The End of a Beautiful & Fruitful Life
[ EDITED & APPROVED BY: Giani Gurcharan Singh Ragi ]
Guramukh janam savaar dharageh chaliaa||
Spending this life fruitfully gurmukh goes to the other world.
Sachee dharageh jaae sachaa pirr maliaa||
There in the true court (of lord) he gets his true place.
- Bhai Gurdaas Jee; Vaar 19
The loss of a legend echoes throughout the world, as the sad news spreads of Bhai Avtar Singh Jee’s unfortunate death.
The Khalsa Panth (the Sikh nation) will feel his loss forever, considering the great magnitude of keertan seva that he has done while further reviving the Gurmat Sangeet/Raag Keertan traditions. Bhai Avtar Singh Jee was a rare gem of the Khalsa Panth for his unparalleled keertan talent, sweet voice, katha (discourse), immense knowledge of Sikhi and keertan, and of course his gursikh lifestyle. Bhai Sahib was one of the most well-rounded Sikh icons of the 21st century.
Bhai Sahib left this world very peacefully at about 10:50 PM (IST) on November 23, 2006, at the age of 81, with his family at his bedside during his final hours. Bhai Sahib was diagnosed in early September with Acute Leukemia and was told that he had two months left. However, this sad news did not affect Bhai Sahib’s spirits and so he remained in chardi-kala (high-spirits) until his last breath.
Bhai Avtar Singh Jee has been performing keertan on the panthic stage for 60 years. It is well known fact that Bhai Avtar Singh Jee is the eleventh generation of raagis (keertan performers) that have a lineage that dates back to the 16th Century in India, when Bhai Sahib’s oldest ancestors started this keertan tradition in the darbar of Guru Arjan Dev Jee (5th Sikh Guru). It is also known that this lineage of Gurmat Sangeet has remained strictly in their family for 11 generations. Originally, the Raagi Jatha consisted of Bhai Avtar Singh and Bhai Gurcharan Singh (Bhai Avtar Singh’s elder brother). Their father, Bhai Jawala Singh Jee, imparted his knowledge of Gurmat Sangeet in them. Bhai Avtar Singh Jee and Bhai Gurcharan Singh Jee have performed kirtan along with their father Bhai Jawala Singh Ragi from 1934 to 1946. Since 1946, they had their own Jathaa initially known as Bhai Gurcharan Singh Bhai Avtar Singh Ragi. Later on, it was known as Bhai Avtar Singh Bhai Gurcharan Singh Ragi. Bhai Ratan Singh Jee accompanied them on Tabla for 5 years followed by Bhai Tarlok Singh on Tabla for another 9 months. Thereafter, Bhai Swaran Singh Jee joined the Jathaa in 1952 and has been playing Tabla in this Jathaa ever since.
Bhai Gurcharan Singh Jee retired from the Jathaa in 1991 and moved to Canada while Bhai Avtar Singh Jee along with Bhai Swaran Singh Jee on Tabla continued the great kirtan tradition. Bhai Tejpal Singh Jee accompanied them on the Harmonium in the absence of Bhai Gurcharan Singh Jee for several years. In the year 1999-2000, Bhai Kultar Singh Jee, the youngest son of Bhai Avtar Singh Jee, joined his father and they have performed Kirtan around the world. Currently Bhai Kultar Singh Jee along with Bhai Swaran Singh Jee are performing this seva.
Bhai Avtar Singh jee and Bhai Gurcharan Singh Jee have written a book titled Gurbani Sangeet Prachin Reet Ratnavali (2 volumes) in which they have transcribed hundreds of musical compositions, or reets, that have been performed in their family for centuries. All knowledge of Gurmat Sangeet, that was passed down to them through oral tradition has been transcribed in this book as well as this Jathaa has recorded all these compositions and given a copy of the recordings to Punjabi University. This Jathaa has also recorded countless albums that stand as historical achievement, that will be beneficial to the future generations of Sikhs who study Sikh musical heritage. Bhai Avtar Singh Gurcharan Singh Jathaa has made an outstanding effort to preserve our Sikh musical heritage through these audio recordings and books, that their accomplishments will be referred to forever by musicians, scholars, and historians.
During Bhai Avtar Singh Jee’s last two world tours, 2005 and 2006, he made a groundbreaking effort to perform with traditional saaj (instruments). Bhai Sahib apparently had a hidden talent that not many were aware of, that he showcased to the sadh sangat of playing the Taus (“Tha-oos”). Taus is a string instrument that was created by the Sikh Gurus for the sole purpose of Gurmat Sangeet. This instrument is an example of one of the many instruments that are unique to the Sikh Panth and to Sikh musical heritage because it belongs to only the Sikh raagis. What makes it special is that it simulates the singing of a peacock. The artistic design and craftmanship of the wood, done by the old instrument makers, has a carving of the peacock on the instrument itself. The vidiya (teachings or knowledge) to play the Taus was instilled into Bhai Avtar Singh Jee by Bhai Jwala Singh Jee, his father, during his studentship. For many decades, Bhai Avtar Singh Jee was pressured by mainstream Sikh Sangat to perform simpler keertan, forcing him to pick up the harmonium, and perform non-dhrupad (dhrupad is the original format of keertan as documented in SGGS) format sangeet, until the last two years. Bhai Sahib has inspired all of us when re-introducing the Taus back into the mainstream through his puratan (old) format of keertan compositions and traditional saaj.
The ever so famous family of Bhai Avtar Singh Raagi is now in the hands of Bhai Swaran Singh Jee and the 13th generation, his two nephews – Bhai Kultar Singh Jee and Bhai Baldeep Singh Jee. The new raagi jatha will go by the title Bhai Kultar Singh Avtar Singh Ragi. Bhai Baldeep Singh Jee is a name that we will be hearing a lot about in our near future. We will write more about him in future posts as well because much needs to be said about his headstrong efforts to revive not only the music and vidiya (teachings or knowledge) of Gurmat Sangeet, but also the saaj. You can find out more by visiting his website bhaibaldeepsingh.com.
We [Keertan.Org] will be uploading many, many, collections of Bhai Avtar Singh Jee’s audio and video keertan. Already we have made two sections in his honor – one in Rare Live Recordings, and one in Raagi Keertan. Please visit back with us soon, and we promise to have much more khajaana (treasures). We leave you with some pictures below from his 60th anniversary keertan samagam titled “Jashan“, and some embedded videos that we uploaded in Summer 2006 onto Google Video. And lastly, we have uploaded a brand new section for Bhai Kultar Singh Jee, now that his journey as the 13th generation Raagi of the famous keertanee family that had Bhai Avtar Singh, and Bhai Jwala Singh before him, this section just seemed appropriate now. We have uploaded one mp3 that we came across from November 25th, 2006, the keertan in honor of Bhai Avtar Singh Jee. Bhai Kultar Singh Jee did keertan on Vaaja (harmonium), Bhai Baldeep Singh Jee accompanied on Taus, and Bhai Swaran Singh Jee on Jori. Our thanks to balbirsingh77 @ gmail.com, who shared this keertan with the world. Enjoy, and please leave some comments below about Bhai Avtar Singh Jee and his audio/video added. We would love to hear from you.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6304125816975340348
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2818679008456560597
This entry was posted on Monday, November 27th, 2006 at 10:37 pm and is filed under General, Gurmat Sangeet, Panthic News, Raagi Biographies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Dear Dr. H. Singh,
Thanks for the tribute paid to my esteemed father, Bhai Avtar Singh Ji Ragi, in this article. However, I would like to make some corrections. Bhai Kultar Singh Ragi, my youngest brother, is the son of Bhai Avtar Singh Ragi not Bhai Gurcharan Singh Ragi. Bhai Kultar Singh Ragi is carrying on the ‘Gurmat Sangeet’ kirtan tradition assisted by Bhai Swaran Singh Ragi under the name of Bhai Kultar Singh Avtar Singh RAgi
Jasvinder Kaur Chaggar,
Thankyou for your corrections and comments. The corrections have been made. WJKK || WJKF ||
I am only 10 years old but i can not belive this. Me and my father Gurmit Singh. Are verry sad this has happend. Best wishes to the family of Bhai Avtar Singh ji
Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji kee fathe
If anybody has any CD’s or cassets or DVD’s please contact me at rassra@netzero.net
The only DVD of Bhai Avtar Singh Ji Ragi that I am aware of is available from the Sikh Music Heritage Institute, at http://www.sikhmusicheritage.org
WJKKWJKF|| We have uploaded SEVEN videos of Bhai Avtar Singh Ragi in the videos section from his Summer 2005 World Tour with his Taus. Also, check the Raagi Keertan Section for tons of new mp3 audio of Bhai Sahib.
-Admin
I have known Bhai Avtar Singh Ji Ragi since my childhood i.e. for over 50 years. He was a great Ragi, greater as a Sikh and greatest as a Human, I have ever known. He was puran Sant to me. He was very close to me and we did shared very intimate relationship. I have never seen him worried but with having full trust on Ardas directly or through kirtan. He told me more then once that he has been trained to recite kirtan thinking that Guru Sahib himself is sitting in front and listening. He was like a Light House for me, who preached and lived Sikhism to the fullest.
I hereby fold my hands and pray to the almighty Akalpurkh to bless his soul and send us one more of Bhai Avtar Singh Ji Ragi on this earth, to bless us all.
Bhai Sahibs youngest son, Bhai Kultar Singh Ragi is the torchbearer now. I wish him good luck and hope he will succeed in quenching our thrust of kirtan in the time to come.
Dear H. Singh,
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
I am grateful to you for paying tribute to my younger brother, Bhai Sahib BhaiAvtar Singh ji Ragi on your web site.
He was 10 years 6 months younger to me and thus, he was very dear to my heart. Both of us learnt Kirtan from our father (late) Bhai Sahib Bhai Jwala Singh Ragi since our childhood.
I had just finished my metric from Khalsa College, Amritsar, when both (Avtar Singh and my self) joined our fathers Kirtan Jathaa in the year 1934. I was 18 years old and Avtar Singh was 8 years old at that time.
We learnt Gurmat sangeet, parr-taal, dhrupad, dhunia, and the great traditional kirtan under the kind guidance or our father. It was common practice in those days to learn to play all instruments including Taus, Harmonium Tabla etc., in order to understand the intricacies of Gurmat Sangeet.
We did Kirtan with our father (Bhai Sahib Bhai Jwala Singh ji Ragi) from the year 1934 to 1946. During that period, I accompanied on Tabla for 7 years, on Harmonium for 3 years and on Taus for 2 years. My brother Bhai Avtar Singh ji, accompanied on Taus for 6 years, on Tabla for 3 years, Harmonium for 2 years and cymbals (kainsian) for about 1 year.
We made a separate Jathaa with the blessing of our father in 1946. My brother and my self played harmonium. We were accompanied by Bhai Ratan Singh on Tabla for about 5 years. Thereafter, Bhai Tarlok Singh(who is currently staying in UK) played Tabla with us for 9 months. Bhai Swaran Singh joined our jathaa in 1952 and he has been playing Tabla in this Jathaa ever since.
We did kirtan together for 46 years and have toured U.K. , U.S.A and Canada many times. Our Jatha got lots of love, respect, ashirwaad from Guru ki Sangat from all over World.I retired from the Jathaa and moved to Canada in 1991. My brother and Bhai Swaran Singh continued the great Kritan tradition along with Bhai Tejpal Singh who accompanied on Harmaonium in my absence for several years.
In the year 1999-2000, my nephew, Bhai Kultar Singh replaced Bhai Tejpal Singh and joined his father, Bhai Avtar Singh ji. My blessing are with Kultar Singh since he left his engineering profession and is now continuing the family tradition of Gurbani Kirtan.
The Gurbani Sangeet Prachin Reet Ratnavali in (2 volumes) was written my by both me and my brother. All the Kirtan noted in this books was also sung by the Bhai Avtar Singh Gurcharan Singh Jathaa in which Bhai Swarn Singh played tabla. These recordings are still available with Patiala University. Our history and how these books came into being is all written in the first few pages of the first volume of this book. The book also contains pictures of Bhai Jawala Singh Jathaa performing at Dehra Baaba Nanak and Bhai Avtar Singh Gurcharan Singh Jathaa in new Delhi.
Please feel free to contact me if you need any further clarifications.
Once again, I thank you for tribute to my brother (late) Bhai Avtar Singh Ragi and may Wahegurus blessing be on you for doing this seva.
From:
Giani Gurcharan Singh Ragi
5 Stonepark Lane, Nepean, Ontario, K2H-9P7, Canada.
B-5, N.D.S.E Part II, New Delhi, 10049, India.
To the admin and sewaadaars of this website,
Shaabaash Gursikh Pyaareo,
May Waheguru jee bless you with more and more such sewaa.
Shaabaash once again
Bhai avtar singh and Bhai gurcharan singh jatha served for 50-60 years. I know them since fiftees when they were living in Gurudwara MATA SUNDRI houses. I would always see them in humble temprament. There kids are also true sikhs. I supported them morally when they had bad times in sixtees when they were involved in killing of Avtar Singh a supreme court assistant (s/o granthi pritam singh dalla). Although they were charged for murder but I say they were innocents. PRITAM SINGH DALLA, granthi has been the worst sikh I have seen in my life. On the other hand Avtar singh and Gurucharan Singh are great sikhs.
His rendition of Kirtan is simply Divine ! few kirtanis will ever equal his stature
may God Bless his Soul !
few of his renditions which are close to my heart
Satguru mera sadda dyala.
Bin bolya sab kuch jarndaa
Ram simar Ram simar
these gems recited by Ragi Avtar Singh ji are forever etched in my heart !