Pandit Jasraj – His life full of zest, his soulful voice and his values will be always remembered

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SPIC MACAY’s tribute to Sangeet Martand Pt. Jasraj

New Delhi: Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj, one of the most renowned Indian Classical vocalists of the Mewati Gharana, with a musical career spanning eight decades, who passed away on August 17, 2020.

A doyen of Indian classical vocal music, he was fondly addressed as Bapuji by his nearest and dearest including disciples from all over the world.  He was awarded with the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri by the Government of India for his outstanding contribution and received several prestigious awards from all over the world. There’s even a minor planet named in honour of him. His life full of zest, his soulful voice and his values will be always remembered by the current generation and those to come.

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SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth), as a part of the ongoing Rendezvous Series, paid tribute to the legendary maestro by organising an online tribute event with talks by Professor Kiran Seth (Founder, Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth -SPIC MACAY), Pt. Sanjeev Abhyankar (Hindustani Vocal),  Shashank Subramanyam (Flute), Gargee Siddhant (Hindustani Vocal), Kala Ramnath (Violin) and Sunita Budhiraja (Writer of his biography).

Sharing an anecdote from the initial years of the iconic SPIC MACAY, when the organisation had little funds to accommodate such a top artiste, Professor Kiran Sheth, Founder SPIC MACAY, said Pandit Jasraj agreed to perform there even under such a situation. “He said because this was being done for the youth, and with so much passion, he would definitely support the cause,” Professor Sheth recounted, adding that it was since then that the great vocalist’s journey with SPIC MACAY continued, “sprinkling magic and divinity with his presence on and off the stage”.

“Pandit Jasraj has played a pivotal role in helping SPIC MACAY, by inspiring young minds in numerous institutions over the world during SPIC MACAY events, including his spellbinding recitals at SPIC MACAY Conventions, Music in the Park concerts and many others,” Professor Sheth said while paying his tribute to the legend, who according to him was “a great musician and also a great human being”. He informed that Pandit Jasraj’s last program with SPIC MACAY was during the Anubhav Series in June 2020, “where he shared his beautiful experience with this movement”.

Kala Ramnath recalled her first meeting with him, where she spotted him walking across the train tracks to receive her family and her as the train had halted for an indefinite amount of time before the station. She was shocked by his simplicity, and how he became a father figure in her life and later guru.

Pt. Sanjeev Abhyankar, a disciple of Jasraj expressed how he will be forever etched in their hearts through his music. “Jasraj ji believed that even the words have their own naad, and he incorporated this naad of words in his singing,” he said.

Gargee Siddhant, who was Jasraj’s student for thirty-three years, shared how great a teacher he was, paying attention to all his students, motivating them and always giving them hope. “Jasraj ji is still amongst us, in his music, in his legacy as essence is greater than presence,” she said.

Shashank Subramanyam spoke about his journey with his ‘Hindustani Music Guru’, and how he started learning from him on the day of Guru Purnima and how he started accompanying him to the concerts he performed all over the world. “He had the simplicity of a child, the sophistication of a true leader and had an ability to adapt in all situations,” he said.

The event concluded with the webcast of Pandit Jasraj ji’s beautiful concert for SPIC MACAY at the Music in the Park series at Bhubaneshwar, Odisha in December 2016.

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