Classical Vocal Legend Pandit Jasraj Dead at 90

A performing and recording artist in Indian classical music for nearly 80 years, renowned vocalist Pandit Jasraj passed away at the age of 90, his daughter Durga Jasraj told news agency Press Trust of India earlier today.

Part of the Mewati Gharana, Jasraj was born in a village in Haryana and Mint reports he passed away in New Jersey, though the cause of death is not yet confirmed.

Originally trained as a tabla player to accompany classical voices at performances, Jasraj began receiving his own training at the age of 14 and has since contributed in boundary-breaking ways to Indian music in the classical and contemporary space. He told PTI in January this year, “I remember my first public concert as a singer. It was in the darbar of King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal, in 1952. I was 22. After my very first rendition, King Tribhuwan awarded me 5,000 mohurs. I was quite stunned by the gesture. It was more than I could count.”

He was amongst the most well-known vocalists to have shed light on performing thumris and even weaving them into the khayal style of singing, alongside stalwart voices such as Kishori Amonkar and others.  In turn, Jasraj trained gilded voices of the next generation, including Anuradha Paudwal and violinist Kala Ramnath. He said in the same PTI interview, “I teach through Skype. I suggest everyone to do it. I am walking with time and that’s what one should do. I don’t like when people say ‘Woh zamaana achha tha’ (Those were the good times).”

Winner of amongst India’s highest civilian honors including the Padma Shri, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan awards, Jasraj also holds the distinction of having a minor planet named after him by the International Astronomical Union in September last year. Occasionally lending his voice to Bollywood films across the years, Jasraj has often hinted that he’s in no way a purist. He told PTI in 2020, “I listen to western music, African music and also cinema music. My all-time favorite is Lata Mangeshkar, there is no one like her. I often talk to her.”

Tributes for the vocal legend came in from all quarters, including Indian prime minister Narendra Modi terming the loss as “a deep void in the Indian cultural sphere.” Modi’s tweet added, “Not only were his renditions outstanding, he also made a mark as an exceptional mentor to several other vocalists. Condolences to his family and admirers worldwide.”

Veteran vocalist Shankar Mahadevan paid tribute in his tweet, “Devastated after hearing the news that Sangeet marthand pandit Jasraj has moved on to the next dimension. A big void in the world of Indian Classical music. His music will live on in this planet.” 

Watch Pandit Jasraj perform with violin maestro Dr. L Subramaniam and vocalist Kavita Krishnamurti in 2004.