New Delhi: Legendary ghazal and playback singer Pankaj Udhas passed away on Monday after a long battle with illness. He is survived by his wife, Farida, and their two daughters, Nayab and Reva. Pankaj and Farida got married in 1982.
In a past interview with DNA, Udhas opened up about his love story with Farida, describing their journey as a "struggle" filled with challenges. He met Farida in 1979, and they dated for three years before facing resistance from their families due to their different backgrounds. Udhas, from a Gujarati landlord family, and Farida, from a traditional Parsi family, persisted in their love and convinced their parents to bless their union. They married on February 11, 1982.
“Those were days of struggle. I come from a family of landlords in Gujarat. Farida comes from a traditional Parsi family. So there was resistance from both sides. But I wanted to marry only with our parents’ blessings. I decided to meet her father — a retired police officer possessing a licensed gun. He reluctantly agreed saying, ‘If you think you can be happy, then go ahead.’ We got married on February 11, 1982,” he told DNA.
Udhas spoke fondly of Farida's unwavering support, recalling how she offered him financial aid during the launch of his first album, even though they weren't married at the time.
"While I was launching my first album, I ran short of a few thousand rupees. Farida didn’t have money either. We weren’t married then. But the next day she handed over the sum to me. She had borrowed it. Nothing can match this ever. We’ve promised each other that no matter how much we argue, we’ll never fight over religion,” he said.
He described her as an "independent thinker" and a "good administrator," who would help him select verses and offer valuable critique during album launches.
Farida, on the other hand, expressed her unwavering faith in her husband and her pride in their partnership.
"I want Pankaj to be my husband for seven lifetimes. Very few men appreciate the contribution of a woman in their lives. He is one of them. That has seen us through,” she said in the interview.
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