Date: 23rd January 2004, By: Hans Raj Hans, Ajoka Group (Pakistan)
A name synonymous with Punjabi folklore and sufi songs. Born at village Shafipur near Jalandhar, fond of singing from the very childhood. He drew inspiration from the street singer who frequented the village in early hours of the morning chanting devotional songs. He is the disciple of Ustad Puran Shahkoti Sahib from whom he has had the formal training. It is because of the Great Master that he was lured into Sufiana Style of singing “Hans”. His surname was affectionately bestowed on him by his Guru.
His first song was full of zeal and patriotic fervor “Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Di Ghori”. Started singing career from the village and then migrated to urban areas. In between he has a short stint as Hero in Punjabi film “Mehandi Shagna Di” and guest appearance cum playback singer in “Baisakhi”. Also sang in the music of late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in film “Kache Dhage”. Recently, he sang a song “Dil Tote Tote Ho Giya” in Hindi film “Bichhu”.
The list of his hit songs is endless. He has worked with many renowned music directors out of which the name of late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan stands out. So Far he has produced 15 albums based on Sufiana Kalam, some favorites among them are “Jogian De Kanan Vich” and “Kook Papihe Wali” etc. Hans Raj Hans is the first and only Punjabi singer to figure prominently in TV Serial Surbhi. He was also appointed as judge at Asia Song Context in UK continuously for 3 years. At heart he is true Indian and a typical Punjabi. He proclaims “mera desh meri takdir bhi hai” (my country is also my destiny).
to master his art of singing he has done an extensive research on “Sufi Saints” such as Baba farid, Baba Bulle Shah, Shah Hussain, Hashmat Shah and Waris Shah. He excels in “Folk Music and Sufianan Gaiki” and distinct and unique old style of his own. He is appointed ‘visiting Professor of Sufism” at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. His singing career has bloomed since 1984 and is on the swing up. He has also acquired International status which has taken him to many foreign countries like USA, Canada, England, Australia, Singapore, etc.
Ajoka – Pakistan
Ajoka, which pioneered the theatre movement in Pakistan, was set up in 1983 by a group of young people led by Madeeha Gauhar, a TV actress and theatre director. Ajoka’s first play, Badal Sarkar’s “Jaloos” was performed in Lahore in 1984, in a house lawn in defiance of the strict censorship laws. Since then Ajoka has been continuously performing socially meaningful plays within Pakistan and abroad. It has now over two dozen original plays and several adaptations in it’s repertoire.
