With a heavy heart, Anupam began his message by talking about the nature of his inexplicable loss. “Pankaj Udhas ji, kyun, kyun, kyun chala jaate hain kuch log, kyun chod ke jaate hain kuch log,” Anupam questioned as he grappled with the sudden absence of cherished individuals from his lives.
Anupam reminisced about the beauty of memories shared with Udhas and described each encounter as a treasure of warmth and joy. “Roz nahi milna hota hai aise logon se, magar jab jab mile hote hain uski yaadein itni khoobsurat hoti hain,” he reflected.
PM Modi, Sonu Nigam and Anuradha Paudwal pay heartfelt tributes to late ghazal legend Pankaj Udhas
Painting a vivid picture of Udhas’s personality, Anupam praised him as a “wonderful person, soft-spoken, loving, always smiling,” while mentioning his exceptional talent as a ghazal singer. Recalling moments of camaraderie and shared experiences, Anupam fondly recounted their travels together, including memorable flights to destinations like America and England.
Expressed his deep sadness over the void created by Udhas’ absence, Anupam said, “Akele pan ka ehsaas aur zyada hota hai jab aapke contemporaries ya aapke jine aap pasand karte ho. Har ek ke jaane ka afsos hota hai, lekin kuch log, jaise kahi na kahi ek khala chhod jaate hain, ek emptiness chhod jaate hain, we all will miss him.”
As Anupam bid farewell to the ghazal maestro, he urged Udhas to sing songs after meeting his late father Pushkar Nath Kher and late friend Satish Kaushik. “Chaliye, upar jaake mehfil jamayiye, aap upar ke logon ko khush karenge. Mere father mile, ya Satish ji mile, to unko zaroor kuch sunana, my father will have a drink and I am sure Satish will have a drink and then you sing something for them,” he proposed and concluded saying, “I will miss you, Pankaj ji I will miss you.”
Pankaj Udhas, a Padma Shri recipient, passed away on February 26 at the age of 72 due to prolonged illness. He took his last breath around 11 am at the Breach Candy hospital on Monday. His daughter broke the news of her father’s demise on Instagram. His family has informed that the last rites of the singer will be held on Tuesday from 3 to 5 pm at the Hindu Crematorium, Worli (Mumbai).
