Tribute to Jagjit Singh Ji – Celebrating His Legacy Through My Concerts

 

A Journey Through My Ghazal Tributes to Jagjit Singh

The journey of paying tribute to the legendary Jagjit Singh ji has been one of the most emotional and fulfilling chapters of my musical career. Each concert dedicated to him has been not just a performance, but a heartfelt remembrance of the maestro whose voice continues to echo in every ghazal lover’s heart.

Sajda – The First Tribute 

My first tribute concert titled “Sajda” was held at the Scientific Society Hall, Nagpur, soon after Jagjit Singh ji’s sad demise. The memories of that evening are still vivid — the hall was filled with emotions, and every song carried a deep sense of loss and reverence. It was my humble offering to the man whose music had been my greatest inspiration.

Aatish Tha, Aaftaab Tha – A Tribute to Jagjit Singh (Raipur, 2012)

My second tribute concert dedicated to Jagjit Singh Ji was titled “Aatish Tha, Aaftaab Tha” and was held in Raipur on his first death anniversary in 2012. The event was beautifully organized by Jivan Girhe and Vikas Sharma from the Ashok Ratna Residents’ Welfare Association.

The lawns within the society premises were filled to capacity with more than 1200 people, who had gathered to celebrate the life and music of the maestro. The ambience was both soulful and electric — every ghazal evoked heartfelt applause and deep nostalgia.

This concert was also marked by the release of my ghazal single “Aatish Tha, Aaftaab Tha,” a musical tribute to Jagjit Singh Ji. It remains one of my most memorable performances, reflecting the continuing bond that connects generations of listeners to the timeless legacy of the legend.

Siyahat – A Journey Through Emotions 

In 2013, my album Siyahat was released by Saregama (HMV). They wanted me to perform the ghazals live, recording videos for the album. For the concert, it was suggested that I present my album ghazals in the first half, and dedicate the second half as a tribute to Jagjit Singh Ji. This concert was held on The World Music Day.

The list for the tribute segment, provided by Saregama, included timeless ghazals and nazms like“Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar”,“Ye Daulat Bhi Le Lo”,“Aahista Aahista”,“Baat Niklegi Toh Door Talak Jaayegi”.
All the performances from this concert are available on Saregama’s official YouTube channel, preserving the legacy for audiences everywhere.

Ek Shaam Jagjit Singh Ke Naam – A Tribute Ghazal Concert 

I performed "Ek Shaam Jagjit Singh Ke Naam" (An Evening in the Name of Jagjit Singh) as part of the grand Sharda Mahotsav 2014 in Nagpur, organized by Sharda Chowk Mitra Shardotsav Mandal. It was a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Jagjit Singh, and I was delighted to bring his timeless ghazals to life for the audience. Being part of Vidarbha's largest Sharda Mahotsav and connecting with music lovers through his immortal melodies was truly unforgettable.

Legacy of a Legend – Sai Sabhagrah, Nagpur 

After the success of Sajda, I presented another major tribute concert, “Legacy of a Legend – A Tribute to Jagjit Singh”, at Sai Sabhagrah, Shankar Nagar, Nagpur on 9th October 2015, on the eve of his 4th death anniversary.

The evening began with soulful renditions of ghazals like Badi Haseen Raat Thi, Garaj Baras Pyaasi Dharti Par Phir Paani De Moula — each one taking the audience on a journey through the golden era of ghazals. The response was overwhelming. Listeners rejoiced with every familiar melody — Tere Khushboo Mein Base Khat Main Jalata Kaise, Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho, and Kal Chaudavi Ki Raat Thi received thunderous applause. This concert was also later telecast on Insync Music Channel.

Forget Me Not – Israel Concert Tour 

Soon after the Nagpur concert, in November 2015, I was invited to perform a special tribute series titled “Forget Me Not – A Tribute to Jagjit Singh” in Israel.

The concerts were held at: Heikhal HaTarbut, Dimona – 16th November 2015, Heikhal HaTarbut, Ramle – 17th November 2015 & Matnas, Ashdod – 19th November 2015

Each show was houseful, and the response was overwhelming. Many Indians now settled in Israel also attended in large numbers and made the atmosphere truly magical.

One unforgettable incident still makes me smile — a local staff member, who didn’t understand Hindi or Urdu, came up to me after the show and said he had “really enjoyed the performance.” That, to me, was the greatest compliment — a true reminder that music transcends all barriers of language and culture.

Chitthi Na Koi Sandesh – Hits of Jagjit Singh 

Continuing the series of tributes, I presented another concert titled “Chitthi Na Koi Sandesh – Hits of Jagjit Singh” on 31st January 2016 at Mateshwari Bhavan, Jaripatka, Nagpur, organized by Jyeshtha Mitra Mandal.

This show once again brought alive Jagjit ji’s timeless ghazals — his music that so beautifully blends emotion, melody, and poetry. The audience relived those golden moments with every composition, and I felt blessed to see the unending love people still hold for him.

---

In Loving Memory

Even today, in every ghazal concert I perform, Jagjit Singh ji’s presence can be felt through his immortal creations. His ghazals continue to find a special place in every show, as audiences lovingly request and sing along.
For me, these tributes are not just performances — they are conversations with the soul of a legend whose music lives on forever.

Jagjit Singh ji will always remain the voice of emotion, the sound of poetry, and the melody of countless hearts.

🎵 Jagjit Singh Ji – My Eternal Musical Inspiration

A personal tribute by Shishir Parkhie 

Some voices don’t just sing — they stay with you forever. For me, Jagjit Singh Ji’s voice was that companion, shaping my musical journey long before I stepped on stage.

My first encounter with his music was as a child. Our home record player could only play 78 RPM and 45 RPM discs, but Jagjit Singh Ji’s LPs (33⅓ RPM) — “Come Alive” and “The Unforgettables” — belonged to my father’s dear friend, Mr. Kamat. I would visit their home again and again, listening to every ghazal and nazm, trying to hum and learn them. These melodies planted the first seeds of my love for ghazals.

Over time, I explored more of his albums, including “Two in One”, gifted to my father by my uncle from the US, and other cassettes I carefully collected. Every piece — from “Baat Niklegi Toh Phir Door Talak Jaayegi” (nazm) to “Aahista Aahista”, and “Ye Daulat Bhi Le Lo, Ye Shohrat Bhi” (nazm) — became a lesson in expression and emotion. Even the ghazal “Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar” from the film Arth deeply moved me and became part of my practice repertoire.

                           

In the mid 1980s, after moving to Nagpur, I continued preparing and performing his ghazals. I never missed the Mirza Ghalib serial on TV, as every line and nuance influenced my singing deeply.

Through the 1990s, even during small concerts, I continued performing his ghazals. Songs from films like Prem Geet and Sarfarosh — especially “Hothon Se Chhu Lo Tum, Mera Geet Amar Kar Do” and “Hoshwalon Ko Khabar Kya” — resonated with me and formed part of my stage repertoire. I was fortunate to witness him live in Nagpur once, which remains a cherished memory.

Jagjit Singh Ji’s style, expression, and musical sensibilities had a profound impact on me. I never tried to imitate him — I simply absorbed the depth, emotion, and soul in his singing, applying it to my own compositions and performances.

From childhood through today, I have sung his ghazals at countless concerts. By 2011, before his passing, many of my performances included his iconic works. That same year, my album “Roomaniyat – Ghazals of Love and Longing” was released.

In 2012, I was deeply honored to be nominated alongside Jagjit Singh Ji for the prestegious Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA) in the Best Ghazal Album category. While my album “Roomaniyat” released on 1st October 2011, Jagjit Singh Ji’s “Tera Bayaan Ghalib” came out a few months later, after his passing on 10th October 2011. Yet, both albums were recognized together that year.

It was a proud and humbling moment — though sadly, I never got the chance to meet him in person. Yet, his influence continues to guide every performance, every note, and every ghazal I sing.

Jagjit Singh Ji’s music is not just a memory; it is a lifelong companion, a mentor, and an eternal inspiration. Through his ghazals, I learned the true meaning of ehsaas in music — and that is a gift I carry with me on every stage.