Ghazal legend Pankaj Udhas laid to rest with state honours

The renowned Indian ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas, who passed away on February 26, was laid to rest with full state honours on Tuesday in the presence of his family and several celebrities from the industry.

As per the Indian Express, his mortal remains were draped in the tricolour at his residence in Mumbai. The Mumbai Police paid a state salute to the late singer as a mark of respect. The final rites took place at the Hindu Crematorium in Worli around 5pm.

Prominent figures from the industry, including Sonu Nigam, Vidya Balan, Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, and Sunil Gavaskar, were among those present at the crematorium, offering their last tributes to the musical maestro. The emotional funeral saw Pankaj Udhas' daughter, Reva, breaking down, while his elder brother, Manhar Udhas, was also in attendance.

Singer and composer Shankar Mahadevan, who paid his last respects at Pankaj Udhas’ residence, spoke to the media about the profound impact the legendary artist had on the world of music. He stated, "Pankaj Udhas took ghazal singing to the masses. He always encouraged us and gave us blessings. He maintained a positive approach towards everything. Whenever the musical fraternity had to make important decisions, Pankaj ji was always there with us. We will all miss him a lot."

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, present at Pankaj's residence, expressed the significance of Pankaj Udhas not just as a musical icon but as a remarkable human being. He conveyed, "You all know why we have come here. Pankaj is not only a diamond of our country but a renowned artist. But above all, he was a great human being. The love he has given to all of you, and the happiness he has given to the entire country through his music, there is no parallel to it. We love Pankaj and his family so much.”

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