Kāġhaz Ki Kashtī: A Tribute to the Inimitable Jagjit Singh

Khwateen o hazraat (ladies and gentlemen), how fortunate you are. You were born in Hindustan, and in your virasat (heritage) you received not merely a language but a living, breathing tehzeeb (culture), zaban-e-Urdu (the Urdu language), or better still, Hindustani. And with it came that exquisite inheritance of adab (literature), sher o shairi (poetry). Such is this adab that one can only marvel at this khushnaseebi (good fortune), that countless poets have adorned the husn-e-ghazal (beauty of the ghazal), and will continue to do so for ages to come. Thus was created this luminous khazana (treasure) of ghazals, and among those who carried it to the hearts of people with unmatched grace, the name that rises above all is Jagjit Singh.

What is a ghazal? It is as if a husn-e-be-misaal (peerless beauty) has gently shaken her rain-kissed tresses, and in that fleeting moment the air is filled with a lateef (delicate) freshness, a roohani kaifiyat (spiritual mood). Like droplets slipping from enchanted locks, each note arrives fresh, dilnashin (heart-pleasing), and quietly seeps into the soul. A ghazal is said little and heard more, understood sparingly but felt deeply. It tells the story of the heart in words so few, yet with an asar (impact) that touches the skies. It lives in husn o ishq (beauty and love), in nigah o ada (glance and grace), in tasavvur-e-jaana (imagination of the beloved), in visaal (union) and hijr (separation), in malaal (melancholy) and tanhai (loneliness).

If the poet cannot always carry his words to every listener, the gayak (singer) steps in as the perfect rasool (messenger) of that emotion. Not every shayar (poet) is destined to reach every heart, but a khush-awaaz (melodious-voiced) singer, with a few chosen saazindas (instrumentalists), often becomes that bridge. It was Jagjit Singh who took the ghazal beyond the mehfils (gatherings) of nawabs (nobles) and the darbars (royal courts) of kings, and made it the heartbeat of the aam aadmi (common person).

For over four decades, his voice became the very introduction to poetry itself. From ustad (master) poets of the past to contemporary qalamkaars (writers), he brought them all into the drawing rooms and inner lives of ordinary listeners. Through mehfils (gatherings), records, cassettes, and now through YouTube and music channels, his voice has travelled effortlessly across time and space. One can listen to him anywhere, anytime, and still feel as if he is singing just for you.

He began modestly at All India Radio, Jalandhar. The early years were marked by struggle, by small assignments, even songs in Gujarati films. But his manzil (destination) lay far ahead, and when it came, it was not merely success but something rarer. It was a place in countless hearts, not only in this country but far beyond its shores. He was meant to rule hearts, and he did so with quiet aplomb.

There was in his voice the loneliness of a city evening, and in his smile the gentle glow of a mehfil (gathering). His singing carried no slogan, no ostentation. It had only a stillness, a tehraav (poise), a gudaz (supple delicacy) that settled into the listener like a deep breath. It was a dard (pain) that never raised its voice, yet said everything.

Even today, his ghazals return to us like an old, cherished relationship, one that time may have distanced but never erased. It has been over fifteen years since he left us, yet the ehsaas (feeling) of his presence lingers undiminished.

The most striking aspect of his artistry was balance. He never allowed mohabbat (love) to become overly sentimental, nor did he let it grow trivial. He spoke of it in a way that felt personal to each listener, as if one’s own kahani (story) were being narrated, simply, truthfully, and with disarming grace.

To bring this nazakat (delicacy) and this understated elegance to the discerning audiences of Lucknow has been my good fortune. The idea was dreamt up by Dr. Prabha Srivastava, a singer of remarkable depth and refinement, who envisioned an exclusive musical tribute to Jagjit Singh and entrusted me with the role of chronicler. Anupama S. Mani agreed to write the script, weaving the spoken text of the narrator with the ghazals, nazms, and songs to be rendered. The indefatigable Rajiv Pradhan stepped in to produce the show, and together we present this musical soiree titled Kāġhaz Ki Kashtī in Lucknow on 5th April 2026 at the Jaipuria Institute Auditorium.

Dr. Prabha will enchant you with renditions of the iconic title track, ghazals of Ghalib, thumris like Babul Mora, and timeless masterpieces such as Kiya hai pyaar jise hum ne zindagi ki tarah, Bahut pahle se un qadmon ki aahat jaan lete hain, and Honthon se chhoo lo tum, among many others that I will leave as a delightful surprise.

I can only hope I do justice to the privilege of chronicling the life, times, and voice of the great Jagjit.

See you, friends, on 5th April. Do visit BookMyShow and secure your place in what promises to be an evening of ehsaas (feeling), yaadein (memories), and sheer musical magnificence.

...