Purshottam Das Jalota

Purshottam Das Jalota (9 September 1925 - January 18, 2011) was Indian classical and devotional music singer, best known for his bhajans. He was awarded the Padma Shri by Government of India, in 2004. Born in Phagwara, Punjab, he learnt Hindustani classical music from Master Ratan of Sham Chaurasia gharana. At the age of twenty four he shifted to Lucknow and started singing professionally. He gradually shifted to singing Bhajans and set to tune several Bhajans based on Raagdari Sangeet. He considered that this would propagate India's rich cultural heritage as well as popularize classical music. He is the father of singer Anup Jalota. He died at the age of 84 on 18 January 2011.

Awards and titles

• "Bhajan Samrat" by All India Hindu Mahasabha.
• The Jeevan Jagruti Manch honoured him with the "Rashtra Bhushan Award" at the hands of the former President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, in 1992.
• He was honored by being presented the key of the city of Chicago, U.S.A. by the Mayor of Chicago.
• He was made an honorary citizen of Baltimore, U.S.A. by the Mayor of Baltimore.
• Government of India honored him with Padma Shri in the year 2004.

• "Padma Awards 2004". Outlookindia.com. Retrieved 2014-06-16. 
• "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2013)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. p. 126.