Gandhinagar: Pankaj Udhas, a Gujarat-born Ghazal singer passed away today at the age of 72 after prolonged illness. He was suffering from pancreas cancer. He breathed last at Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai at 11.00 am today. Her passing away was announced and confirmed by his daughter Nayab. His final rites will be performed on February 27.

Udhas was born in May 1951 at Jetpur in Saurashtra in Gujarat. His grandfather was Diwan in then Bhavnagar native state. His father Keshubhai was a government employee. Udhas was a student of a primary school in Bhavnagar. He was also a student of Rajkot school number 20 in Bhaktinagar area where his family would live. He along with his two brothers had took training of music in Kashi Vishwanath Sangit Natya Academy in Rajkot. Udhas was born in Charan-Gadhvi family. He would visit Charakhdi (near Gondal) based Punbai Mataji and Lalbai Mataji madh before launching his albums as per the locals.

Pankaj Udhas’s brothers Manhar Udhas and Nirmal Udhas are also singers. Pankaj Udhas was married to Fareeda who was an air-hostess in those days. Pankajbhai is survived by his two daughters Nayab and Rewa.

Pankajbhai sang a number of Hindi and Gujarati Ghazals and songs. He was awarded Padmashree for his contribution to the art of Ghazal singing. A veteran singer’s first album was launched as early as 1980. He has given over 50 music albums so far. DeshGujarat