Doyen of Gurbani music Prof Kartar Singh passed away at the ripe age of 94 years. A messenger of traditional Gurbani musicology, an exemplary teacher and a unique exponent of playing stringed instruments while singing Gurbani -the revealed word of Shabads. A student and teacher of Gurbani music, a doctorate in Gurbani Music from Banasthali University, Rajasthan, vocalist with traditional Tanpura as accompaniment, Delhi-based Dr Harpreet Kaur pays a humble tribute to Prof Kartar Singh, who was her mentor and who imparted her the nuances of various styles of Gurbani singing as enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib.

BLESSED TO HAVE PROF KARTAR SINGH AS MY MENTOR IN MY JOURNEY IN THE WORLD OF GURBANI MUSIC, I am saddened by the loss of this noble soul, yet I celebrate the moments spent with him in understanding Gurbani music, its various forms and his indisputable knowledge about classical Indian music and the use of stringed instruments to bring out the flavour, sweetness, meaning and thrust of Gurbani. I fondly reminisce about his devotion to the Sikh way of life while pursuing his mission of popularising Sikh musicology.

Covid19 restricted my meetings with him, but I stayed in touch on the phone. In a long talk in April 2020, this epitome of humility informed me that he had completed 573 pages of the composition and notation of Bhagat Bani in 31 ragas. He had also written Guru Teg Bahadur Sangeet Darpan. As his health was failing him, towards the end of the conversation he wished that Akal Purakh grants him time to pen down the Bani -the revealed word of the First Master -Guru Nanak Sahib with 18 mukh –main ragas, 11 mishrit -mixed ragas and 6 dakhni-southern Ragas.

The nonagenarian maestro of Gurbani music -Prof. Kartar Singh breathed his last in Ludhiana, Punjab on 2 January 2022.  Born on 3 April 1928 to Attar Singh and Harnam Kaur in village Ghumannke in Lahore district of West Panjab, he died in Ludhiana in East Punjab.  He rose in the west and set in the east. 

Concerned about Sikhs losing their grip over the traditional genre of Gurbani rendition, he was dedicated to his life-long mission of revival of singing using traditional instruments.  He sang Gurbani in Ragas -music measures, as revealed in Guru Granth Sahib. Loved, admired, respected and followed across the world, not only did he sing Gurbani, he humbly followed the divine music and its message in his life. Pious, humble, divine, hard-working with a never-say-die attitude, he was a legend. 

Humility was his loving trait which was exemplified in his regular sewa at the shoe centres of Gurdwaras and special Kirtan congregations. His student Bhai Narinder Singh Banarasi, Hazoori Ragi -Senior Singer of Gurbani of Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.

 A grateful man, he remembered his teachers Ustad Giani Gurbachan Singh of  Bhai Pheru, Bhai Sunder Singh Kasoor wale and Bhai Dalip Singh. He used to often say to his students of Gurbani music, “ I want to stay immersed into Gurbani Sangeet in the classical style of singing till my last breath”.

The maestro Prof Kartar Singh not only sang but unhesitatingly imparted the skill of music and was a unique teacher, embracing all students, including those who could not pay fees.  Unlike music ustads, he taught the best techniques and compositions, without favour and preference.  

Active till the last, he was a regular traveller from Ludhiana to Anandpur Sahib where he served as the Director in the Gurmat Sangeet Academy. He had a disciplined daily routine which included a complete diet, regular riyaaz and a daily walk in the evening. 

He was the Baba Borh -the ancestral 100-year-old tree of Gurbani music. An expert in Tanpura, Swar mandal and Dilruba, he performed Kirtan with Tanti saz -stringed instruments only. 

He was awarded the Shiromani Ragi award in 2013 by the Language government of Panjab Government.  He was felicitated by the Sangeet Natak Academy in 2009 and in 2012 he received the Tagore Ratan award. As he was bed-ridden, he was showered with the Padam Shri in December 2021 on his hospital bed in Ludhiana. 

A teacher committed to preserving Gurbani music, he trained hundreds of students and penned down a number of books, prominent of which are Gurmat Sangeet Darpan, Gurbani Sangeet Darpan and Guru Angad Dev Sangeet Darpan.

Three months ago, on a telephonic call, he asked me about my riyaaz-systematic practice and what I was doing. When informed that I was doing regular practice and teaching Gurbani with the methodology mentioned in his books, he was pleased and delighted.  The pandemic deprived me of meeting him during his last years, but I will ever continue to cherish moments spent and lessons learnt from him. May he stay blessed with Akalpurakh.

The walking-talking-singing Encyclopaedia of Gurbani music legend is gone. Who will fill the gap? The onus is on his students including myself.  In his fond memory, I am devoted to doing my best as a tribute to his musical excellence. 

Title Courtesy: WSN Reader Ajay Madan