 1 February 2016</ref> She stayed there as a singer for another nine years.<ref name=tri/>

She was among the well-known professional singers of [[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).{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

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.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/fr/2004/06/04/stories/2004060401970600.htm, ]{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Malika Pukhraj 'Biography', Unparalleled queen of gayaki, published 4 June 2004, The Hindu newspaper. Retrieved 1 February 2016</ref> 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 the ceremony was held in the house of her eldest son. She was buried at Shah Jamal graveyard in [[Lahore]].<ref>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</ref>

==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]].<ref>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</ref><ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9TG8Dhusg4, [[Tahira Syed]] 'Profile' on YouTube, uploaded 9 January 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2016</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{Pride of Performance for Arts}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pukhraj, Malika}}
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Pakistani Muslims]]
[[Category:Pakistani women singers]]
[[Category:Pakistani ghazal singers]]
[[Category:People from Jammu (city)]]
[[Category:Singers from Lahore]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance]]
[[Category:Punjabi singers]]
[[Category:Pakistani folk singers]]
[[Category:Indian women folk singers]]
[[Category:Indian folk singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Women musicians from Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women singers]]

Malika Pukhraj - Revision history

->JJMC89 bot III at 11:15, 19 September 2021