Abhi To Main

[Mariu Carlton]

Bornin a village in Jammu in 1912, Pukhraj began training very early. When she was five, she was singing nohas (lamentations) and marsiyas (mournings) with such depth that her parents sent her to Delhi to learn music and dance from such famous musicians as Ustaad Momin Khan, Ustaad Mollah Bukhsh Talwandi and Ustaad Ashiq Ali. Pukhraj learnt thumri singing from Ustad Mamman Khan and kathak dance from Lachhu Maharaj in Mumbai.

At the age of 17, she left Jammu for Lahore where she married Syed Shabbir Hussain, a writer of Urdu short stories. Here she began performing for All India Radio and also began singing ghazals, dadras and thumris in private concerts. In the 1930s, along with Begum Akhtar, Pukhraj made a name for herself as an indomitable voice in semi-classical singing. Exposure to literary greats such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Hafeez Jallandhari (who wrote Abhi toh main jawaan hoon besides the national anthem of Pakistan) and her popularity on radio brought maturity to her artistry.

Pukhraj tried her luck in films, but a few days after shooting for a Wadia Movietone film song, she fled. In this rare video clip you can see her walking listlessly around a drawing room, singing a love elegy. Her powerful vocal chords do not require any accompanying instrument as she towers over the composition with the throw of her voice.

Rohit Sharma gave a hilarious reply on Team India's bowling combination at the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 during a BCCI press conference on Thursday, saying, "Abhi main bolke kya karunga? (What is the use of telling it now)".

Addressing a press conference with BCCI's chief selector Ajit Agarkar on the Team India squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Rohit was asked about who will open bowling with star pacer Jasprit Bumrah.

India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on 5 June 2024, at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, followed by the marquee clash against Pakistan on 9 June 2024 at the same venue. India will then play the USA and Canada on June 12 and 15 respectively.

India have added two wicket-keepers, including Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson, to their squad. Star batter Virat Kohli, who has been slamming runs in the ongoing IPL 2024 has also been added into the squad.

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