Surjeet: Its all in his name

Surjeet training with student of Govt. degree college , Shahpur                                                                                                                                                                        

By Arjita & Alka

Chattri:Nights in the hills are especially quiet; a heavy voice resonates through the wind, a classical melody slowly fills up a silent valley. At its height, it meets the hills which keep it alive long after it has stopped - what echoes is a madhya-raatri raag. Surjeet is living his name. It’s time for his riyaz.

                Daytime is a striking contrast. Upbeat music blasts off the speakers, in tune with the college tempo, his tiny stationary shop is full of college girls who find the musical setting very comforting. They bring their own tracks and play it on his new laptop that has replaced the phone. Meanwhile, he photocopies - work that gets so loaded during exams that he finishes it after a quick dinner at home, back at the shop - with the shutter down and his favorite music playing.

                His first musical instrument was a surprise gift by his father - a harmonium. Surjeet - conqueror of music - was named so only accidently; his parents have been supportive since he showed signs of the talent to match his name, “My interest in classical music actually developed once I began studying it,” says the Music graduate from Govt. Degree College, Dharamshala, “Until then, it was all about humming Bollywood music.” In time, an electronic tanpura and tabla was bought, to go with the riyaz. Latest addition is a guitar, he’s learning himself.

“Bollywood music has a short shelf life, classical feels new each time I sing or listen to it. Bollywood music takes a lot of liberties which are not allowed in Hindustani classical music,” he explains, “Raag is sung at a particular time - bhairav before sunrise, megh late night in monsoons, bahaar midnight in spring. And to convey emotions - desh raag is patriotic, famously used in Vande Mataram.”

Will he like to sing for Bollywood then? “I’ll run for it; many Bollywood singers have a classical background.” Ustad Rashid Khan, Kaushiki Chakravaty, Zakir Hussain are his beloved artists, and some of his favorite melodies are ‘dhudu nacheya’- a Himachali folk song, and ‘main jahan rahun’ by Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. He performs at youth festivals, jagraataas, and often trains students for their performances. Sometimes his shop turns into a studio-students gather around and enjoy a ugalbandi. They fondly call him Saiyyan - one his favorites by Kailash Kher. This June the shop will turn 3 years old, so will his older brother’s eating joint right next to it. The two brothers are the family breadwinners since their father retired from his job. “I wish to devote more time to study and practice music,” he shyly smiles.

                “Artists must love nature - it is where the music comes from. It is believed, for example, in swar (a musical note) - Gandhaar comes from the sound of a frog, Nishad from an elephant,” he says, “One entire life is not enough to learn classical music - it is like an ocean.”