October 10, 2011 India lost the ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh as he breathed his last. He was simply unparalleled and is credited to have popularised the genre of ghazal singing in a way that it touched the hearts of millions not only in India but worldwide.

I grew up listening to his ghazals - in pensive times and in elevated moods, in concerts if  I would get chance at get togethers. His going away is indeed a great loss to the world of music. The demise of the King of ghazals. It is hard to believe that the source of the soulful connection that was made with people around the globe irrespective of the boundaries and demographics is gone.

With the passing away of Jagjit Singh an era of ghazal adoration ends. At least I cannot see anyone replacing him adequately, for not only did he manage to stay in hearts of many but  was also someone who inspite of facing initial flak from purists, managed to deliver instant hits and got immense admiration and love from people including the young. Singh sang in Punjabi, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Gujarati, Sindhi and Nepali and had the unique style of his own. The  thought that he himself is not there now to lend his golden voice is extremely sad. Several of his fans feel devastated, and many said that it feels like a personal loss to them. He has left behind a commendable body of work ranging from classical, devotional, ghazals, film songs, folk to nazms.

But the very thought that he himself is not there now to lend his golden voice is extremely sad. We feel we haven’t experienced and heard him enough even after him making his presence felt for almost four decades. Some people and some people’s art is for eternity and in his case its both.

Dhoop mein nikalo, ghataaon mein nahaan kar dekho
Zindagi kya hain kitaabon ko hataakar dekho
Faasla nazaron ka dhoka bhi toh ho sakta hain
Woh mile ya na mile haath bada kar dekho

Amen.