A throwback video of legendary Indian ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh has gone viral on social media, igniting discussion and nationalist sentiments amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.
In the resurfaced clip, Singh is seen giving a candid response to a question about the difference between Indian and Pakistani music. “There’s no difference. Pakistani music has its roots in India. It is India’s musical tradition,” he says in Hindi. He goes on to assert that the art of music originated in India, calling it a “creation of the gods,” and questioned how music could have emerged from Islamic traditions where singing and instruments are often viewed with skepticism. “The ragas, the compositions—they are all ours,” he added.
The remarks, though old, have gained renewed traction online. Many users hailed Singh as a “true patriot,” applauding his unfiltered pride in India’s rich musical heritage. “He wasn’t just a singer; he was a voice of truth,” one user wrote. Another said, “This is the clarity we need in our cultural discourse.”
The timing of the clip’s resurgence is notable, coming just days after the Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people, including a Nepali national, were killed. Reports indicate that the attackers identified victims based on their religion before opening fire, further inflaming Indo-Pak relations.
While Jagjit Singh passed away in 2011, his legacy continues—not only through his music but also through his powerful words, which are now fueling debates on the cultural narrative of the subcontinent.
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