An Eternal Cultural Dimension of Fazilka, who contributed to enrich the heritage of Punjab

It is a great news and proud moment for citizens of Fazilka that Mrs. Pushpa Hans, a veteran Punjabi singer from this town has been given Padamshri Award, the most prestigious and coveted civilian award for Indian citizens of the sub continent by the President of India, for her outstanding contribution in the field of Art and Culture.

It is heartening to note this as she has contributed immensely to the cause of Punjabi folk and classical music.
Padamshri Pushpa Hans, a heart-throb of millions of cinema fans in the 40s and the 50s, acted in movies as a singing star and also did play back singing for actors of yesteryears. She hails from Fazilka and is now settled at New Delhi. Her acting added laurels and dimensions to movies of  V. Shanta Ram's "Apna Desh, 1949”, Sohrab Modi's "Sheesh Mahal, 1950”. These are a few out of the many movies which were appreciated by the cine goers of 50s. She sang playback for the Music Director Vinod’s Punjabi first super-hit film "Chaman" and later for many other Hindi and Punjabi films. The melodious compositions like “Channa kithan guzari raat wey", are still sung by contestants especially in “Awaz Punjab Di” sponsored by several agencies on TV channels. Older generation still makes it a point to recollect her melodious songs which they still hum at the time of marriages and social functions.
Born in the house of Mr Rattan Lal Kapoor, famous practicing criminal laywer of that time. She did her Bacholer degree in music from Lahore University and almost 10 years she took Indian classical music traning at “Patwardhan gharana” of Lahore. She also started her singing career with All India Radio Lahore.

All the musical compositions to which she gave her voice still enthrall the audiences all over the world. Her song "Channa kithan guzari raat wey", "Gallan dilan diyaan dila vich reh gayiyaan" & "Tarean to puchh Chann wey” still hold the public in awe. She is a remembered for her legendary Punjabi folklores and classical renderings. She is one of the few female play back singers for whom the Government of India has recorded a Documentary. The others artistes are Lata Mangeshkar Ji & Asha Bhonsale Ji. Credit to sing first time Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s compositions, famous poet of birha, goes to Pushpa Hans ji.

Even at a ripe age she continues to sing on TV, launch CDs, and perform on stage. Mrs. Pushpa Hans has been conducting live stage concerts all over the world. She has performed on the prestigious stages of USA, Canada and the UK. She was the leading singing artiste of film actor late Mr. Sunil Dutt’s “The Ajanta Arts” troupe“which visited the border areas to entertain Jawans on the front. May be her husband’s being in the Defence Services motivated her to do her bit for the Jawans serving on the border under harsh living conditions and rigorous climate.
She has also been awarded by Punjabi Bhushan Award by Punjabi Academy Delhi and Kalpana Chawla Excellence Awards 2007 by the chief Minister of Delhi. Beside this, she worked as a chief editor “The Eves Weekly” women’s lifestyle magazine for 17 years. She is an executive body member of Punjabi Academy Delhi.At present she is busy in making documentary movies on two Sufi saints “Hazrat Nizzamudim Aulia and Amir Khusroo”.

Padamshri Mrs. Pushpa Hans has brought name and fame to the small town of Fazilka. We, the citizen of Fazilka congratulate Mrs. Pushpa Hans for bringing laurels to the name of our town of her birth and pray for her long and high quality life. Her achievements in classical music will inspire the younger generations.

Awards:
- Padamshri Award, on the eve of Republic Day, 26th January, 2007, Government of India
- Punjabi Bhushan Award (2007)
- Kalpana Chawla Excellence Awards 2007

Personal Details:
Husband: Colonel Hans Raj Chopra (Retd)
Parents: Mother: Mrs. Janak Rani Kapoor, Father: Advocate Ratan Lal Kapoor, of Fazilka

Famous Punjabi Songs by Mrs. Pushpa Hans:
· chan kithan gujaari saari raat ve
· sari raat tera takni ha raah tarean to puchh chann wey
· gallan dilan diyaan dila vich reh gayiyaan by shiv kumar batalvi
· channa meri bah chhad dey
· chunni da palla
· lutti heer wey faqir de
·
Famous Hindi Songs sung by Mrs. Pushpa Hans:
· aadmi woh haay musibat se pareshan na ho
· bedard zamaana kya jaane
· bhoole zamaane yaad na kar yaad na kar
· dil kisise lagaake dekh liya
· dil-e-naadaan tujhe kya hua hai
· koi ummeed bar nahin aati
· meri khushiyon ke savere ki kabhi shaam na ho
· taqdeer bananewaale ne kaisi taqdeer banaayi hai
· tohe dil ki qasam tohe dil ki qasam
· tu maane ya na maane
· tum dekh rahe ho ki mite saare sahaare

By
Navdeep K. Asija
+9891266323
navdeep.asija@lovefazilka.com