JP was my dearest friend. Suddenly, on the morning of Sunday, the 27th of April this year, at about 10 AM, he closed his eyes for the last time in the front seat of our friend Harish Duneja’s car. He went so peacefully that for a few minutes Harish didn’t even know that he had left us. He never complained about anything in his life; there was not a whisper of complaint when he left.
My immediate, dazed, shocked, and sad response was this:
कैसे करें यकीन हमारा दोस्त नहीं है अब,
लुका छुपी खेली पर उसे ढूँढ नहीं पाए l
सौ तक गिनती की, अब कहाँ है तू?
खेल के यह नियम हमें समझ नहीं आए l
कौन अब मुझे कहेगा “Dear dost Ravi”?
कौन इन्तेज़ार करेगा मेरा हाथ फैलाए?
किसकी बाँसुरी की धुन सुनने को,
लोग बैठे रहेंगे कान लगाये?
थिरकती उंगलियों से कीबोर्ड के स्वर,
इतने हुनर से अब कौन बजाये?
किसके चेहरे के नूर से माहौल हो रोशन,
जैसे अंधेरी रात में कोई चाँद निकल आए?
किसकी हमदर्दी और हौंसला अफजाई ने,
हम सबके दिलों में चिराग जलाये?
किसकी वीडियो कॉल की रिंग टोन,
हम सबको हमारी नींद से जगाए l
JP ने तो परायों को भी बनाया है अपना,
लोग अपनों को भी समझते हैं पराए l
खुदा, हमारे दोस्त को बहुत सम्भाल के रखना,
हमारे अरमान रखे थे इस फ़रिश्ते ने सजाये l
I was a student of Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh from May 1971 until I joined the Indian Navy two years later. I was a student in the Mechanical branch and JP was in the Electrical branch. For 50 years, as it happened with quite a few of us, we drifted into our own worlds. And then, on 20 Apr 2021, JP being one of the seven administrators of the PEC Music Lovers group added me as the 17th member of the group (the group was started on 10 Oct 2020). Two more members have been added since then. Meanwhile, I ran a Fest Operating Group (FOG) of my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne and added JP and a few more PEC music lovers to my group on reciprocal basis. Both the group were almost dormant until JP and I reignited these.
A day after joining the group, I put up two of my poems that I had composed into songs: One, Jab hui hai maut se guftugu; and two, Unako haal-e-dil kya suna baithe. JP was one of the few who liked these. I thanked him and this is what he wrote, “I am very particular about pressing the like button of my friends’ videos. No need to thank me.”
Very soon I learnt that other than me and another member in FOG, Vipan Kohli, JP was a member who would assiduously go through all posts of friends and like and put up detailed comments on them. So much so that, say, he hadn’t seen posts for about a fortnight, he would go back to Day #1 and start commenting from there onwards without omitting a single one. Unlike others, he never played favourites.
With his very first post after I joined the PEC Music Lovers group, ie, Jadugar sainyan, chhodo meri bayiyan, ho gayi aadhi raat played by him on his keyboard on 22 Apr 21, I indicated to him that I was his fan, “Rajinder Krishan and Hemant Kumar and my favourite Vyjayanthimala. You have excellent talent JP. I am your fan.”
Very soon, JP started regaling us with his frequent renditions on the flute, keyboard, or singing with, “Boojho to jaane, gaa kar bhejo to maane” or “Suniye aur batayen.” We would respond on his personal number (rather than in the group) so as to keep the suspense alive for others. With my knowledge of old Hindi songs, to recognise the song was never a challenge for me. The song was, once again, picturised on Vyjayanthimala: Tumhe yaad karte karte, jaayegi rayn saari. I was soon to learn that he had an excellent taste in old Hindi songs.
Within a week, JP started playing songs suggested by me especially in Raag Pahadi. At a very early stage, he played my favourite: Dhoondo dhoondo re sajana more kaan ka bala picturised on Vyjayanthimala in Dilip Kumar’s only production: Gunga Jumna; the song having been put together by my favourites: Shakeel Badayuni, Naushad, and Lata Mangeshkar. I put up a post regarding the song.
Here is what JP wrote on my post:
“Ravinder Pal Singh Nick named, Ravi ji,
I read your full post and every paragraph of your post opened my eyes wide and wide apart.
Dear, I am sure that you can write a voluminous book on the three legends, Shakeel, Naushad, Vyjayantimala, the Indian film industry has produced, the book containing beautiful aspects of Indian films, Music, Lyrics and Dance.
Don’t you get inspired by yourself?
You might have written many pages on soft and hard pages earlier in your life.
Just start compiling all these from today itself.
Best of luck.”
JP warmed the cockles of my heart by playing a few notes of Vyjayanthimala’s Devdas song, also suggested by me, “Jise tu qabool karle wo ada kahan se laayun.” Indeed, without my suggestions, JP went about playing all my favourites. An early favourite of mine that I sang in Apr 2021 was in Raag Pahadi: Jaane kya dhoondati rehti hain. JP played it on Harish Duneja’s keyboard on 26 Apr 25, less than a day before he left us.
I introduced the group to raagas and taal and JP was the most avid learner in addition to having vast knowledge of his own. Here is what he wrote on 02 May 2021: “Prabhu, Aap ke paanv kahan hain? I feel envy to your so much knowledge of Raagas. 61 Raagas with their names and details. Unbelievable. I am reading many names for the first time. Ravi ji, it appears that you have done PhD in Indian filmy music. Jai ho.”
At my suggestion, the very first song that he played on flute was in Raag Sohani: Jhoomati chali hawa yaad aa gaya koi.
At this stage, a fortnight after getting in touch with JP, I put up my rendition of Na yeh chand hoga na taare rahenge, the first song that I sang for Lyn in KLF (Kandaghat Live First). These are JP’s first comments about Lyn and I:
“Dear Ravinder ji,
Sorry, I couldn’t see your post as I was reciting my morning Path.
I do not have the suitable words to express it all. Your clean and clear sincerity of love towards your life partner and the depth of heart with which you bring out your feelings in your songs and poetry, has already been conveyed by dear Ashwani and Duneja above. Lyn is very lucky to have you as her life partner.
God bless you all.
Very nicely sung.
I request Indu to sing the female version of the song and post it.
I am also posting below another song sung earlier by Indu which is so soothing that one loves to listen and sing it again and again.”
He played this song on keyboard:
And now, I started writing poetry to/for him. This was the first:
“हुनर आपका है हुज़ूर,
कहते हो अदा है हमारीl
टॉप फैन हम हैं ज़रूर,
पर ज़र्रा-नवाज़ी है तुम्हारीl”
JP put up on flute: Poochho na kaise maine rayn bitayi in Raag Ahir Bhairav.
Here is what I wrote:
“आप के लिए जितना भी लिखूं कम है,
आपके हुनर से इस ग्रुप में दम है l
आपकी शान में अच्छा कहना चाहता हूं,
पर अपनी छोटी पहुंच का मुझे ग़म है l”
After I sang Talat’s Sham e gham ki kasam, JP played it so well that I dubbed him maestro.
The first video chat between Renu, JP and I was on 17 May 2021 when I put up my rendition of Hemant Kumar’s Ye nayan dare dare. Here is what JP wrote: “Myself and Renu were really overwhelmed to listen to this lovely number sung so beautifully that we got a big impulse to talk to you….”
A testimony to JP’s fine taste in songs was this on keyboard: Hum pyar mein jalne walon ka. He topped it up with a Noor Jehan song: Awaaz de kahan hai. JP was experimenting on his keyboard changing from piano to clarinet and beat to waltz.
JP, at my request, played on flute: Mere mitwa, mere meet re, aaja tujhko pukaren mere geet re.
In my comments on his rendition, I invited JP, for the first time to KLF:
“Dear JP,
This is the best so far. When I requested you to play it on flute, I knew that many of Kalyanji Anandji songs are flute based. This is the title song of Geet and even the posters have Rajendra Kumar playing flute.
This is not in any raag, but, I know KA just loved Charukeshi and the best in that raag is from them: Kisi raah pe kisi mod par mujhe chal ns dena tu chhod kar.
Please please if you can play that too on flute, you will find similarity with this.
You are fast becoming a genius, if not already there.
Incidentally, at one time, flute was a prominent note in Hindi films songs, especially those sung in the freshness of the hills. So much so that flute reminds me of hills.
Very very well done JP. I can imagine you playing it in Whispering Winds, Kandaghat!”
So, two things happened: One, he attended KLF; and two, Kisi raah pe kisi mod par became his favourite song.
Indeed, JP, through his first vocal song, indicated to me that whatever I asked him to sing or play, he would. Taste this:
Knowing my devotion to Shakeel Badayuni, JP put up on flute: Jaane bahar husn tera bemisaal hai:
When JP played Koi pyar ki dekhe jaadugari on keyboard and I told him how stunned I was with the magic of his fingers, he wrote:
“Thanks Ravi dear,
रवि,
मैं अपना magic आप को दे दूंगा, पर तुम अपना knowledge का जादू मुझे दे दो।”
Two days before my birthday on 06 June 2021, JP recorded Kisi raah mein kisi mod par on flute – hold your breath – early morning. I was very touched by this gesture of his. Here is what I wrote:
“Just listened to it, JP, and honestly I was transported to another world.
Along with being so talented, you are truly a great human being. Friends’ suggestions and requests are considered by you important, which says a lot about your humility.
आपके दोस्त होने का हमें फक्र है,
आपके हुनर का खुदा का शुक्र है l
आपकी काबिलियत की दाद देनी होगी,
हर महफिल में आपका ही ज़िक्र है l
You are your own competition! Your keyboard and flute are taking turns to compete with each other. Right now, Flute is on top!”
On my birthday, I recorded Mukesh’s Husn e jaana idhar aa for my wife, Lyn. JP responded by playing it flawlessly on keyboard.
At this stage, ie, on 07 Jun 21, JP played on flute at my request a Phagun song: Piya o piya na laage mora jiya. Those were the days of Hindi movies when flute was the most adorable musical instruments of lovers and hence I had suggested the song to him. Indeed, as I recall, JP was playing almost all the songs at my request; a great honour for me.
I gave him our biggest award at that stage: PEC Ratna, our equivalent of Bharat Ratna!
I told JP that Husn e jaana idhar aa was one of the only 9 songs that Mukesh sang for Naushad and then I mentioned about Mehboob Khan’s Andaz wherein Mukesh sang two unforgettable songs for Naushad: Tu kahe agar, and Jhoom jhoom ke naacho aaj. JP obliged me by playing Tu kahe agar so well that I was amazed for the nth time.
In the group, then, I threw at friends a question as to why a particular song starts impinging on our memory suddenly one fine day. JP’s response to it is very important in the early stages of our rejuvenated friendship:
“Dear Ravi,
As per me, hundreds of thousands of songs keep humming in the back of mind of a musical person. At a particular moment of being in a happy, sad or gloomy mood,/ situation, the song linked to that situation surfaces at the top of one’s mind and one start singing.
I tell you, when my dear wife is upset/ angry with me, I start playing/singing songs suiting her mood whereby she gets emotional and forgets her sad mood. This is however disclosed by her at a later date.
Your songs manage your mood.”
Brilliant and unpretentious response.
Impressed by Sharanjit reminding of the brilliance of the song: Woh subah kabhi to aayegi, JP played it both on piano and flute. Renu ji liked it on flute.
And then he played on flute: Jaane kahan gaye woh din.
I also requested him to play Mere Sanam song: Jayiye aap kahan jayenge. As always, he obliged.
The brilliance of his playing these songs was so overwhelming that I tried my hand at penning a poem in Punjabi for him:
ਪਿਆਰੇ ਵੀਰ JP,
ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਬਜਾਉਣ ਨੇ ਸਾਡੇ ਦਿਲ ਚ ਬਣਾ ਲਈ ਹੈ ਜਗ੍ਹਾ,
ਸਾਡੀ ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲੀ ਦੀ ਲੱਗਦੀ ਹੈ ਏਹ ਸਬਤੋਂ ਵੱਡੀ ਵਜ੍ਹਾ l
ਕਦੀ ਕੀ ਬੋਰਡ, ਕਦੀ ਬਾਂਸੁਰੀ, ਤੇ ਕਦੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਗਾਇਕੀ,
ਹੈਰਾਨਗੀ ਹੈ ਇਕ ਹੀ ਬੰਦੇ ਚ ਕਿੱਦਾਂ ਹੈ ਐਨੀ ਸਾਰੀ ਅਦਾ!
ਆਪ ਦੇ ਟਾਪ फैन ਬਣ ਕੇ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਤੇ ਹੈ ਹੰਕਾਰ,
ਇਕ ਤੋਂ ਇਕ ਵੱਧ ਕੇ, ਸੰਗੀਤ ਦੀ ਹੈ ਝਣਕਾਰ l
ਤਾਰੀਫ਼ ਕਰਨਾ ਤਾਂ ਸੂਰਜ ਨੂੰ ਦੀਵਾ ਦਿਖਾਣਾ ਹੈ,
ਸਾਰੇ ਸਾਡੇ ਇਲਫਾਜ਼ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਨੇ ਨਾਕਾਫੀ ਅਤੇ ਬੇਕਾਰ l
ਮੇਰੀ ਫਰਮਾਇਸ਼ ਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਏਹ ਚੌਥਾ ਗੀਤ ਹੈ,
ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ ਆਪ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਉਂਗਲੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੰਗੀਤ ਹੈ,
ਤੁਸੀਂ ਬਜਾਂਦੇ ਰਹੋ ਅਸੀਂ ਏਦਾਂ ਹੀ ਸੁਣਦੇ ਰਹੀਏ ਮੁਗਧ ਹੋ ਕੇ,
ਟਾਪ ਪਲੇਅਰ ਅਤੇ ਟਾਪ ਫੈਨ ਦੀ ਏਹੀ ਤਾਂ ਰੀਤ ਹੈ l
ਰਵੀ
Let me now cut to 22 June 21, the first birthday of JP’s wife Renu after I joined the group on 20 Apr 21. JP played a song for her suggested by Harish. As always, it was played by him outstandingly. I couldn’t help making a poem about it (Aapke haseen rukh pe aaj naya noor hai):
“JP का दिल आपके लिए अभी भी मचल रहा है,
वल्ला, रेणु जी क्या असर है आपके प्यार का?
लगता है आपके लिए ही यह संगीतकार बना है,
क्या अंदाज चुना है अपने इश्क के इजहार का?
बहारें आती रहें आपकी जिंदगी में हमेशा,
रौनक रहे आपकी दुनिया हज़ारों साल l
खुशहाली और कहकशां आपके चूमे कदम,
घर आपका बना रहे सुन्दर और मालामाल l
आप दोनों का प्यार ऐसे ही बना रहे हरदम,
आपको मिलने के लिए दोस्तों की हों कतारें,
आपकी जिंदगी में कभी कोई ना आए ग़म,
आपसे ही रहें रौशन सितारे और नजारे l
जन्मदिन की आपको, रेणु जी, हो मुबारक,
हर लम्हा बरसाये संगीत और गीत l
कभी बांसुरी से, कभी बाजे से, कभी गा के,
JP बना रहे आपके मन का मीत l
Happy birthday Renu ji. Have a melodious day and year
🎼🎂🌹🌻🎼”
JP responded to it by:
“रवि dear,
To be very frank, I do not have the words to express my sincerest gratitude on the way, you thought of sending your Birthday Greetings in the form of a beautiful poem.
Your beautiful Lyrics have conveyed so many good wishes to both of us.
I read out your poem to many of Renu’s close associates in her School while enjoying the B’day party and there were all clappings.
You are truly blessed with the art of good writing, dear.
Keep on blessing the group and us.”
At the end of June, 2021, JP played a Shakeel, Naushad song: Phir teri kahani yaad aayi and followed it up with a Madhumati song picturised on Vyjayanthimala: Zulmi sang aankh ladhi.
On the early morning of 28 June 21, JP touched the chords of my heart with a song on flute: Tere sur aur mere geet. It was overwhelmingly beautiful and I wrote:
“Excellent JP,
सुरों और गीतों के आप हैं सरताज,
सुबह उठते ही सुनते हैं आपका साज l
संगीत की दुनिया में और भी हैं लेकिन,
लगता है हर तरफ आपका है राज l
दिन तो अपना तभी शुरू होता है,
जब कान में आती है बांसुरी की आवाज l
सुबह का समां वैसे पूजा का है,
लेकिन आपको सुनना है हमारी इबादत का आगाज l
हमारी तो जैसे किस्मत खुली हो,
आपके टॉप फैन होने पर हमें है नाज़ l
आप यूँ ही हमें लुभाते रहिए बजा के,
आप सुनाने से और हम सुनने से न आयेंगे बाज l
Proud of you, JP. You are the bestest of the best, Bismillah!”
And then, for the first time, JP wrote a verse of his own:
Dear रवि,
आप की मान भरी कविता पढ़ कर मेरा कवी भी कुछ कहना चाहता है …
रवि प्यारे, अगर आप ने मुझे पहनाया है इज्जत का ताज,
तो आप भी कम नहीं, आप भी हो लिरिसिस्टों के बाप।
रवि, I am truly feeling elated.
I am really indebted to you for writing for writing words of praise in the shape of poems or otherwise.
Lot many thanks, dear”
Friends, the above is less than ten percent of the musical and poetical interactions between JP and I for the first two months of re-knowing each other after 50 years. These are meant to just give you glimpses of the intensity of our relationship. Some of you know about how close JP was to me and vice-versa. These glimpses would tell you about how inseparable we had become. We were connected all the while one way or the other.
I can write hundreds of adjectives about his personality as felt by me. However, these interactions would most ably bring out, without any prejudice, the kind of person that JP was.
One last word: you would be thinking as to how I have all these with me after four years when you yourselves cannot locate anything even of four days ago. Here is the answer: when you love, you have it all!
