BY SHAHID SHABIR
It will be appropriate to term Raj Begum as the melody queen of Kashmir. The Legend Raj Begum shot to limelight in early fifties by virtue of her famous songs and magical voice.
Raj Begum whose original name was Rehti was born in the Maisuma area of Srinagar during the Dogra Rule in Kashmir. She started her career as an amateur singer finally turning professional singer in the water shed years of 1947.In 1950 at the age of 17 years with All India Radio started with regular broadcasting from Srinagar Station Raj Begum got associated with the Choral Group of famous Chakri singers of Kashmir.
One of the sarangi players namely Gh. Qadir Langoo discovered this young talent and inspired and persuaded her to let her voice for professional singing.
Raj right from childhood had a leaning and inclination towards vocal music but the hand to mouth living of her parents did not let her fulfill her wishes. Since there was no tradition of sending girls for formal education the fate of Raj Begum also remained like other girls of Kashmir of that time. But God had bestowed her excellent retentive memory which helped her overcome the shortcomings in the field of reading the scripts.
Raj Begum started her career as a professional singer when the social boycott against singers was at its peak because of bad name it had earned during the period of Sikh and Pathan rulers.
Raj Begum had the magic in her voice. Her first solo song took her to the new heights of fame and popularity. With the passage of time she became the heart throb of music lovers of Kashmir. She became popular in other parts of the state as well.
Raj Begum was the contemporary of famous female singers of Kashmir like Tara Begum, Zoon Begum & Naseem Akhtar. Association of the fellow artists like Gh. Mohammad Bhat, Gh. Mohammad Rah, Ali Mohammad , Mohan Lal Aima, Gh. Mohi-Ud-Din Balpuri, G. Q. Langoo and many more added more charisma to the art and personality of Raj Begum.
During that period there was no institution functional in the state that could mend the raw talent to become professionals. Raj Begum thus shared the fate of many more talented people like her who died unsung. But the patronage by the then Prime Minister of Kashmir Bakshi Gh. Mohammad and the guidance by the instrumentalist G. Q. Langoo shaped the artist better.
Stalwart composers like Qaisar Qalander, Virendra Mohan, Nassar-Ullah Khan , Mohan Lal Aima composed music par excellence for Raj Begum and Raj Begum wholeheartedly rendered her voice for these beautiful compositions and the blending of two resulted in the production of master piece and charismatic songs that are all time relevant and equally liked by the all the generations.
Raj Begum had set a trend and legacy in vocal music of Kashmir.
The instrumentalists playing different instruments for Raj Begum’s compositions are said to have played with heart. They have confessed having been involved by all means in making Raj Begum’s songs eternal.
Raj Begum has the mystic facet of her personality which she has inherited from predecessor singers of Kashmir who by virtue of their art and dedication are believed to have come closer to the God. It could probably be a reason that the magic of her voice is same as that of her teenage.
Raj Begum had impressed all her audiences and listeners with her magical voice and the niceties of her musical renderings.
Raj Begum was one of the singers of Kashmir who had excellent folk as well as modern age songs to their credit.
Raj Begum in recognition to her contributions to the field of music in Kashmir was honoured with Padma Shree in the 2002, and the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the highest recognition given to any artist in the field of drama,music and dance.
The transition of this cultural legacy from Raj Begum to the present generation of youth is laudable and appreciable at all costs.
Raj Begum had a distinction of having rendered her playback voice to feature film “ MEHJOOR ” which is a history in itself. In recognition to her contributions to the field of music during her active career, she was conferred with Padma Shree that gave this artist a recognition and reprieve for the struggle she had made in this field during the turbulent times and unfavourable circumstances.
We mark a tribute to this nightingale of Kashmir who breathed her last on Wednesday 26th Oct. 2016 at the age of 89.
Shahid Shabir is a journalist
