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Sab Da Mit-Ishmeet:
A personal tribute
Jagmohan Singh
 Dear Ishmeet Singh
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
I wish I did not
have to write 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
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