GHAZAL SINGER "JAGJIT SINGH" PASSES AWAY TODAY AT THE AGE OF 70

Acclaimed ghazal singer Jagjit Singh died on Monday in Mumbai. The 70-year old was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati hospital after he suffered brain hemorrhage last month. He underwent two surgeries and was on life support.

Born on February 8, 1941, 'the ghazal king' was a singer, composer, activist and entrepreneur. He has sung in several languages including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and Nepali. Jagjit Singh entered the music circuit at a time which was primarily dominated by Pakistani ghazal singers, and Indian singers were considered relatively lesser authentic than their Pakistani counterparts.

Unlike other ghazal singers, Singh did not hesitate in lending his voice for films. His silky voice ruled during early 80's in films like Prem Geet, Saath Saath and Arth. However, his major work is spread over more than 60 filmy and non filmy albums.

Jagjit Singh was also known for modern approach and infusion of technology in the traditional art of ghazal singing. Singh was the first Indian music director to use the technique of multi-track recording for his album 'Beyond Time'.

Recipient of Padma Bhushan award, Jagjit Singh was the man behind making the ghazal genre available and understandable to all. Prior to Singh, ghazal singing was considered as an elite art, which was difficult for the common mass to understand due to high class Urdu and Persian.

Jagjit Singh broke this myth by coming up with songs such as 'Kaagaz ki kashti', 'Chaak jigar ke', 'Kal chadhanvi ki raat thi', and 'Shaam se aankh me name si hai'. He mixed the words of legends like Ghalib, Qateel Shifai, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Nida Fazli and Sudarshan Faakir with melodious indigenous tunes and achieved a state where nothing came in between him and his listeners.

Later when television started showcasing music videos, he was among one of the prominent members of the music fraternity to avail the facility. He again came up with brilliant albums such as 'Face to Face', 'Marasim', 'Aaeena', and 'Dil Kahin Hosh Kahin'.

Jagjit Singh had also given his voice for ex-prime minister Atal Bihari Bajpayee poems in the albums 'Nayi Disha' and 'Samvedna'.

Jagjit Singh is survived by his wife Chitra Singh, with whom he had produced several record breaking albums. Their only son Vivek Singh had died in a road accident in 1990.

GHAZAL SINGER, "JAGJIT SINGH" IN A VERY CRITICAL STAGE

Ghazal singer Jagjit Singh, who was admitted to Lilavati Hospital, is recuperating after two life-saving surgeries. Authorities said om Saturday that his condition was critical yet stable, and has to be closely monitored for the next 48 hours.

Industry sources said Singh suffered an intracranial hemorrhagic stroke, or bleeding within the skull. "We were told by the doctors treating him that this kind of bleeding could occur when a blood vessel within the skull is broken or leaking," said a source.

The 70-year-old singer has been suffering from high blood pressure, a known cause for hemorrhagic strokes, for some time now. Singh was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital at 3am on Friday in an unconscious state.

Till Saturday afternoon, Singh was operated on twice by a team of doctors, and the pressure on the skull released. Experts say such a surgery is called decompressing or evacuation surgery. "The clot is removed after opening up the skull," said Dr Vishwanathan Iyer, consultant endovascular neurosurgeon, Kohinoor Hospital.

Hospital authorities declined to comment on the treatment protocol or his ailment. "Singh has been operated for brain haemorrhage. He is stable. His family would not like to disclose more details," said the spokesperson of Lilavati Hospital. Singh is on ventilator, the spokesperson added.

City doctors said his heart condition could have a remote connection with the stroke. In 1998, Singh suffered a heart attack following which, doctors believe, he may be on blood thinners that could cause bleeding.

On Saturday, "There have been cases, though rare, where blood thinners have shown potential chance of causing more bleeding," said Iyer. Industry sources say that earlier in 2007 too, Singh had to be hospitalised following blood circulation issues.

Singers Anup Jalota and Ghulam Ali visited Singhat the hospital. Singh and his singer wife Chitra shot to limelight in the 70s with their ghazals. He went on to win the Padma Bhushan award in 2003.