Interview Beyond Time The Ageless Music of Jagjit Singh

An exclusive interview with the Ghazal Maestro while releasing his Biography Book Beyond Time The Ageless music of Jagjit Singh in 2002.

Jana Gana Mana National Anthem of India by Jagjit Singh

Jana Gana Mana (Bengali: জন গণ মন Jôno Gôno Mono) is the national anthem of India. Written in highly Sanskritized Bengali, it is the first of five stanzas of a Brahmo hymn composed and scored by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It was first sung at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress,on 27 December 1911. Jana Gana Mana was officially adopted by the Constituent Assembly as the Indian national anthem on January 24, 1950.[1][2][3] The music for the "current version" is said to be derived from a composition for the song by Ram Singh Thakur, although some dispute this.

A formal rendition of the national anthem takes about forty-eight to fifty-two seconds. A shortened version consisting of the first and last lines (and taking about 20 seconds to play) is also staged occasionally. Rabindranath Tagore also composed the music for another Indian poem Vande Mataram.


Jana gaṇa mana adhināyaka jaya hē
Bhārata bhāgya Vidhātā
Pañjāba Sindhu Gujarāṭa Marāṭhā
Drāviḍa Utkala Baṅga
Vindhya Himācala ẏamunā Gaṅgā
Ucchala jaladhi taraṅga
Tava śubha nāmē jāgē
Tava śubha āśiṣa māgē
Gāhē tava jaya gāthā
Jana gaṇa maṅgala dāyaka jaya hē
Bhārata bhāgya vidhātā
Jaya hē jaya hē jaya hē
Jaya jaya jaya jaya hē

Translation into English

O! Dispenser of India's destiny, thou art the ruler of the minds of all people
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, the Maratha country,
in the Dravida country, Utkala and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
it mingles in the rhapsodies of the pure waters of Yamuna and the Ganges.
They chant only thy name.
They seek only thy auspicious blessings.
They sing only the glory of thy victory.
The salvation of all people waits in thy hands,
O! Dispenser of India's destiny, thou art the ruler of the minds of all people
Victory to thee, Victory to thee, Victory to thee,
Victory, Victory, Victory, Victory to thee!

Balle Balle of Jagjit Singh

Grand Oldman of Indian Literature Khushwant on India

::::: World's 8 most Expensive Perfumes:::::

Globally, the flavours and fragrances form a $17.8-billion industry of which the top five players are Givaudan, International Flavors & Fragrances, Firmenich, Symrise and Quest International.

These five companies have a substantial presence in the Indian market, along with competition from Indian F&F houses like SH Kelkar, Sachee Aromatics and Oriental Flavors & Fragrances. The Indian F&F market is estimated at around $225 million.

"The word 'perfume' comes from the Latin per fume 'through smoke.' One of the oldest uses of perfumes was in the form the burning of incense and aromatic herbs used in religious services, often the aromatic gums, frankincense and myrrh, gathered from trees.

The Egyptians were the first clan to use perfume followed by the ancient Chinese, Hindus, Israelites, Carthaginians, Arabs, Greeks, and Romans.

The Egyptians invented glass and perfume bottles were one of the first common uses for glass.

1. Clive Christian's Imperial Majesty: Price $215,000

British !!!!gner Clive Christian's creation has recently been voted in the Guiness Book of World Records the most expensive perfume in the world. The 16.9-ounce perfume bottle is stuck into the 18-carat gold collar that is adorned with a five-carat diamond. Only five bottles are made annually, justifying the eye-popping price.



2. Clive Christian No. 1: Price $2,150 (2 oz.)

This perfume is an extravagant combination of Indian jasmine, mandarin and sandalwood. Its bottle is handmade from lead crystal, while the neck is 24-karat gold-plated sterling silver, set with a solitaire.

The stopper is !!!!gned after the original pattern granted by Queen Victoria.



3. Caron's Poivre: $2,000

The peppery unisex fragrance of Caron Poivre is a snip at $2,000 (for 2 oz).

This perfume is a concoction of lavender, jasmine, rose, Lily of the valley, carnation, cedar, sandalwood, Tonka and musk.

The maker of this perfume, Caron, is one of the last perfume houses to still have an in-house 'nose' (Monsieur Fraysse) -- also called a master perfumer.



4. Chanel No 5: Price $1,850

One of the world's most famous perfumes relies heavily on jasmine. It was the first fragrance from Parisian couturier, Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel.

History has it that Chanel commissioned renowned perfumer Ernest Beaux to make six perfumes. They were labelled No. 1, No. 2, etc. through No. 6. Chanel liked No. 5 the most and that became the chosen formula.

Initially, this perfume was given to some of Chanel's clients for free at her boutique.



5. Baccarats Les Larmes Sacrees de Thebe: Price $1,700

Baccarat, better known as the maker of high-quality crystal, entered the fragrance business in the late 1990s with three limited-edition fragrances of its own.

Baccarats Les Larmes Sacrees de Thebe combines frankincense and myrrh. The perfume comes in exquisite Baccarat crystal bottles.



6. Annick Goutal's Eau d'Hadrien: Price $1,500

Annick Goutal is a European perfumer, former model and prize-winning pianist. Her Eau d'Hadrien is a fresh, citrus blend of Sicilian lemons, grapefruit and cypress.



7. Hermes' 24 Faubourg: Price $1,500

This women's perfume, which comes in 1-oz bottles, is made by French fashion house Hermes International.

Hermes started its fragrance line in 1951. Over the past 57 years, the company has created several fragrances for both men and women.



8. Jean Patou's Joy: Price $800

This is quite a popular fragrance among Hollywood stars. It comes in 1-oz bottles and is a heavy floral scent, based on the most precious rose and jasmine, created by French fashion !!!!gner Jean Patou.

Other Patou perfumes are Amour Amour, Adieu Sagesse and Que Sais Je.

But 'Joy' is the most well known one.

__________________

Khushwant Singh - An Intro

Born - 2 February 1915
Achievements - A significant post-colonial writer in the English language, Khushwant Singh is known for his clear-cut secularism, wit and a deep passion for poetry. A regular contributor to various national dailies, Singh is also famous for his novel 'Train to Pakistan penned in the year 1956.

Khushwant Singh is a senior prominent Indian novelist cum journalist. He was born on 2 February 1915 at Hadali in British India that is now a part of Punjab in Pakistan. A significant post-colonial writer in the English language, Khushwant Singh is known for his clear-cut secularism, humor and a deep passion for poetry. His assessment and comparison of social and behavioral traits of people from India and the West is full of outstanding wit. Here's more information on the biography of Khushwant Singh.

Infact, Khuswant Singh's writing is so popular that his weekly newspaper column, "With Malice towards One and All", published in many Indian national dailies is among the most widely-read commentaries in the country. Singh completed his bachelor's from the Government College at Lahore and thereafter, pursued further studies in law at King's College in London, UK. Sir Sobha Singh, Khushwant Singh's father, then used to work at a reputed builder in Lutyens' Delhi. Read on about life history of Khuswant Singh.

Once while still practicing as a lawyer in the High Court of Lahore, Khushwant Singh was on his way to his family's summer residence at Kasauli at the foothills of the Himalayas. It was just days prior to the partition of India and Pakistan in August 1947. Singh was driving his car when he came across a jeep full of Sikhs on an unusually vacant road that day. The Sikh men pridefully narrated to him how they had just butchered away all residents of a Muslim village.

All these instances found vivid description in the book 'Train to Pakistan' Khushwant Singh later wrote in 1956. In the time to come, Singh was appointed to edit Yojana, a journal published by the Indian government. Other publications whose editing Singh was encharged with were the Illustrated Weekly of India, a newsweekly and two other major Indian dailies - The National Herald and the Hindustan Times. Under his leadership, The Illustrated Weekly came to be hailed as India's pre-eminent newsweekly.

There's many other kudos bagged by Khushwant Singh. For instance, Singh was a Rajya Sabha member of the Indian parliament from 1980 to 1986. He was also honored with the Padma Bhushan award in the year 1974 for service to his country, but he returned the award in protest against the siege of the Golden Temple by the Indian Army in 1984. Undeterred, the Indian government awarded Singh an even more prestigious honor, the Padma Vibhushan in the year 2007.

Joban rutei jo koi marda phul bane yaa tara, joban rutei askhik marda ya koi karma wala! ( Ishmeet Singh....)

Joban rutei jo koi marda phul bane yaa tara, joban rutei askhik marda ya koi karma wala! (Ishmeet Singh....)

Ishmeet Singh (September 2, 1989 - July 29, 2008) a well-known Voice of India winner and playback singer has died in the Maldives where he had gone to perform for the 'Star Voice of Maldives' contest to be held on the 1st of August, 2008. He drowned in the swiming pool of the Chaaya Island Dhonveli resort, at which he was staying, on Tuesday the 29th of July 2008 only two days before he was scheduled to perform.

The news of his untimely death has shocked the Indian music industry and his fans.

Sab Da Mit-Ishmeet: A personal tribute by Jagmohan Singh

Dear Ishmeet Singh

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

I wish you could read this letter. When I wrote my first letter to you, my paper World Sikh News was flooded with responses from far and wide appreciating your voice, your Sikhi and your portrayal by the paper.

With you as the main icon, my paper had put together a campaign showcasing Sikh talent, which we were to launch in the coming months. Little did I or anyone else knew that it would have to be without your physical presence.

Tears are flowing down my cheek as I pen these lines in fond memory of a year long association with you. Mansimran Singh – my son – and I may have met you very briefly, but for one full year you were a long distance darling of our house. Every evening, there was barely a discussion over dinner in which you were not mentioned.

Uncanny and unearthly are the ways of the Akal Purakh. It is not only difficult to fathom but extremely hard to digest. The manner in which your elder sister and father, Gurpinder Singh are coping with the gulf you left behind with this gargantuan tragedy is a tribute to their love and spirit of Sikhi.

In my lifetime, I have seen very few live performances of singers and yours is one of them. Though I am not an ardent admirer of Hindi film songs, like most Sikhs, I was far too happy to see you in full bloom in full Sikh attire.

I just cannot forget the moment when you were at loss for words and cried inconsolably while receiving the Vivek Singh Award for Excellence from Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh in memory of their only son Vivek, who had died in an accident almost at the same age as yours. Little did Jagjit Singh Chitra Singh or any one in the audience at Guru Nanak Bhavan Ludhiana know that destiny would shock us in such a cruel manner.

Today, the Sikh nation as a whole joins me in sharing the grief of your parents, family, friends and fans.

Very many times in the Voice of India show, you used to say, “I am doing this to accomplish my father’s dreams”. Those dreams may lie unfulfilled today as far as you are concerned, but you have inspired many a Sikh youth to live with those dreams.

In true spirit of Sikhi, from somewhere you seem to be repeating John Donne’s verse,

Death, be not proud

though some of called thee mighty and dreadfull

for thou are not so.........

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,

And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

In the spirit of Sikhi I pray that “charn kamal ki mauj mein raho ant ar adh”- May you live at the Lotus feet of the Almighty till eternity.

Jagmohan Singh

Jagmohan Singh, a keen admirer of Ishmeet Singh and his work, has frequently written about the Sikh icon and the need for many more such role models for the Sikhs. He may be contacted at jsbgideas@gmail.com

29 July, 2008