Too much money is dangerous, says ghazal king

LUDHIANA: Gifted with a golden voice, Jagjit Singh is a man of few words. The poetic fervour within the hearts of the people get aroused by this name. From light-classical ghazals to devotional to Punjabi folk, each time he sings he does it with lot of emotion and feelings.
A colossus in the world of music, in real life he is simple, humorous and unassuming, touching the hearts of both, the connoisseur of music as well as the common man.
The singer and the poet in him has come a long way since the release of his first album “The Unforgettable” in 1976. Since then his fans around the world have witnessed and pictured different emotions with his ghazals, the themes of which varied from romance/love, separation to grief, sorrow, loss, pain, break-up, misunderstandings, happiness and celebration.
His poignant and meaningful lyrics and hauntingly voice stimulates many a thinking mind.
Jagjit Singh’s articulation of tenderness and exclusive choice of lyrical poetry of renowned Urdu poets has helped him create a niche in millions of hearts. He brings a welcome respite from the inanity of Indipop.
He prefers to save first before spending on necessities in life. Credit cards are not his cup of tea. For him money is important, but too much of it is dangerous.
The ghazal King was born on February 8, 1941 at SriGanganagar in Rajasthan. His father Sardar Amar Singh Dhiman, a government servant, originally hailed from Dalla village in Ropar district and his mother Sardarni Bachchan Kaur came from deeply religious Sokhi family of Ottallan village near Samralla. His siblings include four sisters and two brothers and he is fondly called Jeet by his family. Although, his late father always wanted him to pursue IAS as a career, he took immense pride in his son’s achievements in the world of music today. He did his schooling from Khalsa high school at SriGanganagar and graduated from the arts stream from DAV College, Jalandhar. He also acquired a post graduate degree in history from Kurukshetra University.
Do you prefer to save or spend money?
I would like to save first and then spend on necessary things in life.
How much money do you usually carry in your pocket?
Well, around Rs 4,000 in cash.
Do you prefer credit cards?
It is not my cup of tea, but I use them for emergency purposes.
Who looks after your financial affairs?
Myself and my CA for tax purposes.
Do you dabble in shares?
Yes, a little I dabble in shares.
Which is your best investment?
I have three flats in Mumbai and two elsewhere.
Your worst?
O trade on horses.
Is there anything you splurge on?
Nothing as such, since I am a simpleton.
What is the most extravagant thing you have ever bought?
I bought Mercedes Benz car just for fun sake, but I sold it after having fun.
Have you ever faced difficult times?
Many times, but each time my approach is different. One should know how to tackle it.
Is there any important lesson you have learnt about money?
Yes, money is necessary, but more brings with it worry.
Do you remember any incident?
I belonged to a middle class family. I still remember that day when my father asked me during my college days to go in for a mobike, but I refused and told him that I preferred bicycle.
What is advice to budding singers?
One should learn Indian music and poetry and never ape westerners.