JAMMU, FEB 08: A soul with his first cry awakened on this earth on 08-02-1945 destined to win the Jag ( World) got freedom from his original name JagMohan Singh Dhiman to Jagjit Singh with in few months of birth.
Later his decesion making ability at his own almost made him a rebel unleashing the inner revolution with in his family. His journey of decesion making ability as risk taking marking a reflection of rebel first moving to Mumbai without informing to family at home,next rebellion move was mundane of hairs for Cover photo for first LP,even his marriage with Chitra Singh remained a secret among his family who came to know about all this only after birth of his son Vivek
He even didn’t compromised with his freedom while marking his footprints in music industry in Mumbai as he never wanted to compose the music for Actors, Directors and Producers choice. Being rebel he took a decesion to look forward for a path where he can present and promote his kind of singing and music and choose the field of Ghazals along with Chitraji both in life as well as on Stage.
“I have no words to say only Thanku Thanks Everybody ” Jagjit Singh 08-02-2011in his 70 th birthday in a event organised by Sare Gama Paa in Mumbai in Mumbai. Jagjit ji turned 70 on Feb 8,2011.His obsession .PapaJi was so obsessed for celebration of 70th Birthday throughout the year that he announced that he will not be free for any pplayback singing for whole year as he will be performing in 70 Concerts through out the World.
His 70th Birthday Celebration begain on Feb 5,2011 when Maestro along with Legends Ustad Zakir Hussain and Pandit Hari Parshad Parshad performed in a live concert at Sri Shanmukhananda Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Auditorium, Sion Mumbai.
The Celeberation Continued thereafter where he celebrated his 70 th birthday with audience and fans in eachbof Concert he held in 2011 in his mesmerizing voice humming
ठुकराओ अब, के प्यार करो, मैं 70 का हूँ
जो चाहो मेरे यार करो, मैं 70 का हूँ
फ़िर बेख़ुदी में हद से गुज़रने लगा हूँ मैं
इतना ना मुझसे प्यार करो, मैं का हूँ
अब भी दिला रहा हूँ यक़ीन-ऐ-वफ़ा मगर
मेरा ना एतबार करो, मैं 70 का हूँ !
In this 70th year of Celebrations Jagjit Comes with Collaborators of his life time performing with legands like Pandit Birju Ji Maharaj , Pandit Hari Parshad Chowrasia,Ustad Zakir Hussain. He also collaborated with legandary Gulzar Sahib & Ghazal Singer.Gulami Ali too.
On Feb 26,2011 Jagjit Ji performed the Jugalbandi along with Pandit Birju Maharaj and Gulzar at Siri First Auditorium New Delhi.His aim to bring Poetry and Musich together in live concert saw him performing along with Gulzar in Dubai (2011) first time at an international level being part of his 70th birthday Celebrations.
On September3,2011marked his last 70th birthday celebration in Concert number where Ghazal Smart Jagjit Singh performed along with Gulam Ali Pakistani Ghazal Singer at Talkatora Gardens New Delhi.
The Duo was to perform together again on September23,2011 at Shanmukhananda Hall Mumbai ,the king of Ghazal suffered a stroke and thereafter his birthday celebrations are become the part of memories. The clock kept moving so is the world but stopped was the celebrations of his birthday and live concerts anymore leaving his aimto complete 70 Concerts by end of year remained unfulfilled as he managed only 46 only.
Jagjit Singh needs no recogization for his work and contribution in the field of Music as he is regarded as ” Ghazal Ratan ” among his lover and due hard fans globally. He was not only a Singer, Composer musician but was a arranger as well which made him most unique and distinguise.
“Bharat Rattan” is what Jagjit Ji deserve for his research & Contribution in the field of Ghazal. He revolutionized the ghazal genre with his innovative style and velvety voice emaking this intoxicating expression of love & longing of poetry out of exclusive mehfils and bought it among the reach of common masses. World of Music and Poetry can never forget the contribution of Legendary Jagjit Singh for polarisation of his work of Mirza Ghalib One of the greatest poets in the urdu. The enduring popularity of Ghalib in soulful singing and composition popularised Ghalib amongst the public at large.
Today on Feb8,2025 world is celebrating his 84th birth anniversary in its unique ways and wishes are pouring on each social 8th Feb Calls for Birth Anniversary of Padam Bhushan Jagjit Singh. On his 84th birth Anniversary. I wish and pledge to each one to start Celebrating this Day as ” World Ghazal Day ” every year. The annocument in this regard was made by Anup Jalota,TalatAziz and Chitra Ji in the year 2015. The day has still to see a ray light til date. I wish all music lovers come on a platform and urge both to United Nations as well as Government of India to mark this day as National Ghazal Day as well as World Ghazal Day.
That’s is the truest form of Celebrations in remembrance of Gazal Jeet Singh the enlightened soul with vibrant insightful energy being rebel who ruled the heart and soul of each music lover through his mesmerizing voice giving rebirth to Ghazals.
(This article was written by Ashutosh from Jagjit Fan Club, Jammu)
