Face to Face with Melody

The Sip of Life Moderator, Amit Roy remembers…

This time writing Saturday Punch was not so easy for me. While most of the times it’s remembering some cherished childhood memories, this time again it’s one of them, but being written with a heavy heart.

India lost a very noted ghazal singer, Jagjit Singh this week. The entire country mourned his death, but his soulful ghazals, which have touched us all these years will always be remembered.

For our readers abroad a ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain.

If you ask me, I have been his ardent fan since I was a child and I can’t remember missing even a single ghazal of his. Like millions of Indians, his passing away pains me a lot and reminds me of my interaction with him about 15 years back.

There was a contest which was announced in The Indian Express and at that time I never missed any and won many. Participants were required to dedicate a ghazal of his to any person and the first three winners were to win a ticket to his concert and also a brief meeting with him.

I remember having dedicated a ghazal of his, ‘Har Taraf Aap Ka Charcha Hai…’ (In every corner there’s a talk about you) to Mother Teresa. I remember having woken up early that morning when the results were declared and looked for my name among the consolation prize winners.

When I could not find it, in disappointment I thought of giving a last look to the first three prize winners. I could not believe to find my name there as the third prize winner! I had made it and more than winning the contest, for me meeting Jagjit Singh was like a dream come true.

I can never forget how I had dressed up in new clothes to meet him. I had also won a hamper of his music cassettes so took one of them and got his autograph too. It was just a five minutes interaction, but left me impressed as it is for any fan.

Attending his concert was another big thing for me and can’t ever explain in words how his melodious voice literally left the audience mesmerized.

Jagjit Singh will always be remembered for being a singer and person he was. His unforgettable ghazals have touched many lives and left a lasting imprint in our hearts.