Jagjit Singh, a name synonymous with ghazals, left an indelible mark on Indian music. His soulful voice and poignant compositions continue to resonate with listeners even today. This article explores the life and legacy of this legendary singer.

Wiki/Biography

Jagmohan Singh Dhiman, known to the world as Jagjit Singh, was born on February 8, 1941, in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. His zodiac sign was Aquarius. He completed his schooling at Khalsa High School and later attended Government College in Sri Ganganagar, earning an art degree from DAV College, Jalandhar, and a postgraduate degree in History from Kurukshetra University.

His musical journey began with training under Pandit Chaganlal Sharma, a visually impaired maestro of Indian classical music, and later, Ustad Jamaal Khan of Senia Gharana. He mastered various styles including Khayal, Dhrupad, and Thumri.

Family, Caste & Wife

Jagjit Singh hailed from a Sikh family. His father, Sardar Amar Singh Dhiman, worked as a surveyor, and his mother, Sardarni Bachchan Kaur, was a homemaker. He had two brothers and four sisters. He married Chitra Singh, a fellow ghazal singer. Their son, Vivek, tragically passed away in a road accident in 1990. His stepdaughter, Monika, passed away in 2009.

Career

Singh’s career started with singing assignments at All India Radio (AIR) Jalandhar. He later moved to Mumbai, where he sang jingles. In 1976, he and Chitra Singh released their debut album, “The Unforgettable”.

His journey included three solo EPs (1965-1973), two duet EPs with Chitra, and a “SuperSeven” album. He debuted as a playback singer in the 1966 Gujarati film “Bahuroopi” and made his Bollywood debut in “Avishkaar” (1974).

A significant achievement was composing the music for Gulzar’s television serial, “Mirza Ghalib” (1988).

• Early career involved singing and composing for All India Radio.
• Transition to Mumbai and jingle singing.
• Debut album “The Unforgettable” in 1976.
• Composed music for the iconic TV serial “Mirza Ghalib”.

Awards

Jagjit Singh received numerous accolades throughout his career:

Favourite Things

His preferences included:

• Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Talat Mehmood, Abdul Karim Khan, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Amir Khan, Mohammed Rafi
• Poets: Sahir Ludhianvi, Mirza Ghalib, Shiv Kumar Batalvi

Signature

(This section can be expanded with details of his unique singing style and approach, if available.)

Death

Tragically, Jagjit Singh suffered a brain haemorrhage on September 23, 2011, while preparing for a UK tour. He passed away on October 10, 2011, at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai, after being in a coma for two weeks. He was cremated at Chandanwadi Crematorium.

Facts

Here are some interesting facts about Jagjit Singh:

• Enjoyed yoga, cycling, and classical music.
• His name was changed from Jagmohan to Jagjit by his guru.
• Spent his early childhood in Bikaner due to his father’s job.
• His father initially wanted him to become an engineer.
• He studied under challenging circumstances, often using lanterns due to lack of electricity.
• Started singing Shabads in Gurudwaras as a child.
• His first public performance was in class 9.
• He secured a scholarship at DAV College, Jalandhar, based on his musical talent.
• Composed a welcome song for India’s first president, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
• Struggled financially during his early years in Mumbai, even resorting to traveling without a train ticket.
• His marriage to Chitra Singh was brief and simple, lasting only two minutes and costing just Rs. 30.
• Recorded India’s first purely digital CD album, “Beyond Time”, in 1987.
• His album “Sajda” with Lata Mangeshkar broke several non-film music records.
• He was the first to share a portion of album earnings with lyricists.
• Gave Kumar Sanu his first break in the music industry.
• Was honored with a Google Doodle on his 72nd birthday.
• A commemorative postal stamp was released by the Government of India in his honor.
• Composed and sang songs written by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

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