Kaajee Singh of Kalimpong receives with Padma Shri Award from President Kovind

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 22.03.2022 : Kaajee Singh of Kalimpong was one of the 128 awardees who were conferred with Padma award, India's highest civilian honour given to people coming from different walks of life. 

Kajee Singh, 77 on Monday received his Padma Shri award from President Ramnath Kovind for his contribution in the field pf Art (music) during a special ceremony at Rastrapati Bhawan. 

Out of the 128 awardees, nine of them were foreign recipients. Apart from Indian-origin winners such as Satya Nadella, Madhur Jaffrey and Sundar Pichai, there were people from countries like Russia, Poland, Ireland, and Thailand who were conferred. One of them is a professor named Rutger Kortenhorst, awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to popularising Sanskrit in Irish schools.

Kajee Singh 77, maestro on maadal (a folk musical percussion instrument, used mainly for rhythm-keeping in Nepalese folk music. Its a drum made of a hollowed tree trunk with skins stretched at both ends.) was born on 25 July 1945, son of legendary "Madalacharya" Late Indrajeet Singh Sardaar and mother Mohanphul Singh, of Phoob Tshering tea estate belongs to the Traditional Classic form of Folk Music family, carrying out the lineage since three generations from the Queen of Hills Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. He had a very keen interest in Folk Culture and Music since his childhood as both his paternal and maternal family used to practice the culture. He first started his career from dance, the traditional MaaruniNaach in the year 1952. As he grew up, he discontinued MaaruniNaach and started singing Maadaleygeet and also developed his skill in playing ShreeMaadal, which he learned from his father, and carried on with the same. His father Indrajeet Singh Sardar was one of the pioneers of ShreeMaadal in the community. 

His son Nishant SIngh, also a renowned Pakhawaj. Nishant has received a Fullbright scholarship under the Fulbright Program Fulbright Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships 2020-21, Flex Award at Ali Akbar College of Music – Indian Music School, San Rafael, California. He is undergoing his research under the guidance of Guru Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri  for three months.

He is also the founder of Sanskriti Sanrakshan Sansthan in Kalimpong. 

Kaajee Singh started a Musicians Club cum Library in his village, Phoobsering Tea Estate, Darjeeling, and inspired many people to join Musical theatres and participate in various events organized by him in his hometown during special occasions. 

Kaajee Singh also served as an established cine musician (Maadal Player) in Mumbai and worked with stalwart Music Directors like Laxmikant Pyarelal, Kalyan ji Anand ji, Ram Laxman, Shankar--Jaikishan, Ajay Swamy, for nine years during 1974-1983. 

Though, he was doing extremely well in the field of Bollywood music, he never forgot his roots. He always thought about imparting the right information to his community through his books, so that the upcoming generation could remember the importance of their Prime instrument ShreeMaadal. This was the primary reason which made him research and in 1967 he started his pioneer work in the "Notation System" of this Instrument ShreeMaadal and also the Traditional Folk Song "Maadaleygeet". After his rigorous field work of eight years he was successful in publishing his first book named "Maadal", in April 1974. 

He managed to put everything in format so that it would sound more musical, practical and also disciplined. 

Kaajee Singh published five books in music viz. Maadal (1974), Sangeet Sarovar (1986), Sangeet for Beginners (1988), Birsiyeko Sanskriti Pheri Dohoryaaun (1998), Shaastreeya Eivam Vyavahaarik Paksha (2014). His book Kalaanidhi  is yet be published. 

Apart from the research works on ShreeMaadal, Kaajee Singh is also known for his contribution in the field of Popular Songs and Nepali Gorkha Music Industry. He has given numerous hit songs since 1974. The Popular songs from his EP record produced from the H.M.V., Mumbai was the biggest hit of that year. The songs like ‘Timi ta Raichau Mangaley Gaon ko’, ‘Swami Raja ley Lai Lai’, ‘Timi ley Diyeko Maya lai’, ‘Maaryoni Kanchi Ley’, are still demanded by people in programs organized by All India Radio, Sikkim, Kurseong, and Darjeeling. His songs were sung by Dhruwa K.C. and Sushma Shrestha during seventies. 

The young generation still sings some of these popular folk-based songs during the singing competitions and the finest singer’s have frequently scored first position due to the melody and lyrics of the song.

He also served at Tashi Namgyal Academy in Gangtok Sikkim as a music teacher till 2005.

His self-composed Chhanda’s were used in different genre of songs.

These Chhanda’s do not exist in the Chhanda Shaastra of Maharishi Panini and is considered as an incredible contribution to Chhanda’s in the history of India till date. They with their metre are as follows are: Ganapati Chhanda- SIII IIII ISSI SSII, Lambodar Chhanda- SIII IIII SSII (SII III IIS SII), Bheemakaali Chhanda- SSS SSI SII SSS, Maruti Nandan Chhanda- SSS III SII SII, Giridhari Chhanda- SII SSS IIS S, Vishwakarma Chhanda- SSS ISS, Basibiyaalo Chhanda- III SSS ISS ISI II and Saraswati Chhanda- III SSS IIS ISS SII

His self-composed Raagas for different genre of songs whuich are also unique as these Raaga does not exist in the Indian Classical Music. This is also considered an incredible contribution to Indian Classical Music. They are- Raag Shukratodi- Aaroha- Sa Re Ga Pa Dha Sa’ I Avaroha- Sa’ dha Ma’ Ga Re Sa; Raag Aaditya-  Aaroha- N! Sa Ga Ma Dha Ni Sa’ I Avaroha- Sa’ Ni Dha Ma Ga Sa.

Like the exceptional song writing, and creation of Chhanda and Raaga, Kaajee Singh has also created a Taala in ShreeMaadal. He has created a Taala named “Deodeep” of 14 matra (beats), which never existed in the history of ShreeMaadal Taala systems. The name Deodeep is a combination of two words. Deo is God and Deep is derived from an Indian Classical Taala Deepchandi. The songs sung in the Taala Deodeep are based on Bhakti Rasa. The lyrics promote spiritualism and the words are very philosophical. Hence, the word “Deo” resembles the songs which show the path of spiritualism and the word “Deep” resembles the rhythmic cycle of 14 beats Taala Deepchandi.- DhaangS Titung Thitung I TangS Dung Dung Tung I Dhunggit Titung Thitung I TangS Thit KrungS Thit I DhaangS

Kaajee Singh has also created two Taalas which is indeed a spectacular composition in the field of Indian Classical Music. The reference to these Taalas can be found in a recorded audio album “Bhakti Rasaamrit” produced by the Bhimaa Kaali Mandir in Gangtok, Sikkim. This album comprises unique experimental works supported by his own creations regarding Chhanda, Lyrics based on Sanskrit Saahitya and the Taalas. The Taalas are as follows:-Taala Gangaadhara- 6 Matra (Beats), 2 Vibhaag, 1 Taali no Khali DhaS DinS I Tete Kata Gadi Gana I DhaS X(1)      2    I    3     4       5      6    I X(1);  Taala Saraswati- 9 Matra (Beats), 2 Vibhaag, 9 Taali no Khali DhaS DinS Dhete Dhete TaS I Tete Kata Gadi Gana I DhaS X(1)      2        3        4       5  I    6      7      8       9    I X(1 )

These creations of Kaajee Singh are conspicuously outstanding. No one has ever attempted or even thought of these magnificent compositions which have added up a new feather in the cap of the Nepali Gorkha community. His compositions and writings are mostly followed by everyone in the Nepali Music world and people look up at him as their Idol. The immense contribution of Kaajee Singh towards the Nepali Gorkha community is unprecedented, unique, unmatchable and unparalleled indeed. These works have created history and the upcoming generations will definitely get benefitted by his enriched creations. The creations have not only raised the esteem of the Nepali Gorkha community but it has also honored the prestige of India through his incredible contribution.