Home Gujarati Gujarati Singer

Diwaliben Bhil

Overview

Top Listings

DOB : 02-06-1943
Date of death: 19-05-2016
Lived For : 72 Years
Star Sign : Gemini
Gender : Female

Skills

» Singer

Written By - Team Nettv4u

Diwaliben Bhil’s full name was Diwaliben Punjabhai Bhil, also known as Diwaliben Punjabhai Ladhia. She was an Indian playback singer and folk singer. She was born on June 2, 1943. Diwaliben Bhil’s place of birth is Dalkhania village (now in Dhari Taluka, Amreli district, Gujarat), India. She belonged to the tribal family. Her father’s name is Punjabhai and her mother’s name is Monghiben. Her tribe traditionally performed folk songs. Inspired by her mother, she took the profession of singing traditional Garba songs from a very young age. A primary school dropout, she was a self-taught folk artist & singer who did not receive formal music training. At the age of nine, Diwaliben Bhil moved to Junagadh, following her father’s transfer on the Junagadh State Railway. Then, she was married in Rajkot at nine years of age. After two days of the marriage ceremony, due to disagreements, her marriage was null and void. After that, she never married.

Later, she worked for ten years in a hospital at the age of 20. Then, she worked in the nurses’ quarters of the Junagadh Public Hospital, as a domestic helper. Later, she stayed with her brother in the Ghanghiram area of Junagadh town. Diwaliben Bhil started her singing career from a local Garbi and was first spotted by Gujarati folk singer Hemu Gadhvi Hemu Gadhavi was born in 1929. He is a Gujarati si >> Read More... in 1964. Hemu Gadhvi arranged her first recording for the All India Radio (AIR) Rajkot station for a payment of 5 Rupees. Then, she got an opportunity to perform in Delhi, where she received the first prize in the Folk Music Festival. Musician Kalyanji invited her to give her first break as a playback singer in Gujarati films.

In 1971, her song “Paap Taru Parkash Jadeja” from her first film, “Jesal Toral,” got very famous. She was the voice of hundreds of Gujarati folk & film songs, bhajans, and garbas, including Marey Todle Betho Mor, Vaga Che Re, Sona Vatkdi Re Kesar Gholya, Kokilkanthi, Hoon To Kagalaiyan Lakhi Lakhi Thaki, and many more. Her large number of songs were also recorded and released in cassettes. She had also worked with many musicians and singers like Lakhabhai Gadhvi, Ismail Valera, Praful Dave, Usha Mangeshkar Born on December 15, 1935, Usha Mangeshkar is an I >> Read More... , Murli Meghani, Anandkumar, and many more.

Diwaliben Bhil was felicitated by the Gujarati Society in London. In 1990, she was awarded the fourth highest civilian “Padma Shri” award by the Government of India for her contribution to folk music. She also received the Gujarat Gaurav Puraskar from the Government of Gujarat. Also, she was recognized as a “Gujarat ni Koyal” by the public. She got significant recognition with her song “Aiwa Aiwa” on the album Mann Ke Manjeere, released in April 2001. Diwaliben Bhil lived for 82 years and died on May 19, 2016, in Junagadh, Gujarat, due to illness.