Pritam Bharatwan is a folk singer from Uttarakhand. He is also known as the “Jagar Samrat” in Uttarakhand. He was born on September 17, 1970, in Sila village, Dehradun. Born into an Oji family, he inherited a musical heritage. In the hilly areas of Uttarakhand, most Oji families invoke deities through mountain songs known as Jagar. Pritam Bharatwan belongs to one of these families. He would occasionally accompany his father on special occasions to sing. Pritam Bharatwan received his schooling from his village school. From childhood, he was drawn to folk songs and musical instruments, and he enjoyed learning instruments more than studying. Pritam Bharatwan’s father, Hem Bharatwan, was his music guru, who gave him his initial musical training. He completed his further education at the Sangeet Vidyalaya, Rishikesh. Although he had been singing since childhood, his popularity came thanks to his uncle, who, exhausted at a function, handed Pritam Bharatwan the microphone for public performances. At just 12 years old, his Garhwali song collection enchanted his voice, and his Jagar performances were so popular that he became known as the “Jagar Samrat.” In 1988, he joined All India Radio and conducted radio programs for several years. He also mastered the Damau, Hudka, and Thakuli. His first success came with his debut cassette, “Taunsa Bou,” released by Rama Cassettes. He gained even greater popularity with his song “Saruli Meru Jiya Lagige.” Narayani, Paichhi Maya, Suber, Ross, Tumhari Khud, and Band Amravati have also been his super-duper hit albums. He has also brought recognition to Jagar Vidya from Asia to Europe, America, Canada, Germany, and Dubai. During his stay in the US, he introduced Americans to musical instruments like Dhol Damo at Cincinnati University in Ohio. The folk songs he sang, Jagar Pandavas, were published for the first time in 2010 by the Windsor administration in the form of a book titled Surj Kathiyon.
Major Achievements and Honors
He has been honored with numerous awards, including the Uttarakhand Vibhushan, Jagar Shiromani, Sur Samrat, and Himalaya Ratna.
The Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani, Kumaon, has honored him with an honorary title from the hands of the Governor.
Bhagirath Putra Samman (2002) by Pravasi Uttarakhand Samaj, Ludhiana
Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman (2002) by Delhi and national and international organizations
In 2019, he was honored with the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian honors, by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, for reviving the Jagar Vidya and spreading it not only in Uttarakhand but also abroad.