His was rare voice, blended of classical and typical Santiniketan gharana of Rabindrasangeet. Many an evening we aptly listened to his songs — sometimes live, sometimes on CD. Mostly i met him at Ratan Palli’s Nabadwip and a few occasions at Subernarekha too where he would fill the ambience with an aura inexplicable in a few words.
One evening, during the usual adda at Nabadwip, he told me how a piece of Ganesh Pyne thrilled him at the wash room of a person known to most of the Bengalis. He was invited by them to present a song at a memorial ceremony of Ashok Kumar Sarkar, an editor who took the family business of morning dose of newspaper to a new height. Tomorrow, March 24, would ironically be the memorial service of Vikram Singh Khangura, Vikram da for us, where probably everyone would sing “tomaro aseem e prano mon loye”, except the voice that gave us a new meaning of Rabindrasangeet for years.
His “gayaki”, the way of singing a song, could only be compared to that of his father’s, Mohan da. But Vikram da made a different and bold presence that was identified only with his voice.
It was a montage last Saturday, March 14, when I got the news of his untimely death at the age of only 36. Images of Vikram da at the addas, Vikram da at the wheels of an Indica, Vikram da with a Havana cigar, Vikram da humming some tune and many others just drift by.
Suddenly i remember Vikram da wanted a picture of Pt Malikarjun Mansur. A few weeks before he died of a massive cardiac arrest, he even told me that if i could take a printout of any picture of the classical vocalist from our digital library. Unfortunately, we did not have a good picture of Malikarjun. I called him up to inform that only to get a satiric comment with a VSK-signature laugh: “Journalists can’t unravel anything! Not even a photograph of a classical singer.” He hung up but not before asking me when i was coming next to Santiniketan.
Last week i went. Around 8.30pm, I was sitting alone waiting for others to come at Nabadwip Sweets. I made a call to Partha da, one of the regulars at the adda. Just browsing the names of who the other people i could meet that Thursday night, i stopped at one “Vikram Singh”. What should i do? Should i call him and expect to be here within half-an-hour on a Kinetic Honda?
I just deleted the entry number 236.
©Supratim Pal, 2009
One evening, during the usual adda at Nabadwip, he told me how a piece of Ganesh Pyne thrilled him at the wash room of a person known to most of the Bengalis. He was invited by them to present a song at a memorial ceremony of Ashok Kumar Sarkar, an editor who took the family business of morning dose of newspaper to a new height. Tomorrow, March 24, would ironically be the memorial service of Vikram Singh Khangura, Vikram da for us, where probably everyone would sing “tomaro aseem e prano mon loye”, except the voice that gave us a new meaning of Rabindrasangeet for years.
His “gayaki”, the way of singing a song, could only be compared to that of his father’s, Mohan da. But Vikram da made a different and bold presence that was identified only with his voice.
It was a montage last Saturday, March 14, when I got the news of his untimely death at the age of only 36. Images of Vikram da at the addas, Vikram da at the wheels of an Indica, Vikram da with a Havana cigar, Vikram da humming some tune and many others just drift by.
Suddenly i remember Vikram da wanted a picture of Pt Malikarjun Mansur. A few weeks before he died of a massive cardiac arrest, he even told me that if i could take a printout of any picture of the classical vocalist from our digital library. Unfortunately, we did not have a good picture of Malikarjun. I called him up to inform that only to get a satiric comment with a VSK-signature laugh: “Journalists can’t unravel anything! Not even a photograph of a classical singer.” He hung up but not before asking me when i was coming next to Santiniketan.
Last week i went. Around 8.30pm, I was sitting alone waiting for others to come at Nabadwip Sweets. I made a call to Partha da, one of the regulars at the adda. Just browsing the names of who the other people i could meet that Thursday night, i stopped at one “Vikram Singh”. What should i do? Should i call him and expect to be here within half-an-hour on a Kinetic Honda?
I just deleted the entry number 236.
©Supratim Pal, 2009
29 comments:
:'(
Heart touching..
What happened with him?
How he died?
he was being treated in peerless hospital for some trivial issues. suddenly, he had a massive heart attack after lunch. within a few minutes, it was all over.
I missed most of him earlier but i get him often nowadays. I heared that was a road accident, is it true? U say, of cardiac arrest ?
respected sir,
when he was in peerless[in 2009],i met with him regularly for some reason...he was God Gifted Genius...he touched me deeply...he had rare touch of painting...my life quote-"always live in present.",but only for Vikram,i missed him till now...that melancholic heavenly voice with classical flavour.his rabindrasangeet gives me the strength in life.thank you for your blog.
Hello, I am a Mumbai based vocalist, I saw Vikram's video on YouTube. I am not Bengali, nor I understand language or intricacies of rabindra sangeet... I like his voice and wished to connect on Facebook... While searching his information I fall here ! I am very sad that he is no more.. don't know but I strongly feeling if he was alive, we were good friends :) deepest condolences to this friend whome I never met ! - Atindra Sarvadikar...
Its an earnest appeal to the admin ....if anyone can publish a biography of the great singer.....or if it exists please share the link....Like me I think after hearing his voice many would like to know him...but Alas its too late...
Its an earnest appeal to the admin ....if anyone can publish a biography of the great singer.....or if it exists please share the link....Like me I think after hearing his voice many would like to know him...but Alas its too late...
The story of life and death is so peculiar. In 2009 I was also in Kolkata and my place was so close to Peerless Hospital and I still live in the same place but tonight when I'm listening to these songs both Tagore and the singer are infinite light years away from me and perhaps in some other heavenly & melodious world of light & song they have met each other soulfully in a sky full of consciousness and living their new lives together in either a musical or a silent reality beyond all the conditions and constraints of time & space.They now belong to eternity.
vikram singh is a singer of a very very rare quality,his early death reminds me of another great singer pannalal bhattacharya,who also died early
He deserves a wikipedia page. If there are enough people reading this blog who can provide all the information one may need for a wiki page -- I can help creating it.
What a great loss! I am simply mesmerized at his renderings. He surely deserves a Wiki page.
I had grown up never hearing about anyone named Vikram Singh until two years back when I heard one of his songs and I fell in love with him. Then I searched and discovered more of his music only to love his voice more and to grow a want to meet him until 2-3 months later when I read an article about his death. I was shocked and heart-broken at the same time. It's so unfortunate. He deserved to be. I discovered him after he was no more.
Someone just said - "listen to Mohan Singh's son's songs - u'll get them on youtube" - today listening mesmerised and tearful by the heart wrenching tones of Bikram -- wonder is God so cruel or so benevolent?? May you sing on forever.
Anirban Laha
আমি গত কাল প্রথম বিক্রম এর গান শুনলাম।
এতটাই মুগ্ধ হয়েছি যে আরও জানতে চেষ্টা করলাম।
শুধু চোখ দিয়ে জল বেরিয়ে এলো।
কত গান যে শোনা হল না, কত গান যে সে গেয়ে গেল না.........
His legacy won't be forgotten
Just when Rabindrasangeet in its pure form was being distorted by so called innovative & experimental interpretations, Vikram Singh's powerful voice effortlessly established Rabindrasangeet in its traditional style,making the modern experiments sound gimmicky and redundant. The deep emotional content of his voice loads every song with an irresistible appeal.Though trained and nurtured by stalwarts of Shantiniketan he had developed a style of his own. His demise leaves a void never to be filled up again.
In his brief musical career of about 5 years he earned himself the position of a consummate singer of Rabindranath's tappa style compositions,which he sang with enviable ease! I had the rare fortune of hearing him sing Punjabi Sufi songs as well with equal spontaneity with his father.
I discovered both him and Mohan Singh, when I was looking for a rendition of "Noyon tomare pay na dekhite". Even at 55 yrs (2014) of age I still come across songs that I have only read in my Gitabitan. I must admit, I was shocked to learn that he had already passed away.
For so many years, this thread has remained alive and active .... we, who loved his rendition of RabindraSngeet come here to convey our admiration for him.
Wish some of his close friends will take the initiative to create a Wikipedia page for him.
I also discovered him after his death. Awesome. No words to comment. Get immense piece and strength in mind hearing his songs. It is right that no wikipedia page is not available to know him.
Ishwar er protinidhi ra kom somoyer jonyoii pritibi te asen...Vikram Singh temonii akjon... Khub kom somoy nijer protibhar porichoy diey gechen... Tar udatto kontho monta bhoriey daye...moner kosto chokher jol hoey jhore pore...amon akjon Shilpi k aro sobai chinuk... Tai amio chai Shilpi Kobi Vikram Singh er akta Wikipedia Page toiri hok...
A great singer died so early -- a great loss.
I happen to listen to Vikram Singh's Rabindrasangeet, FIRST-TIME ever, only yesterday, the 14-Dec-2018, Monday. And I instantly realized that 'What A Great Loss of Talent' to the World of Rabindrasangeet!! His 'Gayaki', 'Expressions', 'Uchcharon', etc. are all so 'PURE' and 'AUTHENTIC'that I couldn't resist listening to his whole album 'Na Bala Bani!!' And what a tribute to those 'GREAT CREATIONS!!' It's so UNFORTUNATE that we lost him so early!! I heard about him only a year ago! I am also surprised to find out that there is no 'Wikipedia' Page dedicated to him!! I am seeing now that others too have felt in the same way as I do! Let me try and see if I could initiate one and others would put their own input to bestow our Respects to This Great Rabindrasangeet Singer!!
Achintya Kumar Ghosh, Ardent Admirer and Follower of Rabindrasangeet!!
Ever since I heard him his voice haunted me.It is indeed an irreparable loss ,we could have heard many more extraordinary rendition of rabindrasangeet.
I am very sad to discover that I have never heard his songs when he was alive. He was a super talented singer and his soulful rendition of Rabindra Sangeet is so pure and divine. What a great loss 😢
Great loss!!!!!!bhola jay na
Dear Vikram Singh Khangura🙏Remembering you in this cold wintry evening far away from home as i listened to your songs relentlessly! It feels like an addiction as your voice and gayaki appeal to me the way as no other artist could! Rabindrasangeet definitely is super lucky and blessed to have an artist like you. 14 years you've been living in infinity, while we're living in your songs!
But alas yet to have an wikipedia entry on you! Dear admin, would you pls take the initiative?
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