Gurmeet Bawa, born Gurmeet Kaur on February 18, 1944, in Kothe, British Punjab (now part of Gurdaspur district, Indian Punjab), was an Indian Punjabi language folk singer. She began her music career in 1968, singing with traditional Punjabi folk instruments such as the alghoza and dholki. In an early appearance at an event organized by the Punjab Association in Mumbai, she received a standing ovation from Bollywood stars such as Pran and Raj Kapoor. Bawa was known for her ability to sing folk verses in a single breath, earning her the title "Lambi hek di malika" (Queen of singing in an extended breath). Notable singles include "Jugni" and "Ghorian". Bawa received numerous awards, including the State Award by the Punjab government in 1991, the Devi Ahillya Award in 2002, and posthumously, the Padma Bhushan in January 2022. She passed away on November 21, 2021, at the age of 77.
