![mallka-pakhraj](https://dailytimes.com.pk/assets/uploads/2018/06/18/mallka-pakhraj.jpg)
Born in village Mirpur on the banks of the River Akhnoor sixteen miles from Jammu in 1912, Pukhraj, a name given by her aunt, was given the title ‘Malika’ (Queen) at her birth by Majzoob Baba Roti Ram, a spiritualist in Akhnoor area
Demise: Malika Pukhraj’s last appearance was in PTV’s programme ‘Khiraj-e-Tehseen’ in 2003. She was flouted by her family and friends. She looked frail. She died the following year on 4th of February, 2004. Her funeral procession started from her residence at West Canal Bank, and was held in the house of her eldest son. She was buried at ‘Shah Jamal’ graveyard in Lahore. I attended the largely attended funeral. She received the Presidential Pride of Performance Award. 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. Malika Pukhraj also recorded her memoirs in the novel Song Sung True.
Published in Daily Times, June 19th 2018.