Jagjit Singh was an Indian ghazal singer, composer and music director. He is popularly known as ‘The Ghazal King’ or ‘King of Ghazal’.
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Jagjit Singh was born as ‘Jagmohan Singh Dhiman’ on Saturday, 8 February 1941 (aged 70 at the time of his death) in Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner State (now Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan). Their zodiac sign is Aquarius.
Young Jagjit Singh
He did his schooling from Khalsa High School and then Government College, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. He received an Arts degree from DAV College, Jalandhar and a Master’s degree in History from Kurukshetra University, Haryana. He initially learned music from Pandit Chhaganlal Sharma, a visually impaired maestro of Indian classical music, and later from Ustad Jamal Khan of the Senia Gharana. He trained him in every major Indian classical music styles including Khayal, Dhrupad, Thumri and others.
Family, Caste and Wife
Jagjit Singh belongs to a Sikh family. His father Sardar Amar Singh Dhiman was a surveyor in the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Government of Rajasthan.
Jagjit Singh with his father Sardar Amar Singh Dhiman
His mother Sardarni Bachchan Kaur was a housewife. He had two brothers and four sisters.
Jagjit Singh and his siblings
He married ghazal singer Chitra Singh. The couple had a son named Vivek, who died in a road accident in 1990, and a daughter named Monica (stepdaughter), who committed suicide in 2009.
Jagjit Singh with his wife Chitra Singh and son Vivek
livelihood
He started his career by singing and composing at the Jalandhar station of All India Radio (AIR). Akashvani placed him in the category of B grade artistes and allowed him to sing in six music segments for a small payment. After this he moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) and started singing jingles for advertisements. In 1976, he released his first album, “The Unforgettable”, with his wife Chitra Singh.
Between 1965 and 1973, Jagjit Singh had three extended solo plays (EPs), two duet EPs with Chitra Singh, and a ‘Superseven (a format that has disappeared)’. He made his debut as a playback singer with the song “Laagi Ram Bhajan Ni Lagani” from the 1966 Gujarati film ‘Bahurupi’.
He made his Bollywood debut as a singer with the song “Babul Mora Naihar” from the film “Avishkaar (1974)”.
In 1988, Jagjit Singh composed the music for Gulzar’s epic TV serial, “Mirza Ghalib”, which aired on DD National.
award
- Padma Bhushan in 2003
Jagjit Singh receiving Padma Bhushan
- Posthumously awarded Rajasthan Ratna by the Government of Rajasthan in 2012
- Sahitya Akademi Award in 1998
- Sahitya Kala Akademi Award by the Government of Rajasthan in 2005
- Ghalib Academy by Delhi Government in 2005
- Lata Mangeshkar Award by Madhya Pradesh Government in 1998
- D.Litt. By Kurukshetra University, Haryana in 2003
Favourite Things
Signature
Death
In 2011, Jagjit Singh was scheduled to perform with Pakistani ghazal and playback singer, Ghulam Ali, during his UK tour, but he suffered a brain haemorrhage on 23 September 2011. After being in a coma for two weeks, he died at Lilavati Hospital on 10 October. 2011. He was cremated at the Chandanwadi crematorium near Marine Lines in Mumbai.
fact
- He enjoyed doing yoga, cycling, walking and listening to classical music.
- Jagjit’s father changed his name from Jagmohan to Jagjit on the advice of his ‘guru’.
- Jagjit spent his early childhood years in Bikaner as his father was posted there as a PWD (Public Works Department) employee.
- His father wanted Jagjit to pursue engineering and also wanted him to appear for the UPSC exam.
- In an interview, Jagjit Singh had said that he was not from an affluent family and due to lack of electricity, he had to study using a lantern.
- As a child, Jagjit Singh started singing ‘Shabads (devotional Sikh hymns)’ in Gurudwaras and processions on the birthdays of Sikh Gurus.
- He gave his first public performance when he was in 9th class. While sharing his memories in an interview he said,
There was so much excitement when I sang! Someone gave me five rupees, someone gave me two, and encouraged me.”
- One night, Jagjit performed in front of 4,000 people at his college in Sri Ganganagar, and suddenly the power went out, stopping everything except the sound system, which was battery operated. Recalling the incident he said,
I kept singing, no one moved, nothing moved… Such incidents and the audience’s reaction convinced me that I should concentrate on music.
- Jagjit chose to study at DAV College, Jalandhar for his higher education as its principal waived hostel and tuition fees for the talented musician student.
- While in Jalandhar in 1962, he composed a welcome song for the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, when he visited Jalandhar.
- In the 1960s he moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) to pursue a career in playback singing. There he met musician Jaikishan (of the duo Shankar Jaikishan); He liked Jagjit’s voice but could not give him any work. Soon, Jagjit runs out of money and has to return to Jalandhar. Recalling his return to Jalandhar in an interview, he said-
I traveled by train from Bombay to Jalandhar without a ticket, hiding in the bathroom.
- In 1965, Jagjit returned to Bombay and tried his luck in playback singing again. This time, he managed to record two ghazals for an EP with HMV. For the record’s cover photo, he decided to take off his turban and cut his hair short. he explained,
It was a matter of identity… Whatever picture was taken, I had to remain the same for the rest of my career.
Jagjit Singh in turban
- In Bombay, Jagjit Singh started holding small ‘mehfiles’ (music gatherings) and home concerts. He even sang in many film parties in the hope that one day perhaps some musician would notice him and give him a chance.
- To earn his livelihood, Jagjit started composing music for advertisement films, radio jingles, documentaries etc.
- During one such jingle recording in 1967, he met Chitra Singh, who was unhappy in her marriage. She divorced her husband and married Jagjit Singh. Their wedding ceremony was a very simple one, lasting only 2 minutes, which cost Rs 1,000. Only 30.
- In 1971, their son Vivek (aka Babu) was born. Remembering that moment, Jagjit said-
I felt as if I was the richest man in the world.”
- In 1987, he crossed milestones by recording India’s first purely digital CD album, “Beyond Time”.
- Jagjit and Chitra lost their only son Vivek in 1990. Chitra lost her voice and never returned to singing. Jagjeet was in depression, but due to his dedication towards music he decided to return to music.
- After the death of his son, his first album was “Man Jitai Jagjit”, which included Sikh devotional Gurbani.
- In 1991, the album “Sajda” with Lata Mangeshkar held all the non-film records of all time.
Jagjit Singh and Lata Mangeshkar’s album Sajda
- It was Jagjit Singh who started the practice of giving a share of the music album’s earnings to the lyricist.
- Jagjit Singh gave the first break to Kumar Sanu.
- In 2013, Google honored him by creating his ‘Google Doodle’ on his 72nd birthday.
- In 2014, the Government of India issued a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Jagjit Singh.
- Jagjit Singh was one of the few composers who composed and sang songs written by former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He released two albums “Nayi Disha (1999)” and “Samvedna (2002)” featuring compositions of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It was a song titled “Kya Khoya Kya Paya” featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Yash Chopra. The song was written by Bajpayee, performed by Shahrukh, narrated by Amitabh, sung by Jagjeet and directed by Yash Chopra.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frkY5IOw0as
- Ashrani Mathura wrote Jagjit Singh’s biography “Beyond Time” based on nearly 40 hours of interviews with Jagjit. It was released in 2012.
- His biopic documentary named “Kaagaz Ki Kashti” was released in 2017.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn