Ghazals got a new meaning, a new identity, even youngsters started humming his ghazals when they were introduced through films and a heritage of beautiful Ghazals is all that is left behind now. The moment the news of the Ghazal King Jagjit Singh's sad demise came, ghazal lovers all over were deeply shocked and saddened.
Jagjit Singh learned music under Pandit Chaganlal Sharma and later from Ustad Jamaal Khan. Jagjit Singh gained a lot of acclaim together with his wife, singer Chitra Singh. Their song "Ye Daulat bhi le lo, ye shauhorat bhi le lo..." gave a new meaning to reminiscing the good old days of childhood.
A few of his other Ghazals which are and will be remembered always are-
"Hontho Se Choo lo Tum" from Prem Geet;
"Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho" from Arth;
"Chhiti Na Koi Sandesh" from Dushman;
"Hoshwalon Ko Khabar Kya" from Sarfarosh;
"Kiska Chehra ab mai dekhun...Tera Chehra dekhkar" from Tarkeeb;
"Bari Nazuk Hai" from Joggers' Park.
"Mae ni Mae", "Rog ban ke reh giya hai", "Yaariyan Raab Karke", "Eh Mera Geet Kisi Ni Gana" are few of the songs from his album, which will forever remain popular.
The Ghazal King who was 70 wanted to complete 70 concerts by the end of this year. One of the most highly respected ghazal singers of India, Ghulam Ali and Jagjit Singh were in the midst of a series of concerts when Jagjit Singh pulled out of the concert to undergo an emergency neurosurgery. “I was so tense. Irrespective of which country we belong to, our creativity binds us together,” said Ghulam Ali.
Ghulzar Saheb used to call this maestro as Ghazaljit Singh as he used to pour his heart into the songs. Another acclaimed Indian singer Pankaj Udhas also payed his respect to Jagjit Singh. They used to work together and in 1980, they started meeting regularly at the Western Outdoor studio in Mumbai where both of them recorded their albums. Pankaj Udhas said, "The immense pathos and pain in his voice still rings in my ears. We will miss you Ghazaljit Singh. RIP"
Jagjit Singh's beautiful voice has gone mute but the music he left behind will stay with us forever.