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ISHMEET Turban Crowns
Crooning Hero
Voice of Ishmeet
 Dear
Ishmeet Singh
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
First and foremost- Congratulations. It has been a long
wait. Since childhood, whenever a Punjabi singer became popular, as
such Sikhs used to wonder, “Why is it that they have to cut their hair
to become popular?” I have heard this a million times. Whether it is
Dharmendra or gazal maestro Jagjit Singh or lyricist Gulzar, Punjab took
rightful pride about their work and contribution but somewhere in the
recesses of their minds, they used to ponder, “Why on earth is it
necessary to cut your hair?”
No one had any proper answers. Cricketer Bishen Singh
Bedi, lyricist and musician Uttam Singh and singer Daler Singh Mehndi
provided some relief. Unfortunately, Hard Kaur has gone overboard.
Exposure on prime time satellite television for nearly
seven months in a row every weekend has given you iconic status. I have
followed the program for a good three months and can safely say that you
are a decent person, gentle and understanding, sometimes uncomfortable
(but not naive), careful and strong.
As they say, there is no biz like Showbiz. Voice of
India
became Voice of Ishmeet passing through many hurdles. In the first
phase you were scouted from amongst seventy thousand contestants from
the entire country. In the second phase you managed to defeat the top
twelve contestants through SMS and internet polls, notwithstanding their
foible. Most people are cynical about such shows. I am particularly
happy that you won the day despite the follies and temperament of the
judges.
Your popularity as a turbaned-bearded singer has added
fuel to the fire to varied debates in the media and television. “Were
you the best singer at the end of the day? My son, Mansimran Singh is a
student of music and he said, “Papa, there is no No. 1 and No. 2 in
music and singing. Every one is blessed with a unique voice and has a
distinct individuality. We should learn and respect the sentiments of
Lata Mangeshkar and her sister Usha Mangeshkar who refused to be drawn
into the race of first and second.” Having said that, he further said,
“unless someone can devise another format, we have to follow what the
world does and thus Ishmeet is the ideal and rightful winner in the
present circumstances.” I more than agree with him. I would go a step
further and ask, “If the country’s leading newspapers can implore and
excite people in the name of nationalism to vote for The Taj as one of
the Seven Wonders of the World in a sustained campaign, what is wrong in
voting again and again for Ishmeet Singh?”
Today in the field of glamour and sports, humility is
callously being considered weakness. “I” is more important than
everything else. New-found American aggressiveness combined with the
Sikh character is a dangerous mix anyway. In one of the shows, all of
you were asked “Who would be the winner?” Without exception, each one of
you said, “I would like to be the winner”. When I mentioned this to a
friend, he remarked, “it is negation of a 5,000 year old Indian
tradition”. It would be in the fitness of things to remember that
during the program in Varanasi, the octogenarian musician Pandit Krishan
Maharaja refused to draw parallels between you and the other contestant
Harshit. I felt very pleased. I must hasten to add that it was your
humble attitude that first made you the dark horse and then the victor.
Your graciousness in acknowledging your contender Harshit is
praiseworthy. Not only while foot-tapping, but even otherwise, you kept
your feet always on the ground.
Music knows no barriers. It transcends barriers. An
appeal in the name of religion and region is questionable. Of course,
you are not to blame. The producers of the show in an attempt to catch
eyeballs resort to regionalism and other marketing gimmicks. The debate
is endless and there are no easy answers. Nonetheless, they deserve
kudos for providing young artistes like you a platform to harness their
prowess.
Ishmeet, your humility is genuine and your singing is
original. Your melodious voice has won many hearts. Some of the mentors
on the show on Star Plus wanted you out very early and some have
questioned their own role and embarrassed themselves and the producers.
Some channels without going into details have gone to the extent of
saying that since you received maximum number of votes from Punjab and
Haryana, you should be nick-named Voice of Punjab. I am happy even with
that. At the end of the day, Punjabis and Sikhs are proud of your
success.
It may be utterly wrong for me to make comparisons with
Surinder Kaur and Jagmohan Kaur, but I see a lot of potential in
you. Your musical life has just begun and I wish you well. I am sure
that coming from a family of devotee singers, you will be unsparing in
your efforts and training and sparing in your dreams to become rich.
You should put your talent to further the cause of Sikhism as well the
social needs of the Sikh people. You have come out as a God-fearing
person and that is credible. I am also certain that your uncle, Dr.
Charan Kamal Singh of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, will stimulate to
carry out various activities that you need to undertake.
I have no doubt about you, but the charm and glamour of
Bollywood can be very tempting and enticing. Your grounding and
foundation is very strong. Still, as an elder at the risk of
pontificating, I say that if at any stage in life you have to make a
choice between Sikhi and careerism, do not hesitate to choose the
former. Not even for a moment you should forget what Daler Singh Mehndi
said during one of your shows, “Pag te kesan di
laaj rakhin.”
Generally speaking, modern Sikh girls across the globe
want to marry boys who do not sport unshorn hair and beard. Surely if
Bipasha Basu calls you cute and handsome, Sikh girls too can admire you.
Now, they have a choice.
May Waheguru Shower His choicest blessings. Guru Rakha.
Sincerely
Jagmohan Singh
(Jagmohan Singh is a
commentator based in Ludhiana,
Punjab.
He may be contacted at
jsbigideas@gmail.com )
28 November, 2007
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