View source for Naima Khan Upreti

{{Short description|Indian theatre actor (1938–2018)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Fan POV|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Naima Khan Upreti
| image              = Naima Upreti.jpg
| native_name        = नईमा खान उप्रेती
| native_name_lang   = hi
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|df=yes|1938|05|25}}
| birth_place        = [[Almora]]
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2018|06|15|1938|05|25}}
| death_place        = [[Delhi]]
| nationality        = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| alma_mater         = [[Agra University]]<br />[[National School of Drama]]<br />[[Film and Television Institute of India]]
| occupation         = Singer, actor, producer
| spouse             = [[Mohan Upreti]]
}}
'''Naima Khan Upreti''' ({{langx|hi|नईमा खान उप्रेती}}; 25 May 1938 – 15 June 2018) was an Indian theatre actor, singer and a producer at [[Doordarshan]]. She was also the wife of [[Mohan Upreti]], considered to be one of the pioneers in Indian theatre music.
Naima Khan Upreti is a popular figure in [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] and she is remembered for her contribution towards the preservation and revitalisation of Uttarakhand's folk music along with her husband Mohan Upreti. She is famous for singing the popular [[Kumaoni language|Kumaoni]]-language song "[[Bedu Pako Baro Masa]]" along with her husband.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kumaoni Songs - BRAHMINS FROM KUMAON HILLS |url=http://dpuckjoe.wikifoundry-mobile.com/m/page/Kumaoni+Songs |website=dpuckjoe.wikifoundry-mobile.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh Bajeli |first1=Diwan |title=Folk artistes to the fore |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/Folk-artistes-to-the-fore/article15939637.ece |accessdate=2 July 2018 |work=The Hindu |agency=The Hindu |date=4 September 2009 |language=en-IN}}</ref> She is also known for her efforts towards preserving old Kumaoni ballads, songs and folk traditions as a member and later the President of Parvatiya Kala Kendra, Delhi.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dhasmana |first1=R.P. |title=U T T A R A K H A N D:NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ECO-STRATEGY |date=January 2008 |publisher=V.K. PUBLISHERS |location=Delhi |page=45 |edition=1 |url=http://www.saded.in/Books%20Corner/Uttrakhand-%20Need%20for%20a%20Comprehensice%20eco-strategy%2008%20report%20main.pdf}}</ref> During her time in [[Doordarshan]], she was involved in the production of Doordarshan's first [[Color television|colour television]] program along with Sharad Dutt.
== Biography ==
=== Early life and education ===
Naima Khan Upreti was born on 25 May 1938 in [[Almora]], [[Uttarakhand]] to a [[Muslims|Muslim]] father and a [[Christianity|Christian]] mother. She received her schooling from Adam's Girls School followed by Ramsay Inter College school in Almora. In 1958 she received a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[English literature|English Literature]], [[Political science|Political Science]] and [[Economics]] from [[Agra University]]. Later, she graduated from the [[National School of Drama]] in 1969 with a three-year diploma in acting<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nsd.gov.in/Annual_Report_2005-06.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718213711/http://www.nsd.gov.in/Annual_Report_2005-06.pdf |title=NSD Genesis |archive-date=18 July 2011 |date=18 July 2011}}</ref> and also worked with the NSD Repertory Company for some time. She also received a diploma from the [[Film and Television Institute of India]], [[Pune]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Joshi |first1=Hemant Kumar |title=Kala Yatra |date=2017 |publisher=Mohan Upreti Lok Sanskriti, Kala Evam Vigyan Shodh Samiti |location=Almora, Uttarakhand |pages=73–79 |edition=First}}</ref>
===Career ===
As a member of the NSD Repertory Company, Naima Khan Upreti participated in a number of theatre productions and worked along with many personalities of theatre such as [[Ebrahim Alkazi]], [[Surekha Sikri]], [[Uttara Baokar]], [[M. K. Raina]] and others. She worked in many theatre productions of that time such as [[Othello]], [[The Caucasian Chalk Circle]], Natak Polampur Ka, [[Skandagupta]] etc. She has been associated with Parvatiya Kala Kendra{{Clarify|reason=|date=June 2020}} since its inception in 1968 and has participated in many of their productions such as Rajula Malushahi, Ajuwa Baphaul, Rami, [[Ramlila]], [[Inder Sabha|Indra Sabha]], etc. After Mohan Upreti's death in 1997, Naima Khan Upreti took charge of Parvatiya Kala Kendra as it is president. She carried forward Mohan Upreti's work and  organised many theatre productions such as [[Meghadutam|Meghdutam]], Rami, Goridhana, [[Amir Khusrau]], [[Algoza]] etc.<ref>{{cite web |title=THEATRE Parvatiya Kala Kendra presents &quot;Rami&quot; Musical play about Armymen's Wives of Uttaranchal at LTG - 24th & 25th October 08 |url=https://www.delhievents.com/2008/10/theatre-parvatiya-kala-kendra-presents.html |website=Delhi Events |accessdate=2 July 2018 |date=25 October 2008}}</ref>
She lent her voice to many folk songs, theatre productions and radio programs of [[All India Radio]].
Until her retirement, she worked in [[Doordarshan]] and was a producer of a number of their television productions such as [[Krishi Darshan]], coverage of [[Khajuraho Dance Festival]] etc. She also won a number of accolades such as a Lifetime Achievement Award from Natsamrat theatre group in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=NATSAMRAT THEATRE GROUP |url=http://www.natsamrattheatre.com/natsamrat_theatre_festival_Jan2010.htm |website=www.natsamrattheatre.com |accessdate=2 July 2018}}</ref>
She died on 15 June 2018 in [[Delhi]], aged 80.<ref>{{cite web |title=नईमा खान उप्रेती श्रद्धाजंली ! ( 15 - 6-2018 दिवंगत ) स्मृति शेष !! |url=https://www.theadda.in/naima-khan-upreti/ |website=द अड्डा |date=16 June 2018}}</ref>
===Family ===
Naima Khan Upreti was married to [[Mohan Upreti]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=KUCKREJA |first1=ARUN |title=Twins from the Himalayas |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/twins-from-the-himalayas/article3230536.ece |work=The Hindu |agency=The Hindu |date=1 September 2006 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
== Legacy ==
Naima Khan Upreti and Mohan Upreti together sang many folk songs from Uttarakhand. The songs "Bedu Pako Baro Masa" and "O Lali Hausiya" were also recorded by [[HMV]].{{fact|date=November 2024}}
Naima Khan Upreti also published a compilation of Muslim wedding songs in the book - Nagmati Rasm.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Khan Upreti |first1=Naima |title=Nagmati Rasm |date=2007 |publisher=Mohan Upreti Lok Sanskriti, Kala Evam Vigyan Shodh Samiti |location=Almora, Uttarakhand}}</ref>
She also contributed to the archives of Natarang Pratishthan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Natarang Pratishthan - Documentation |url=http://www.natarang.org/documentation.html |website=www.natarang.org |accessdate=2 July 2018}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{commons category-inline}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Upreti, Naima Khan}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University alumni]]
[[Category:Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Indian stage actresses]]
[[Category:Indian women television producers]]
[[Category:National School of Drama alumni]]