Shaayad

Kisko aati hai maseehayi, kise awaaz dein,

Bol aye khunkhaar tanhaai, kise awaaz dein....

These lyrics might still be with you. They may express your feelings quite well, but the voice that has touched your soul with these words has gone forever. 

My interaction with this voice happened when I was still in the teens. The era when Doordarashan was the only channel. I still clearly remember that fine evening when, I came back home after playing badminton. I switch on TV out of curiosity. There was a music program being played. On a elevated platform main vocal artist along with accompanists on sarangi, tabla. The main singer was wearing thick glass, playing harmonium. There was this unusual thing about him, the vibrations of "gamak" were not only heard but also quite visible on the throat. The pathos in the lyrics was totally in sync with the voice and his expressions. Those were the days when watching TV was forbidden. So, I was asked to switch off the TV and that is how my first interaction with jagjit singh lasted for a minute. The ghazal he was singing was "Har taraf har jagah beshumaar aadmi"

As I grew up, Saregama, a musical talent hunt show helped me see him again. That was the time when I came to know about Jagjit singh ji's charisma. I don't remember when I became a big fan of him, but  I remember that I used to listen to his ghazals for more than 7-8 hours non-stop.

Many people often argue about the tune of ghazals, which according to them were always similar. I am sure that many people don't know that he had a mastery in using "gamak" and "komal swara". Handling of each note & gamak was so careful as if feelings from heart were being skimmed cautiously.

I remember, once Gulzar Sahab said this about him, "woh ghazal aise sunate hain, jaise koi ruyee ke faahe se zakhm sehla raha ho"( he sings as if someone is tickling old wounds with cotton).

There will be so many admirers, who have found solace in his voice. A comfort from his ghazals, a serenity felt inside even when we were struggling hard outside. Everyone has one or other favorite ghazal sung by Jagjit Singh. For many people Jagjit Singh was, is and will remain the "King of Ghazal". 

Who else would have made magical Shayari of Mirza Ghalib mesmerising? Whose voice could have sent lover's yearning for love( honthon se chu lo tum )? A bus or train journey would have been so lonely if "marasim" ghazals were not there as co-passengers. Twilight would have been filled with sadness if  "forget me not" ghazals were not the companions. Who would have encouraged with his ghazals ( pyar ka pehle khat likhane waqt to lagta hai )? Who else would have introduced me to "Faraz", "Zahir Ludhianavi", "Ghalib", "Mir taki mir", "Gulzar"? How I would have expressed myself when overwhelmed with emotions, if his ghazals were not there??  He has a special place in our lives and will always remain special. It is difficult to say "Goodbye" to you, Jagjit Singh ji, coz the fact is, till we live, you will live inside us, in form of your ghazals, in form of our feelings.

Phir usi raah guzar par shayad, hum kabhi mil sakein magar shayad.

Jaan pehchan se bhi kya hoga, phir bhi ae-dost gaur karein shayad.

Muntazir jinke hum rahe unko, mil gaye aur humsafar shayad.

Jo bhi bichade hain kabhi mile hai 'faraz', phir bhi tu intezaar kare shayad....