Gurbani refers to compositions by the Sikh Gurus and writers of Guru Granth Sahib. Padma Shri Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa, a former Hazoori Ragi at The Golden Temple, will be performing Gurbani at Ruhaniyat festival in the city on February 9. We speak to him to know more about him and his take on music.
Speaking about Ruhaniyat, he says, “I have been performing for this show for nearly 10 years now. It is a very good programme by Banyan Tree Events that connects people and artists from across the world. Also, it brings together thoughts, feelings and love for music. Music is something that unites the world. And Gurbani is Guru’s Bani which is a universal language that will bind together people, irrespective of their religion, at Ruhaniyat.”
Farming to music
Nirmal Singh Khalsa comes from a family of farmers. Speaking about how he ventured into music, he says, “I was born in a simple family that did farming. No one in my family pursued music. I started getting interested in music around 1970. I used to listen to radio that broadcast shows from Lahore, Pakistan. That music appealed to me, so I told my family about my inclination towards music. They told me to stick to farming. I left my home. Later, I got a Diploma degree in Gurmat Sangeet from the Shaheed Missionary College, Amritsar and started working as a music teacher in a college. But I wasn’t content with it, so I sent an application and got selected at The Golden Temple in 1979 where I started singing Gurbani. Till now, I have performed keertan shows in 71 countries.”
He also started taking music lessons from Ghulam Ali, known for ghazals like Chupke Chupke Raat Din, from 1995. “I learnt the basics of classical music that includes light music. Before taking training from Ghulam Ali saab, I met him twice, once in London and then in New York. By then I was known. He too had once mentioned on a national TV channel, ‘Ek Sardarji bahut accha gaate hai’ (There’s a Sardarji who sings well). When I had a show in the USA, I met him and expressed my wish to be his shagird (student) and he accepted it. At times I would go to Lahore; at other times, he would come here. This created family relations between us.”
Change in teaching traditions
Traditions change with time and that happens with teaching traditions too. When it comes to music, reality shows which bring instant fame and money have affected the growth and understanding of the art among kids. Speaking of the same, he says, “Today, everything has become commercial. Earlier, music used to be a ‘sadhana’, a medium of devotion and love. Slowly, it became commercial. Now people want to be stars in no time. This has stalled their growth. The sense of devotion, dedication and hard work has reduced today.”
He continues, “There was a time when the guru was considered as everything. Now everyone thinks, Mujhe kya milega? (What will I get?). I understand money is required, but there are things beyond it too. I also believe that learning from external sources like social media classes, is not right and it won’t sustain for too long.”
Nirmal Singh Khalsa believes that music is not to be mixed with anything else. Shuddh cheez hai, shuddh reheni chahiye, (It is pure. It should stay pure) I believe.”