INTRODUCTION
GST professionals can draw inspiration from unexpected sources, including individuals from diverse backgrounds. This article explores the valuable lessons that can be gleaned from the illustrious career of Jagjit Singh, a renowned Indian composer, singer, and musician. Let's first acquaint ourselves with his remarkable life and legacy. Born on February 8, 1941, and passing away on October 10, 2011, Jagjit Singh revolutionized the ghazal genre by crafting poetry that resonated with the masses. His unique style, known as Bol-pradhan, emphasized lyrical content, evoking melodies that touched hearts. With a career spanning five decades and numerous albums, he is celebrated as one of the most influential ghazal singers and composers. This article aims to distil key habits and traits that contributed to his success and apply these lessons to the professional journey of GST practitioners as well as professionals working as employees in GST Departments of various organisations.
INSPIRATIONAL INSIGHTS FROM JAGJIT SINGH'S ILLUSTRATIVE BUT TIMELESS GHAZALS AND OTHER MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS
(A) PRIORITISING TIME AND ADAPTABILITY
Jagjit Singh's poignant ghazal, "Woh Kagaz Ki Kashti...Woh Baarish Ka Paani," offers valuable insights for GST professionals. The song highlights the importance of prioritizing tasks, managing time effectively, and meeting deadlines, given the irreversible nature of time. Additionally, it teaches adaptability, likening GST professionals to a paper boat navigating through rainwater, where flexibility is key to overcoming challenges. The ghazal's intricate metaphors also inspire meticulousness, accuracy, and precision in work. Moreover, its themes of impermanence encourage GST professionals to stay updated with industry developments and remain open to new ideas, fostering continuous growth and improvement.
(B) REDISCOVERING JOY IN WORK
Many GST professionals struggle to find fulfilment in their work, which can compromise the quality of their output. Jagjit Singh's captivating ghazal, "Dhai Din Na Javani Naal Chaldi, Kurti Mal Mal Ki," offers a valuable lesson: embracing one's work with passion and joy can significantly enhance quality and productivity. By finding meaning and enjoyment in their profession, GST professionals can elevate their performance, achieve greater success, and deliver exceptional results.
(C) THE POWER OF FAITH AND HUMILITY
Jagjit Singh's soulful bhajan, "Tu Hi Banya, Tu Hi Bigare Sabki Kaam, Hey Ram," offers valuable insights for GST professionals. The song's theme of divine omnipotence reminds professionals to stay humble and grounded in their work. The message of faith and trust can inspire GST professionals to navigate complex challenges with confidence and motivation. Moreover, the bhajan's emphasis on divine oversight can encourage professionals to uphold ethical standards, maintain integrity, and ensure compliance with GST provisions and rules, fostering a strong moral compass in their work.
(D) THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMOUR IN LIFE AND PROFESSION
Jagjit Singh's famous tappa with his wife, "Kothe Te Aa Maiya," is a delightful folk piece that showcases the power of humour in breaking monotony and bringing laughter. This song holds a valuable, albeit unspoken, lesson for GST professionals: maintaining a sense of humour is essential for a healthy work-life balance. Being overly serious can have adverse effects on productivity, health, and family life. In today's fast-paced world, where health issues can be costly to address, incorporating humour into one's life is crucial. GST professionals can take a cue from this tappa and strive to maintain a pleasant sense of humour, while being mindful to use it appropriately and respectfully, avoiding jokes at the expense of colleagues or subordinates.
(E) IMPORTANCE OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
His another well noted Ghazal "Kon Kahta hai Muhabbat Ki Zabaan Hoti Hai? Yeh Voh Haqiqat Hai Jo Aankhon Se Baya Hoti Hai. (Translation: Who says love speaks in words? It's the truth that emanates from the eyes)underscores the significance of non-verbal communication, highlighting that true meaning often lies beyond words. For GST professionals, this translates to looking beyond surface-level transactions and grasping the underlying facts and circumstances. By prioritizing a deeper understanding of transactions, rather than just relying on documentation or superficial aspects, professionals can ensure accuracy and compliance. The ghazal's emphasis on the eyes conveying truth can be likened to paying close attention to details, a crucial aspect of delivering high-quality work in GST.
(F) GRADUAL LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT
"Sarkati Hai Rukh Se Nakab Ahista Ahista." (Translation: The veil slowly lifts from the face.) Ghazal also reminds that just as the veil lifts slowly, GST professionals should focus on gradual learning and improvement, building their knowledge and skills over time. The ghazal's emphasis on slow and gentle progress can be applied to the GST profession, where patience and persistence are essential in navigating complex tax laws, rules, notifications etc. Furthermore, the gradual lifting of the veil can also symbolize the importance of paying attention to details, ensuring accuracy and compliance in GST-related work. GST Professionals must keep in mind that the art of patience creates confidence, decisiveness and a rational outlook which eventually leads to success. By embracing patience, GST Professionals can set themselves up for success in various aspects of life, including personal and professional endeavours.
(G) ATTENTION TO UNLYING ISSUES
Just as his evergreen Ghazal "Tum Jo Itna Muskura Rahe Ho"hints at hidden pain beneath a smiling facade, GST professionals should look beyond surface-level financial data to identify underlying issues or potential risks in tax compliance. Further, the ghazal's theme of contrasting appearances and reality can encourage GST professionals to develop an analytical mindset, scrutinizing financial records and transactions to uncover potential discrepancies. Furthermore, the Ghazal's emotional depth can remind GST professionals of the importance of empathy and understanding in their interactions with clients and stakeholders, particularly when dealing with complex tax issues.
(H) IMPORTANCE OF GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP
The theme of his another eternal ghazal"Mujhko Yaqin Hai Sach Kehti Thi Woh Bhi Ammi Kehti Thi"of learning from elders (in this case, the mother) can emphasize the value of guidance and mentorship in a GST professional's career. Seeking advice from experienced professionals can help navigate complex tax issues. Additionally, the nostalgic reference to childhood beliefs can remind GST professionals to stay grounded in reality, ensuring that their analyses and recommendations are based on factual data and compliance with tax laws. Besides, the ghazal's nostalgic tone can encourage GST professionals to appreciate the evolution of tax laws and rules, adapting to changes while learning from past experiences to improve future practices.
(I) ADAPTABILITY TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES
The reflective nature of his another epic Ghazal"Kal Chaudhavi Ki Raat Thi" can encourage GST professionals to regularly review their work, identify areas for improvement, and implement amendments to enhance the quality of their services. Next, the fleeting nature of the full moon night in the ghazal can remind GST professionals to be adaptable to changing tax laws, rules, Notifications, Circulars and client needs, staying updated and responsive to new developments. Moreover, the ghazal's theme of a memorable night can highlight the importance of timely compliance with tax deadlines and filings. GST professionals should prioritize meeting deadlines to avoid late fees and penalties and ensure smooth operations.
LIFE LESSONS FROM JAGJIT SINGH: INSPIRATIONAL INSIGHTS FROM HIS JOURNEY
(J) THE ART OF SIMPLIFICATION
Jagjit Singh's mastery of Ghazal singing lay in his ability to simplify this intricate art form, making it accessible to a broader audience. By stripping away complexity, he rendered Ghazals enjoyable and comprehensible to listeners of all backgrounds, regardless of their Urdu proficiency. This innovative approach catapulted him to fame. Similarly, GST professionals can benefit from simplifying complex tax provisions and rules, communicating them in clear and concise terms. By doing so, they can foster better understanding with stakeholders, including employers, clients, colleagues, and departmental officers. This clarity can lead to enhanced effectiveness, reputation, and long-term success for GST professionals.
(K) UPHOLDING EXCELLENCE
Jagjit Singh's distinctive Ghazal style, marked by unwavering commitment to his artistic vision, set him apart in the industry. He resisted the temptation of fleeting trends, instead adhering to a rigorous practice schedule that honed his craft and ensured high-quality performances. By prioritizing quality over quantity, Singh achieved remarkable success, with his exceptional work speaking for itself. GST professionals can draw valuable lessons from Singh's approach, focusing on delivering high-calibre work that showcases their expertise and commitment to excellence. By upholding high professional standards, they can build a strong reputation and achieve lasting success.
(L) PERSEVERANCE AMIDST ADVERSITY
Jagjit Singh's life was marked by profound personal tragedies, including the loss of his 18-year-old son in a road accident in 1990, which deeply affected him and his wife, Chitra Singh. While his wife stepped back from her singing career, Jagjit Singh demonstrated remarkable resilience, returning to his craft after a brief period of mourning. Despite another devastating loss of his daughter in 2009, his dedication to his art remained unshaken. In fact, on his 70th birthday in 2011, he embarked on an ambitious project, committing to 70 public performances. This testament to his perseverance offers a valuable lesson for GST professionals: maintaining a strong work ethic and separating personal struggles from professional endeavours is crucial for achieving long-term success. By emulating Singh's resilience, professionals can navigate challenges with determination and emerge stronger.
(M) DEDICATION AND PASSION IN PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVOURS
Just like Jagjit Singh, who poured his heart and soul into every performance, professionals can benefit from adopting a similar approach. Whether it was a film, private album, or live stage show, he consistently delivered with unwavering commitment and passion. This virtue of wholehearted dedication is worth emulating, as it can yield significant benefits in any professional field. By giving your best to every assignment, you can achieve excellence and make a lasting impact.
PARTING THOUGHTS
To fully benefit from the insights shared in this article, readers are encouraged to thoughtfully listen to the mentioned illustrative Ghazals, songs, and other musical pieces of celebrated singer Jagjit Singh and then revisit this article with a reflective mindset. By sincerely implementing the suggestions outlined above, readers can expect to derive valuable lessons that will positively impact their lives and the same shall provide a sense of gratification to the author.
CAclubindia
