Jagjit Singh Family Tree: The Story Behind India's Ghazal King

Jagjit Singh (1941–2011), born 8 February 1941 in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India, and died 10 October 2011 in Mumbai, was India's King of Ghazals — Mirza Ghalib (1988 TV serial soundtrack), Hoshwalon Ko Khabar Kya (Sarfarosh 1999), Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho (Arth 1982), Hothon Se Chhulo Tum (Prem Geet 1981), Tere Khushboo Mein Base Khat (Arth 1982). Padma Bhushan (2003).

The Family's Roots: A Sikh Punjabi Family in Rajasthan

The Singh family is Sikh Punjabi, settled in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan.

His Parents

Father: Amar Singh Dhiman — Indian government official.

Mother: Bachan Kaur — homemaker.

His Wife: Chitra Singh

Chitra Singh (born Chitra Datta, 22 September 1945) — Bengali; ghazal singer. Married Jagjit Singh in December 1969.

Their Son

Vivek Singh (1971–1990) — son; killed in a road accident at 18 in 1990, devastating Jagjit and Chitra and ending Chitra's singing career.

The Singh Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Amar Singh Dhiman.

Mother: Bachan Kaur.

Wife: Chitra Singh (b. 22 September 1945; m. December 1969) — Bengali ghazal singer.

Son: Vivek Singh (1971–1990) — died in 1990 road accident at 18.

Stepdaughter (Chitra's daughter from first marriage): Monica Datta — died by suicide in 2009.

Jagjit Singh:

  • Born 8 February 1941, Sri Ganganagar
  • Khalsa High School and DAV College, Jalandhar (B.A.); Kurukshetra University (M.A. History)
  • Trained classical Indian music under Pandit Chaganlal Sharma and Ustad Jamal Khan
  • Moved to Bombay 1965
  • Debut album: The Unforgettables (1976 — with Chitra Singh)
  • Major works: Aaj (1991), Insight (1994), Marasim (with Gulzar 1999), Cry for Cry (2003), In Search of Mir (2003), Koi Baat Chale (2006)
  • Mirza Ghalib (1988 — Doordarshan TV series, Gulzar-directed)
  • Hindi film songs: Saath Saath (1982), Arth (1982), Prem Geet (1981), Sarfarosh (1999), Tum Bin (2001)
  • Padma Bhushan: 2003
  • Died: 10 October 2011, Mumbai — brain hemorrhage at 70

What the Singh Family Story Teaches Us

A government-official father. A Sikh Punjabi homemaker mother. A Bengali ghazal-singer wife. A son lost to a 1990 road accident at 18. A stepdaughter lost to suicide in 2009. A career that defined Indian ghazal singing.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Jagjit story carries the same lesson. Some careers carry profound personal loss into their voice.

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