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UMA KHOSLA ....NIKKI APPA OF RADIO KASHMIR , SRINAGAR
Who does not remember her as Nikki Appa of Vaadi Ki Awaaz, a very popular programme broadcast by Radio Kashmir, Srinagar? She remained a top Urdu announcer of AIR, very popular even in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Vadi Ki Awaz, launched in 1965 from Radio Kashmir Srinagar became the greatest attraction for the listeners across the border. In this programme, Uma Khosla as Nikki Aapa and Kidar Sharma as Munshi Allah Rakha became household names in India and Pakistan. She had a fan following almost in every corner of the subcontinent where Urdu is spoken or understood. I am told that her mailbox in Radio Kashmir ( AIR), Srinagar was always full of letters from her admirers. And quite often she received currency notes, flowers and good wishes from scores of her admirers. Her husky voice, diction and communication style in the programme was something unique and infectious. She also acted in some radio plays apart from presenting the Western music programme from Radio Kashmir, Srinagar. She would paint also as and when she felt free. On special occasions, she would send self-painted cards to friends and well-wishers. These cards had Kashmir landscapes, Chinars and poplars painted by her. She loved to read English literature and poetry.
She lived alone in Kashmir after the death of her father Colonel Khosla. Her mother had died some years before her father’s death. Her sole support remained the trusted family servant Chacha Ghulam Qadir. Chacha Qadir remained a loyal housekeeper of Khoslas for many decades. The family owned a house ( Rose Villa ) and a large tract of land on the main road adjacent to G B Pant Hospital at Indira Nagar in Badami Bagh, Srinagar. She loved dogs and had two pets. I saw her last in 2009.
Uma Khosla was also related to Prof Satish Dhawan Chairman of ISRO, who succeeded Vikram Sarabhai, the founder of the Indian space programme. Prof Dhawan was also born in Srinagar. Prof Satish Dhawan's grandfather, Dhunichand Khosla (maternal grandfather) was the Chief Health Officer of Kashmir province during Maharaja’s rule. He was known for his humanitarian values apart from providing good health care to the common people. And Col Khosla, father of Uma Khosla was from the same Dhunichand Khosla family. Uma Khosla was also a close friend of Shanta Kaul, her mentor and colleague in Radio Kashmir Srinagar. Till her death, she was in regular touch with the family of Shanta Ji wife of Padamshri Pran Kishore Kaul, eminent broadcaster and writer. Shanta Kaul was a star broadcaster and the first woman broadcaster from Kashmir.
This is what Naem Akhtar, former minister J&K , wrote in his comments on my facebook post :-
"She was an unseen heartthrob of a generation for her distinct, almost divine voice. Perhaps the only propaganda programme, Wadi ki Aawaz, was so popular ever that people would never like to miss it. She, Manohar, and Kedar kept their audience glued to the radio."
Uma Khosla didn’t marry. After her retirement from Akashvani, she remained mostly unwell but always smiling and full of life . In January 2011, she breathed her last in Srinagar . She was 73 years old . Radio lovers from Kashmir will never forget Nikki Appa. Peace be to her soul.
And my friend Tej Pratap Singh Broca ( Broca Press ,Srinagar ) informs me that Uma Khosla was his wife's Bua . Tej Pratap Singh Broca's wife is the daughter of Dr Sethi, well known homeopath of Kashmir who had his clinic above the office of Little Sons ( petrol pump) near KMDA Adda in Lal Chowk, Srinagar .
( Avtar Mota )
CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.
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