Bhavik Bamania

Tribute

Jagjit Singh: The Eternal Ghazal Maestro

Bhavik Bamania

2 min read

Share On:

Copy linkShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on ThreadsShare on X
Jagjit Singh: The Voice That Echoes Through Generations - A Tribute to the Ghazal Maestro

10th October, personally, was one of the saddest dates of my life, as I recall the news of the demise of the Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh Ji. He was in the hospital battling for his life after suffering a brain hemorrhage on 23rd September 2011, but all efforts went in vain with his death on 10th October. Today, I am still unable to fully express how I feel after seven years. I hope that by translating my poem, which I instantly wrote upon hearing the news of his death, I can convey my feelings. To be honest, I feel the same as I did seven years ago; his death deeply hurt me and many of us.

Ghazals are there, but no one is left to sing them tonight.
Songs are there, but no one is left to touch lips to them tonight.
Music is there, but no one is left to make it immortal tonight.
Even if I consider his music immortal, he is no more with us tonight.
A friend is here, a beloved is here, but no one is here to sing for him tonight.
But I should say, you have given your breath to your music and made it immortal.
And, unintentionally, you have made yourself immortal.
This is not your death; here ends an era tonight.
Here ends the era of your beloved Ghazals.
You have lost your battle in the game of life and death,
But you have made your Ghazals immortal.


Original Text in Hindi

आज ग़ज़ल तो है, पर उसे गाने वाला नहीं है
आज गीत तो है, पर उससे होंठों को छुने वाला नहीं है
आज संगीत है, पर उसको कोई अमर करने वाला नहीं है
आज माना संगीत भी अमर है, पर आज वो खुद नहीं है
आज मीत भी है, प्रीत भी है, पर गीत गाने वाला नहीं है
आपने अपनी साँसे देकर संगीत अमर कर दिया है
और अनजाने में आपने खुद को अमर कर दिया है
आज आपके साथ एक युग खत्म हो गया है
ग़ज़ल की रीत खत्म हो गई है
आज आप इस जीवन-मौत के खेल में हार गए
पर आप जाते-जाते अपने गीत अमर कर गए

Miss you, Jagjit Singh Ji. I will admire your voice even in the afterlife.

TributeJagjit Singh

Share On:

Copy linkShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on ThreadsShare on X

Written by Bhavik Bamania

Bhavik Bamania is a software engineer and writer exploring frontend engineering, web architecture, technology, history, psychology, astrology, and culture.

This site uses cookies for basic analytics (page views, no ads). You can accept or decline.