Farewell to king of ghazals

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The demise of a man, who enchanted us with his mellifluous expanse of music, has left a void in millions of hearts worldwide. Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh, a man who looked at the brighter side of life and gave hope to scores of his fans

for over four decades, has left an indelible impression on our minds. His voice, which struck an instant chord, had been silenced forever on Monday morning.
Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, who has worked with the maestro, fondly remembers him as a singer who stood out for his selection of songs. She reminisces the first time she heard about him from the late music composer Madan Mohan. “Madanji had just realised the talent that this young boy possessed and told me to watch out for him. Jagjitji went beyond films to explore a world of music through ghazals, and though he loved classical music, he carved his own niche in ghazals. He developed his own style, molded his voice accordingly, and made a name for himself,” she says.
Fondly recollecting Sajda, an album on which she worked with Singh, she says, “He read out a few couplets he had chosen from the album, and I was extremely impressed by his selection. He knew Urdu very well, and his understanding of emotions spoke of his maturity and sensitivity. He would ensure everyone was comfortable around him and was cordial to everyone,” she says.
Singh was the first one in India to use digital multi-track recording. Eminent ghazal singer Mitali Singh recalls his style and
élan. “He was a gifted singer. What made him more special is the thought he put into his music. That aspect about him was extremely inspiring, and gave ghazal singers like Bhupinder and me something to look forward to. He started the trend of ghazal evenings and mehfils in India. He almost revolutionised the way with which we looked at music,” she says.
As a person, Mitali remembers him to be very cheerful. “Jagjitji taught me to never let personal worries come in the way of my music. He always fought challenges and emerged a true winner; he didn’t allow his personal loss to affect his music. The level of professionalism he displayed will remain unparalleled,” she says.
Singer Kavita Seth says, “Jagjitji turned ghazal, which was considered as music for the elite class, into a popular form of music. Whenever there was a concert, the venue would echo with audience’s voices, as they knew all his songs by heart. And that I guess is the biggest achievement for any artiste. His style of singing was different from the traditional methods of singing ghazals. Even his selection of kalams (poems), were very thoughtful. He would always carry his tanpura with him so that he could riyaz (practise) everyday. No matter where he was, he would always practise for an hour. He was a very kind person and had a very sharp memory.”
Shankar Mahadevan, who launched his debut ghazal album a few months ago, also recalls the ghazal king with a deep sense of respect. Singh had personally come to wish Shankar at the launch.
“I grew up listening to his ghazals, and he was a major source of inspiration. He put India’s name on the map when it came to ghazals, and it just saddens me to realise that he won’t be with us. I knew him very closely and shared some beautiful moments with him. I was extremely fortunate to receive so much knowledge and love from an artiste of his calibre,” says Shankar.
Pandit Jasraj, foremost exponent of Mewati Gharana, said, “This has enveloped me with such immense grief, that I am unable to express my feelings. Shri Jagjit Singhji was India’s greatest ghazal exponent of this generation... who took this genre of Indian music to the masses in his inimitable style, has touched and enriched the lives of many.”
Sukhwinder Singh says, “Jagjitji was not just a great singer, but was also genuinely a great person. For me he was like an elder in the family. He will always find a place in my prayers.”
Latadi says that Singh was an honest human being with a clean soul. “He would extend his love and support and make you feel at home every time you would meet him. I am shocked by his death. However, what remains eternal is his voice, which will stay with us forever,” she says.
With inputs by Hassan M. Kamal