Abhijeet Ghoshal on why music transcends belief systems

Singer and performer Abhijeet Ghoshal believes music transcends religion and language. “Long before we learn what to believe, we learn how to feel. The first thing a foetus responds to is the rhythm of a heartbeat. That rhythm is music,” he says.Recalling his training, Abhijeet shares how his guru once taught him a bandish in Raag Bhairav with the words Allah O Allah, Jale Shaan Allah. “We were doing classical Indian music, but the devotion went far beyond religion. Music didn’t need permission. It just existed,” he says. He describes a similar moment when Vedanta saint Swami Premanand sang Assamese devotional songs at his home. “None of us understood the language, yet everyone had tears in their eyes. That’s when I realised music communicates experience, not words,” Abhijeet reflects.Explaining the emotional impact of a perfect note, he says, “When a note lands right, musicians say ‘lau lag gayi’. It’s an awakening of the soul. It has nothing to do with belief systems. It responds only to authenticity.” According to him, music works through vibration rather than language. “The notes Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni exist as frequencies across the world. Even animals respond to sound without understanding words. That connection is instinctive and universal,” he adds.He concludes, “Sanskrit chants, Arabic ayat, Hebrew hymns, Hallelujah or Hare Krishna — remove the words and the patterns are identical. The expression changes, but the heart of music remains constant. Music doesn’t argue or explain. It only asks us to listen.” Abhijeet continues to perform across India, blending devotional music with Bollywood melodies. He recently won the Clef Music Award for Damroo Bajaye and will soon release his Khatu Shyam bhajans and a Superfast Hanuman Chalisa.