Gurmeet Bawa

Gurmeet Bawa (18 February 1944 – 21 November 2021) was an Indian Punjabi language folk singer. She was known as Lambi hek di malika for her long hek that she could hold for about 45 seconds. She was the first Punjabi female singer to sing on Indian public service broadcaster, Doordarshan. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Indian government in 2022.

Early life Gurmeet Bawa was born as Gurmeet Kaur in 1944, to father S. Uttam Singh and mother Ram Kaur, in the village of Kothe in British Punjab. The village is now a part of Gurdaspur district of Indian Punjab.

Her mother died when she was two years old.

Career Bawa started her career in 1968.

She also performed overseas. Some of her notable singles included the cover for Jugni . She was also the first Punjabi female singer to sing on Indian public service broadcaster Doordarshan.

Personal life Bawa was married to Kirpal Bawa, She was aged 77. She was also the recipient of the Rashtrapati Puraskar by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.