“Tum chale jaaoge to sochenge, humne kya khoya humne kya paaya…”
How true are these lines from Jagjit Singh’s ghazal—because even today, after his passing, music lovers across the globe feel the depth of his absence. On his birth anniversary, February 8, Glamsham.Com remembers the monarch of ghazals and unveils a lesser-known story – while still in college, Jagjit Singh had the honour of composing a welcome song for India’s first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
The Hindi proverb “Poot ke paon paalne mein hi nazar aa jaate hain”—meaning a child’s talent is evident early on—perfectly applies to Jagjit Singh. From a young age, he displayed a remarkable fondness for music. Observing his prodigious talent, his father, Sardar Amar Singh Dhiman, provided him with the finest musical training—first under the gifted blind teacher Pandit Chhaganlal Sharma, and later under Ustad Jamal Khan.
By the time he was in the ninth grade, Jagjit Singh was performing shabads (devotional Sikh hymns) in Gurdwaras, captivating audiences with his voice. His first public performance in school was an instant hit.
Jagjit Singh fondly recalled his college days, singing before a crowd of over 4,000 people. “The most memorable moment of my college days,” he said, “was when the power went out during my performance. Despite the darkness, the audience remained spellbound, and I continued singing with the battery-operated sound system. They were completely mesmerized!”
Among his remarkable college experiences was the visit of India’s first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, to Jalandhar. Jagjit Singh, then studying at DAV College, was also performing part-time for All India Radio (AIR) in Jalandhar, which nurtured young singers specializing in devotional music. Graded a ‘B’ class artist and receiving modest remuneration, Jagjit Singh was already demonstrating his extraordinary musical ability.
In 1962, during Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s visit to Jalandhar, Jagjit Singh was entrusted with composing a welcome song—a task he executed with distinction. Yet, despite such early promise, Jagjit Singh faced immense struggles in Mumbai before finally gaining stardom and immortalizing his name in the annals of Indian music.
