Jashn-e-Ghulam Ali

17 Nov 2013 a milestone was achieved, a dream came true and that was to listen Ghulam Ali Sahab Live. 

Jash-e-Ghulam Ali.. When I heard about the show on FM, I decided to go without giving a second thought.

Surprisingly same day later in the evening my brother asked me "Ghulam Ali ka show hai, chalogi kya?" And without discussing much we booked 4 tickets (Bhai, Bhabs, Mee and my younger sis). 

I was so excited for the show and as the date is coming closer I was feeling more excited. Finally, the day arrived. Bhabs was not well but she decided to join us. (Such is the magic of Ghulam Ali Sahab) 

Show timing was 7 o'clock. It was 6 and we were at home only. Bhai was shouting, you girls can never get ready on time. And we were like 'only 5 more mins' :D

We reached "Shanmukhanand Hall" at 7:10 PM. We did online booking hence we had to search a place where we could get ticket. We asked my Sis and Bhabs to stand at a place while we collect tickets. I was asking same from a security wale uncle, I heard a very humble voice from behind "Janab zara gaadi andar karni hai" I was in hurry and was more worried for tickets I simply moved to another side and didn't bother to turn and see the person. Bhai said "He is Roop Kumar Rathore" I turned and saw a person in Black Kurta, "Mr. Roop Kumar Rathore". I took a sigh of relief it means we are not late. :D

We collected our ticket and found our way to audi.  Ghulam Ali Sahab was not on stage, while some musicians were performing their piece of Tabla and flute.

7:45 PM and Ghulam Ali Sahab entered the stage every one stood and applauded for this living legend of Ghazals of our time. After some felicitation by guests and minister, Ghulam Ali Sahab was all set with his harmonium.

First Ghazal he sang was "Teri baatein sunane aaye hain.." Honestly, I didn't listen this Ghazal before but I was fascinated by his voice and the very known andaaz of presenting ghazals. 

Before starting second ghazal Khan sahab said "ye meri farmaish pe ap sunenge , fir farmaishein bhi sunenge, ye meri farmaishi hai, pehle ye sun lein" He started "Fir usi Rahguzaar par shayad.." and thought chalo, minimum one ghazal I have listened. 

Before starting every ghazal he was telling the 'Raag' of the ghazal (which I don't understand :D) and also mentioning the name of poet. 

Third Ghazal he sang was Dil me ek leher si uthi hai abhi..  and as his trademark he said "leher ke andaz pesh karunga gale se, ginte rahiyega..." I counted 15 then lost into ghazal and forgot to count all. :D 

Then he asked audience for our farmaish.. the audi echoed with so many popular ghazals and he sang almost all the ghazals requested.. Faasle aise bhi.. Ye baatein jhoothi baatein (nazm).. Hum tere sheher mei.. Kitni muddat baad.. Jab tassawur mera chupke se.. Kal chaudhavi ki raat.. 

He remembered Jagjit Singh Sahab also.. In between he was talking to Roop Kumar and Sonali Rathore too. 

Once he asked the cameraman to stop his recording because it was disturbing him.

He was entertaining us not only with his singing but also interacting with audience, cracking some jokes and making atmosphere humorous too.

Then he said "ye ek ghazal aur pesh karta hu, idhar se farmaish huyi thi, mai bhool gaya tha, bohot achhi ghazal hai ye bhi..suniyega"  and sang Huyi hai shaam do aankhon mei bas gaya fir tu..

There was request of one ghazal which was being made every time he was turning towards audience and finally it was the time for Hungama hai kyu barpa.. Everyone was exhilarated with Khan Sahab's singing.

And this was the last ghazal for the evening. The host for the evening announced end of show. But someone from audience was still requesting Chupke Chupke raat din.. Karan (The Host) rejected his requested but the best moment of the show was when Ghulam Ali Sahab said "Chalo fir ho jaye", almost jumped like a kid and within fraction of sec was again on his harmonium and sang one sher from this very popular ghazal by Maulana Hasrat Mohani.

This was my experience of first ever Ghulam Ali live concert. A fan in mee was overwhelmed with the generous, humble and a simple attitude of this legend. 

Ek Bauchhar tha wo..

I still remember the day when I heard the news of brain hemorrhage of Jagjit Singh Sahab. Though I knew it was not possible to recover from it yet there was a hope that he can’t go so early like this. I prayed for his health. But my prayers were not powerful enough to save his life and this very day 2 years back he left us.

I was in my office that day when I heard the news of his passing away. I informed my brother and younger sister who are also fan of Jagjit Sa’ab. I was sad and shocked with this loss. I felt as someone of my family is passed away. I had a dream to listen him signing live. But a dream was shattered. A heart was broken.

My love for Jagjit Singh’s work was not just few years old. I am grown up listening to his Ghazals. My brother is huge fan of Jagjit Sa’ab. I would not say that we had all the audio cassettes of his albums but what we had were beautiful. At the age of 12 what do you understand about the feelings, the expressions, the meaning of a couplet. But this voice bounded me with its magic. His voice is so peaceful that without understanding the meaning of few words I belived that something beautiful was being conveyed in them. This gave a birth to my new love for poetries.

I remember, I was waiting for my class 10 board result and my brother used to play “kyu dare zindagi mei kya hoga~kuch na hoga to tajruba hoga” :D and I found a quick relief from result tension.

Hazaron Khwaishei... Sarakti Jaye hai... Charag Aftaab Gum... Ghr se nikle the... Wo kagaz ki kashti... are some (not only) ghazals which we used to listen. I am not sure if I understood the meaning of these ghazals then, but I grew up understanding their meanings. I feel proud of following him religiously.

I am not writing this blog to tell about my favourite his ghazals because there are many. Once I decided to make a playlist of his Ghazals and when I was finished, the playlist had some hundreds of ghazals.

He was the man who brought Ghazals to the reach and understanding of non-urdu people.

Poet Nida Fazli once said: “After Mehdi Hasan, if anyone knows how to present the misra, it is Jagjit Singh.

In the words of Gulzar:

“The way he takes the metre and plays with it to set the taal on it... No word is lost. The beauty is that he understands poetry, the significance of the verse and the weight of each word and how to present it.

Not only ghazal singing but his simple living attitude, serenity in his eyes and his pure soul make him a legend. His smile is so innocent and child like but it never gives you a hint of the ocean of sorrow flowing in his heart.

Thoroughout my life I will have a regret not being able to listen him live. His voice and his compositions have a special part in my life. My mobile memory card has more than half of the storage dedicated to his ghazals.

People who are known for their work never die; but their physical presence is often missed.

You are being missed and remembered everyday.

And As Gulzar wrote this poem as a tribute to Jagjit sahab

Ek Bauchhar Tha Wo..

Ek Bauchhar tha wo shakhs bina barse

Kisi abra ki sahami se nami se jo bhigo deta tha..

Ek Bauchhar hi tha wo

Jo kabhi dhoop ki afshaa.n bhar ke

door tak sunte hue Cheharo.n par Chidak deta tha

Neem taareek se Hall me Aankhe.n chamak uthati thi’n

Sar hilaata tha kabhI jhoom ke tahanee ki tarah

lagta tha jhonka hawaa ka tha koi chhed gaya hai..

Gungunaataa tha to khulte hue baadal ki tarah

Muskurahat me ka.ee Tarbo.n ki Jhankaar Chupi thi

Gali Qasim se chali ek Ghazal ki jhankaar tha wo

Ek awaaz ki bauchhar tha wo...