India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: It is hard to believe that the "Voice of India" star, Ishmeet Singh is no more. As I heard the shocking news, the floodgates of recent memories opened and tears flowed unabashedly.There was a buzz at the IIGS's 68th International Sikh Youth Camp going on in Khandala, near Pune, in May 2008. Ishmeet was coming to camp. During the evening Dewan, I found myself sitting next to a young 19 year old with a look of cheerful innocence on his face. I remember how his jaw dropped when I asked him whether he sang ghazals or Bollywood songs or if he was a classical singer.

He looked at me as if to say, "What planet are you from?" I kicked myself for showing such ignorance when I saw him smothered by campers who were ecstatic to have him in their midst.I explained to him that I did not watch Indian television. His smile told me that I was forgiven. Over the next few days as I got to know Ishmeet, I saw what a special young man he was.Not just because he won the Star TV contest, and became the Voice of India, or because he felt that the award was a special gift from his Guru, Guru Nanak on whose Prakash Utsav day he received it. Not because right after he won the award, he promised that his first

Album would be of shabads, or because he took his role of the icon of the Sikh youth seriously. For all this and more; Ishmeet was really special because his success had not gone to his head. At heart he remained the sweet, simple, boy from Ludhiana with the love of Sikhi swelling in his heart. He saw himself as blazing a trail for his young Sikh brothers and sisters who he hoped would follow their dreams, achieving great successes while proudly displaying the Khalsa form and spirit. He felt that he had been given a great responsibility; to inspire and to coax the best out of the Sikh youth.Ishmeet had freshness about him.

He became a part of the camp routine, performing melodious kirtan during the morning and evening dewans. He sang from the heart in a voice that sounded like silk. He sat through the lectures and avidly participated in discussions. During an afternoon session when the rest of the youth were hemming and hawing about what they would be looking for in a mate, and answers like, "someone who respects my parents" or "someone who is well educated and independent" were unconvincingly bandied around, Ishmeet's, 'I am looking for a beautiful Sardarni" brought peels of laughter and pats on his shoulder.Had he found his beautiful Sardarni?

He did not want to shatter the mystique. But something told me that there was a young Sikhni out there who had stolen his heart.Every evening after langar, the courtyard of the camp ground rang out with the beat of Punjabi songs and popular Bollywood numbers. The campers sang and swayed with him and screamed as he broke into familiar rhymes and rhythms. Ishmeet never hogged the show but passed the mike around encouraging everyone to take their turn and sing. The joy of singing with a celebrity shone on the young faces of the campers!

I am sure there were some that dreamed of following his footsteps. Suddenly it seemed possible for young Sikhs to break the glass ceiling.He was dogged at each step with some camper or the other badgering him for a photograph or an autograph. Girls ran circles around him and young boys clambered all over him, tugging, hugging, touching.

Hoping that a spec of his charisma would rub off on them. Never for a moment did Ishmeet show an iota of annoyance. When I commented on his patience, he said that it was because of those who loved him that he had tasted fame and glory. Otherwise he would be like so many out there…unrecognized and forgotten on the wayside.Was everything hunky dory on his road to fame, I asked him in a private conversation? Ishmeet had playback singing assignments, was brand ambassador for products, had offers to anchor TV shows and star in TV serials. Life was looking good.A cloud passed over his sweet countenance. "It is very lonely at the top, Didi", he said to me. "Lonely!" I queried, with thousands of fans and adoring masses?Yes, "lonely", he repeated.

"Lonely because those that are close to you become jealous of your success. You become a stranger to your friends because you do not inhabit their world anymore. They shut you out and move on because they view you as a celebrity, no more a part of their everyday lives."I met him again at IIGS's 69th camp held in Dehradoon in June and he shared his plans for the future. He was going to come to Darbare-E- Khalsa in December and later go on a tour of the US.

We would find sponsors for his concerts. Plans and dreams that have been snapped midstream. Plans that will now be washed away by the collective tears of the community. His sudden and tragic death by drowning has left millions of his fans with a sense of loss.

We finally had a Sardar heart throb, someone who was handsome and charming, someone that was giving the turban a positive image, a role model for the youth, an inspiration for all. Haunted by unanswered "whys", we will replay his music over and over again to fill our sense of bereavement. The Voice of India will live on in our hearts.When I went to Baba Ji's room to pray for the peace of his departed soul, the vaak on page 751 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib spoke of a life touched by grace: