When he was about 4 years old, he heard his father play, ‘Hai Apna Dil To Awara’ and immediately afterwards, he took his father’s harmonica and played back the same. Raghav recalls that his father used to carry a harmonica in his pocket like a typical soldier and played it while standing under a tree or whenever in a melancholic mood.

Raghav then made his way to Australia for a Bachelor’s degree in Music. They resided in the government accommodation available at Chanakyapuri for about 13 years till his father’s retirement. His junior schooling was at Naval Public School and then he moved to Mount St. While his father moved around the country, including managing the three states of Assam/Meghalaya/Nagaland during the thick of insurgency, Raghav and his family lived in Delhi for the better part of his childhood. Born on 24 July 1981, he was the youngest of the three siblings with a huge age difference between his two sisters and himself. His father retired as DG Police from the Orissa cadre. His father, a recipient of the Sena Medal while in the army, took early retirement and then joined the police, including a stint with the BSF. I became his fan for life and followed all his performances thereafter, keeping a tab on his career path and phenomenal growth as a singer, composer, music director and multi-instrumentalist.Ĭoming from a services background, Raghav’s childhood revolved around postings, changing schools and travelling extensively. The music was phenomenal – soul-stirring and soothing and adding an air of mystery to the Goan ambience.

Raghav was sitting in a corner playing the saxophone unmindful of the star-struck audience around him. The melodious sound of the saxophone had floated through the rhythm of the crashing waves and drawn me towards one of the well-known shacks. I had a chance meeting with him years ago in Goa… On Baga beach to be precise while I was walking on the beach…my wet chappals in hand, sandy feet and looking all scruffy. Not many know of his proud antecedents and family background but that is one of the many reasons I wanted to write about Raghav Sachar. And when you have a conversation with him…he is a delight…polite, humourous, full of life, patient, extremely witty, a thorough gentleman and naturally his ‘fauji’ background is infallible and shines right through. He stands apart from a crowd and holds his own.

Raghav sachar first album