Mumbai, June 20: Jeet Singh Negi, regarded as the father of modern Garhwali folk music, was born on February 2, 1925, in Ayala village, located in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. He was a multifaceted artist—musician, singer, songwriter, writer, director, and actor.
During a time when radios were rare and television was a distant dream, Negi emerged as a prominent musician and lyricist. He played a crucial role in popularizing folk music across India, giving it a fresh identity.
Negi’s father, Sultan Singh Negi, served in the British Army and was stationed in Myanmar, while his mother, Roopdei Devi, supported the family. Jeet completed his early education up to the fifth grade in his village. Later, his father took him to Myanmar, where he continued his studies from sixth to eighth grade.
Following his father’s transfer to Lahore, he completed his matriculation there. Eventually, he returned to his village and passed his intermediate exams at a local government college. However, due to financial constraints, he could not pursue further studies after the twelfth grade.
From a young age, Jeet Singh Negi had a passion for music. After completing his twelfth grade, he decided to pursue singing. He had a deep affection for folk songs. His musical journey began in 1949 when six of his songs were recorded by Young India Gramophone Company. Later, Angel New Recording Company also recorded some of his songs.
Negi was not only devoted to music but also had a strong interest in acting. His passion led him to write and direct several plays. He was the first folk singer from Uttarakhand to create an LP record (gramophone) in 1949, a time when such records were primarily made for Hindi and film songs. His unique talent gave Garhwali folk songs a new identity.
In 1954, he recorded his songs for All India Radio in Delhi, marking a significant achievement for a folk singer at that time. Jeet Singh Negi passed away at the age of 94 on June 21, 2020, at his residence in Dharmapur, Dehradun. He is survived by his wife, Manorama Negi, and their three children: son Lalit Mohan Negi, and daughters Madhu Negi and Manju.
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