One of the most renowned musicians from Jammu is Malika Pukhraj, a legendary ghazal and folk
singer whose legacy continues to resonate across generations. Born in 1912 in Hamirpur Sidhar, a
village near Jammu, Malika Pukhraj displayed extraordinary musical talent from an early age. Her
voice caught the attention of Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, who appointed
her as a court singer when she was just nine years old. Her training in classical music laid a strong
foundation for her long and illustrious career. Malika Pukhraj became a celebrated name not only in
Jammu and Kashmir but throughout the Indian subcontinent, particularly for her emotive renditions
of Dogri and Punjabi folk songs and Urdu [Link] of her most iconic performances was the
rendition of "Abhi to main jawaan hoon," a poem by Hafeez Jullundhri, which became a timeless
classic. Her voice was known for its rich timbre and emotional depth, qualities that captivated
audiences during the golden era of radio. After the partition of India in 1947, she moved to Pakistan,
where she continued her musical journey and became a cultural icon. Despite the geographical shift,
Malika Pukhraj remained deeply connected to her roots in Jammu, often recalling the cultural
richness of the region in interviews and performances. She was honored with several awards,
including the Pride of Performance Award by the Government of Pakistan in [Link] Pukhraj's
contribution to South Asian music, especially in preserving and popularizing the folk traditions of
Jammu, remains invaluable. She passed away in 2004, but her legacy lives on through her recordings
and the generations of artists she inspired. Her life and music continue to be a source of pride for
Jammu and a testament to the region’s rich cultural heritage
Pandit Omkarnath Thakur (1897–1967), one of Gujarat’s most esteemed classical musicians, rose from humble
origins to become a towering figure in Hindustani music. Born in the village of Jahaj near Khambhat (present-
day Gujarat), he lost his father in early childhood and worked odd jobs to support his family—yet his musical
talent was soon recognized by philanthropist Shahpurji Doongaji, who sponsored his training under the
legendary Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Bombay [Link]
Paluskar’s mentorship, Thakur immersed himself in the Gwalior gharana, mastering vocal technique, pakhavaj
rhythm, and musicology. By age nineteen he was appointed principal of the school’s Lahore branch, becoming
both educator and performer at a remarkably young age Veethi+2Saptak Archives+[Link]+2. His debut
performance in 1918 quickly earned acclaim, and he later founded his own schools (Gandharva Niketan and
Sangeet Niketan) in Gujarat and [Link] for combining deep scholarship with dramatic expression,
Thakur pioneered the use of abhinaya—facial expressions, hand gestures, and voice modulation—to convey
the emotional essence of ragas and lyrics. Audiences and fellow artists alike were captivated by his ability to
evoke vivid moods, whether in bhajans like “Jogi mat ja” or patriotic renditions of “Vande Mataram”, which
Mahatma Gandhi praised as more impactful than several speeches Apple Music - Web
Player+[Link]+[Link]+3.A musical pioneer, Thakur toured Europe in the 1930s,
performing in Florence at an international conference in 1933 and reportedly even singing privately for Benito
Mussolini. His charismatic performances introduced Hindustani classical music to new Western audiences long
before other Indian maestros gained global fame Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+[Link] eminent scholar, he authored
the six-volume Sangeetanjali series and theoretical works like Pranav Bharati. In 1950 he became the first dean
of the music faculty at Banaras Hindu University, where he composed the university anthem and influenced a
generation of musicians and musicologists Veethi+7Wikipedia+7Wikipedia+[Link] with the Padma Shri in
1955 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1963, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur’s legacy endures through his
recordings, academic contributions, and the enduring influence of his expressive style—a true artistic treasure
of Gujarat and India
