Music maestro Khayyam’s widow, singer Jagjit Kaur, passed away today (15th August) at 6 a.m. in Bombay. She was 89. She had sung several songs, mainly for husband Khayyam, the most popular being Tum apna ranj-o-gham apni pareshani mujhe de do from Shagoon. Among her other songs are Dekh lo aaj humko jee bhar ke from Bazaar, Kahe ko byaahe bides (old Umrao Jaan), Mohabbat ki dhun (Dil-E-Nadaan) and Kab yaad mein tera saath nahi (Anjuman). She had also lent her voice to songs in films like Razia Sultan, Noorie, Chambal Ki Kasam, Shola Aur Shabnam, Kabhi Kabhie, Thodisi Bewafaii and Lorie.
Jagjit Kaur sang regularly at the Lahore radio station before Partition and at the Jalandhar and Delhi stations thereafter. It is said that she was asked to perform in a show which was to be attended by the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, for a few minutes. Her first song had such an impact on Nehru that he asked the organisers to arrange for her to sing all her songs before anybody else came on. Hence Jagjit sang all her songs in a row. And the PM stayed back for an hour-and-a-half! In all her excitement at being praised by none other than the Prime Minister himself, Jagjit forgot to meet him personally!
Jagjit Kaur’s last rites were performed at 11.30 a.m. at Pawan Hans crematorium at Vile Parle, Bombay.
Khayyam and his wife had one son, Pradeep, who had died some years ago. After that, the couple had made a charitable trust — KPJ Trust — to support budding artistes and technicians. All their properties were donated to this trust which also helps the poor and the needy. Anup Jalota is the chairman of the Trust.