Apart from being a Nobel Laureate in Literature and a renowned artist, Rabindranath Tagore, along with many Literature lovers of that time in Bengal, is strongly associated with using planchettes and having steady communication with the dead.

Séance Scene: Tagore’s Experiences

एक योजना जिसने देश के टुकड़े टुकड़े कर विभाजन की रूप रेखा तैयार की। इस योजना ने भारत में जो आग लगाई उसे आज तक पूरी तरह काबू नहीं किया जा सका है। यह और कोई नहीं बल्कि 1947 में 3 जून को पेश की गई माउंटबेटन योजना थी।

बंटवारे की योजना

Meena Kumari, known for her tragic roles in Bollywood films like Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam and Pakeezah, passed away today in 1972.

Tragedy Queen's tragic end

Samosa and Chai seem like a culinary combination that has become the default of Sunday morning breakfast and office breaks in India. From metropolitan cities to rural villages, Samosa as a snack is a fan favourite everywhere.

The tasty tale of Samosa

The ocean waves were hitting the shore of Bombay, SS Loyalty stood in magnificence, the sails were set high towards UK, it was the first ship of the Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd. We celebrate National Maritime Day today to honour this first sail!

Land Ahoy!

Draped in a white saree, with Veena in her hand, Goddess Saraswati is the muse of knowledge, music and arts. The auspicious day of Basant Panchami celebrates her birth with the commencement of Spring. Responsible for making the earth a lively place, Maa Saraswati's birth story is equally ethereal and intriguing.

Saraswati- Of Arts and Knowledge

As the rebellion raged with all its might, the EIC showed their prowess equally. On 17th May 1857, the Delhi Field Force advanced from Ambala to put an end to the rebellion.

The March to Hell

Imagine being a role model for multiple generations of women, having women’s day celebrated on your birthday due to your courage, conviction and assertiveness. This is what Sarojini Naidu was like

Thus Spoke the Nightingale

A fiasco unfolds as the Common Man-Chief Minister and the richest man of the country are brought in a tussle over prices of gas. Was it a mere economic mischance or a sly game to play the market?

Common Man Against the Richest

A successful singer is one whose voice touches the heart. This is the story of a veteran Ghazal singer, Pankaj Udhas, who never gave up hope in his life and scaled heights that are very difficult for any other artist to achieve.

Pankaj was born on 17 May 1951 in Gujarat into a zamindar family. When Pankaj was young, his voice and perfect swar and rhythm showed that he was born to be a famous singer and nothing else.

> He sang *Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo* in a stage show during the Indo-Sino war, for which he received a gift of 51 rupees from an audience member.

His eldest brother Manhar Udhas was a successful Hindi playback singer and his second eldest brother was a famous Ghazal singer too. After completing his schooling, Udhas moved to Mayanagari with his family. In Mumbai, he completed his further education at St. Xavier's College. He trained in Indian classical music from Sangeet Natak Sangeet and learned to play *the tabla*. Gradually, he worked on his voice with the help of Master Navrang and honed his skills for years in his bid to become one of the best.

> It just so happened that once he heard from his elder brother's guru that "if someone wants to pursue Ghazal singing then he should listen to Mehdi Hasan, and Begum Akhtar".

Usha Khanna (a famous singer) gave him his first outing in the film *Kamna.* Even though the film flopped, Udhas' singing was highly praised. Pankaj learned Urdu and decided to go abroad to pursue his career. Slowly, despair began to engulf Pankaj. He spent ten months in Canada, where he saw the love for Hindustani music. Pankaj then returned to India to pursue his goal.

> *Aahat*, the first Ghazal album of Pankaj was released in 1980.

From hereon, he began to climb the ladder of success. He ruled the world of music for years on end. The song *Chithi Aayi Hai* became so popular that he became a superstar overnight. Udhas Saheb, today, is considered one of the most successful singers of the subcontinent. No one can ever forget his Superhit song *Na Kajrare Ki Dhar*.

He presented a list of superhit tracks one after the other from the movie *Saajan, Dillagi, Naam,* and *Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aaya*. 

Of course, Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, and Manna day dominated the singing industry when Pankaj started his journey but Pankaj succeeded in making his place among these people as well. Pankaj Udhas was honoured the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2006 for his contribution to the Indian world of Ghazals. There was no one like him in Indian cinema before and there will be no one after.

Pankaj Udhas- Ghazal Singer; Source: YouTube

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The ambience and the exuberance of the sama that Ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas creates is truly magnificent. Born today in 1951, he also sings for Bollywood movies.

Vaishnavi Sharma

A Ghazal Singer

Vaishnavi Sharma

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