Hans Raj Hans is an

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

n singer who later became a

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...

. He is a member of

Bharatiya Janata Party The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; ; ) is a political party in India, and one of the two major Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. Since 2014, it has been the ruling political party in India under Narendra Mod ...

and a recipient of the civilian honour of

Padma Shri Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...

. He sings Punjabi folk and

Sufi music Sufi music refers to the devotional music of the Sufis, inspired by the works of Sufi poets like Rumi, Hafiz, Bulleh Shah, Amir Khusrow, and Khwaja Ghulam Farid. Qawwali is the best-known form of Sufi music and is most commonly found in the ...

as well as in movies and has also released his own 'Punjabi-pop' albums. He has worked alongside other artists, such as

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan ( pa, ; born Pervez Fateh Ali Khan; 13 October 1948 – 16 August 1997) was a Pakistani singer, songwriter, and music director. He was primarily a singer of qawwali — a form of Sufi devotional music. Sometimes ...

in the movie '' Kachche Dhaage''.

Early life

Hans Raj Hans was born in the village of Shafipur, near to

Jalandhar Jalandhar is the third most-populous city in the Indian state of Punjab and the largest city in Doaba region. Jalandhar lies alongside the Grand Trunk Road and is a well-connected rail and road junction. Jalandhar is northwest of the state ...

, Punjab, India. Hans did his graduation from DAV College, Jalandhar. Since his teen years, Hans was trained in singing by

Ustad Puran Shah Koti Ustād or ostād (abbreviated as Ust., Ut. or Ud.; from Persian ) is an honorific title used in West Asia, North Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is used in various languages such as Persian, , Azerbaijani, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Marat ...

. In 2014, it was reported that Hans Raj converted to Islam, however he has denied this claim.

Musical career

As a youth, Hans learned from music director Charanjit Ahuja. Then he started singing Punjabi folk, devotional and Sufi music. He worked with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, in the movie ''Kachche Dhaage''. Hans has been an honorary music professor at Washington DC University and San Jose State University.

Political career

Hans joined the

Shiromani Akali Dal The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) (translation: ''Supreme Akali Party'') is a centre-right sikh-centric state political party in Punjab, India. The party is the second-oldest in India, after Congress, being founded in 1920. Although there are man ...

party in January 2009 and in May of that year, he contested the

Punjab, India Punjab (; ) is a state in northern India. Forming part of the larger Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, the state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the north and northeast, Haryana to the south and southeast, and ...

constituency. He resigned on 18 December 2014 and joined the

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British E ...

in February 2016. He joined

on 10 December 2016. He defeated and replaced

Udit Raj Udit Raj (born 1 January 1958) is an Indian politician and member of Indian National Congress. He was a Member of Parliament between 2014 and 2019 in the Lok Sabha, representing the North West Delhi as a member of Bharatiya Janata Party. Raj ...

as the candidate representing

North West Delhi North West Delhi is an administrative district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India. Geography North West Delhi is bounded by the Yamuna River on the northeast, and by the districts of North Delhi to the east and southeast, Wes ...

in the 2019 Indian general election.

Discography

Albums

*2017 ''Mundeh Punjabi'' *2014 ''Jaadu'' *2011 ''Ek Ishaaaaa"" *2008 ''Yaara O Yaara'' *2007 ''Wanjara'' *2004 ''The Knight'' *2003 ''Tera Ishq'' *2002 ''Haaye Sohniye'' *2002 ''Ghama Di Raat'' *2001 ''Sab Ton Sohni'' *2001 ''Jhanjar'' *2000 ''Chorni'' *1996 ''Lal Garara'' *1994 ''Mohabbat'' *1993 ''Ishqe Di Barsaat'' *1992 ''Jhanjaria'' *1992 ''Aar Tutdi Naa Paar Tutdi'' *1991 ''Thah Karke'' *1990 ''Tera Mera Pyar'' *1990 ''Ashiqan Di Kahdi Zindagi'' *1990 ''Waris Punjab De'' *1989 ''Balle Ni Rahe Rahe'' *1987 ''Ek Dang Hor Mar Ja'' *1987 ''Ek Kuri Mainu Rajheon Fakir Kar Gai'' *1983 ''Jogian De Kanna Vich''

Bollywood

*2018 ''

Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety ''Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety'' () is a 2018 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed and written by Luv Ranjan whose banner Luv Films co-produced it along with T-Series. The film was jointly distributed by T-Series, Amazon Prime Video and AA ...

'' *2011 '' Mausam'' *2011 '' Patiala House'' *2008 '' Black & White'' *2002 ''

Bend It Like Beckham ''Bend It Like Beckham'' (also known as ''Kick It Like Beckham'') is a 2002 sports comedy-drama film directed by Gurinder Chadha from a screenplay by Chadha, Paul Mayeda Berges, and Guljit Bindra. The film stars Parminder Nagra, Keira Knight ...

'' *2002 '' 23 March 1931: Shaheed'' *2001 '' Nayak'' *2001 ''

Jodi No. 1 ''Jodi No.1'' () is an Indian 2001 Hindi-language comedy film directed by David Dhawan. Released on 13 April 2001, the film stars Sanjay Dutt, Govinda, Anupam Kher, Twinkle Khanna and Monica Bedi. Budgeted at the film was a commercial succes ...

'' *2001 ''

Monsoon Wedding ''Monsoon Wedding'' is a 2001 Indian comedy-drama film directed by Mira Nair and written by Sabrina Dhawan. The film stars Naseeruddin Shah, Lillete Dubey, Shefali Shah and Vasundhara Das. The story depicts romantic entanglements during a tradi ...

'' *2000 ''

Bichhoo ''Bichhoo'' () is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film starring Bobby Deol and Rani Mukerji. ''Bichhoo'' is a remake of the 1994 English-language French action thriller film ''Léon: The Professional''. Synopsis Jeeva (Bobby Deol) i ...

'' *1999 '' Kachche Dhaage''

Religious

*2011 ''Amrit Varga Paani'' (with

Sardool Sikander Sardool Sikander (15 January 1961 – 24 February 2021) was an Indian singer associated with Punjabi-language folk and pop music, who made his first appearances on radio and television in the early 1980s with his introductory album, "Roadways ...

) World Music *2009 ''Koi Aan Milavai'' (featuring Sant Anoop Singh (Una Sahib Wale) & Bhai Maninder Singh (Sri Nagar Wale)) *2008 ''300 Saala Hazoor Sahib'' ( T-Series) *2006 ''Bole So Nihaal'' (duo collaboration with Sardool Sikander) *2006 ''Sikhi Diyan Shaana'' *2004 ''Nikey Nikey Do Khalse'' (T-Series) *2003 ''Wadda Mera Govind'' *2000 ''Amritdhara'' *1997 ''Mera Bajaan Wala Maahi'' *1991 ''Patta Patta Singhan Da Vairi'' (T-Series)

Filmography

* Dupatta Tera Sat Rang Da ( Speed Records)

Biography

* ''Rags to Ragas... and Beyond - Hans Raj Hans'' by Preet Inder Dhillon, Power Publishers

Accolades

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hans, Hans Raj Indian male folk singers Punjabi-language singers People from Jalandhar Living people Punjabi people 1952 births Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Punjab Shiromani Akali Dal politicians Indian National Congress politicians India MPs 2019–present