When hope dies young

Apart from his voice, it was Ishmeet8217;s demeanour that endeared him to millions of Indians. In spite of the tough competition he faced in the grand finale of the contest, Ishmeet was confident of his victory. But, both before and after the final, he had only kind words to say about his competitor.

Born in a simple middle class family of Ludhiana, Ishmeet was a second-year B.Com student in Mumbai8217;s MNC College. His rise to stardom symbolised how Indian society in general and the music industry in particular are fast changing. To begin with, Ishmeet epitomised the 8220;generation next8221; of India that is willing to take risks for pursuing unconventional careers. Ishmeet8217;s mother was not too happy when he went for the auditions of the 8220;Star Voice of India8221; contest. Secondly, Ishmeet8217;s rise also re-emphasised the abundance of talent in non-metro cities like Ludhiana. Last, but not least, Ishmeet was comfortable with his turban and, unlike many other artists, he did not think it necessary to change his look 8212; along with Rabbi Shergill, he was perhaps the only Sikh artist with national recognition to have kept his Sikh persona.

By the time this obituary is actually read, Ishmeet8217;s body would be consigned to the flames, but his voice will never fade away.