Bhai Laal Jee Rababi – RARE LIVE RECORDING
Raagi: Bhai Laal Jee Rababi (Pakistan)
Location: United Kingdom
Details: A Very Rare Live Video Recording of Bhai Laal Jee, who was a direct decedent of Bhai Mardana Jee who accompanied Satguru Nanak Dev Jee on Rabab. GurmatSangeet.Org has written an excellent biography on Bhai Sahib, which we have posted below.
Rababi Bhai Lal Ji
Author: GurmatSangeet.Org; March 2005
Although being a Muslim, Bhai Lal ji is devoted to the kirtan traditions of Gurmat Sangeet. Born in 1929 Bhai Lal ji formerly known as Ashiq Ali Hussein grew up watching his father who was the Hazoori Ragi at Goindwal Sahib.
It is an accepted fact that Sikhism propagates the use of Raag and Gurbani as a means of worship of the Almighty. This tradition has been passed down through the innovation of Raagis (Those that sing the Raags.) The very first raagi acknowleged in Sikh history was Guru Nanak Dev Jis trusted friend and companion Bhai Mardana Ji. Legend has it that when Guru Nanak was given Bani to recite to the world from the Divine, the same power would also instruct Bhai Mardana to pluck the Rabab in a certain Raag. Thus Raag and Gurbani became two spirits in one.
Bhai Mardana was then known as a Rababi and the subsequent Rababi tradition has developed from him. In memory of this it is suspected that the last member of this Rababi tradition is Bhai Lal Ji, Pakistan. Bhai Lal ji is suspected to be the 17th generation descendent of Bhai Mardana keeping alive the Rababi tradition that has almost been forgotten in the Sikh panth.
Although being a Muslim, Bhai Lal ji is devoted to the kirtan traditions of Gurmat Sangeet. Born in 1929 Bhai Lal ji formerly known as Ashiq Ali Hussein grew up watching his father who was the Hazoori Ragi at Goindwal Sahib. He learnt Gurmukhi at primary school before devoting his life to kirtan. He initially spent two years under the instruction of Bhai Khisita at Amritsar before being taken under the fold of the legendary Rababi Bhai Chand Ji. he recalls
Despite pleas from the Sikh community, Bhai lal Ji left for Pakistan with his father at the time of partition. It was here that he settled, married and raised four sons. Despite adoring the kirtan maryada that is deeply infused in his heart, due to lack of Sikh patronage in Pakistan this has not been put to good use. Although his sons also have acquired a great deal of respect for Gurbani, they have not adopted the family business so to speak. Bhai Lal ji states, He says this with deep regret as something so special is at the brink of extinction.
Unfortunately, there are only a few opportunities to hear Bhai Lal ji in Pakistan. He states that he is only invited to do kirtan when a jatha from abroad comes to Pakistan for yatra or when he is seldom invited for a kirtan at a house. He has also acknowledged that the Sindhi community are the ones who really appreciate Kirtan and Gurmat Sangeet in Pakistan.
Bhai Lal ji used to be a regular at Durbar Sahib, Amritsar (The Golden Temple) in the pre partition days. The last time he performed at Durbar Sahib was in 1962 for two hours. Shortly after this a rule was passed by the SGPC that no non Amrit Dhari can be permitted to do kirtan in Durbar Sahib to protect the Sikh image. The desire to still pay homage to Satguru Ramdas ji at Durbar Sahib is deeply enshrined in Bhai Lal Jis heart, which is one dream that may not come true.
Nevertheless, Bhai Lal ji still remains a well respected figure in the Sikh religion today. He has kept the tradition of Bhai Mardana alive and has been honoured by the following Sikh organisations for his ability in Raag and his love for the Guru. He was awarded by many including SGPC, the Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Damdami Taksal, Patna Sahib, Hazoor Sahib and others.
May his memory and his melodious kirtan live on in our hearts.
[GurmatSangeet.Org; March 2005; "Rababi Bhai Lal Ji"]
This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 at 9:39 pm and is filed under General, Gurmat Sangeet, Keertan Videos. 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.
already, the first minute of the kirtan sent a surge of current through my capillaries!! would you please make the video available for download?
TO DOWNLOAD, USE: http://keepvid.com/
on the issue of non-Amritdharis being barred from performing kirtan at the Harmandar Sahib, it’s quite sad because it denies the opportunity to those that would like to pay homage to Guru Granth Sahib Ji at the holiest shrine of the Sikhs.
In Sakhi Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, banis of all bhagats from different castes and religions are included,and the four doors of Gurudwara is opened for all. So, we all followers of Sri Guru Granth Sahib should give respect to keertanias of Gurubani.
Waaaaah!!!!!
Amazing! Sends vibrations whilst listening to with eyes closed!
DHAN GURU NANAK DEV JI!
So much love and dedication yet not even a Gursikh – May waheguru give this dedication and pyaar to the whole of humanity.
: )
It is really very touching and inspiring at the same time to see a muslim raagi doing kirtan adhering to the ragas absed gurbani.
It is sad that SGPC shd be banning non-amritdharis to do kirtan at Durbar Sahib. I am sure Gurus cdnt have been more pleased if devotees like Bhai Lal jee cd pay respects to the Holy place than those politically, power packed SGPC poeple sitting there, most of whom are not aware of the humility and peace Gurbani contains.
Gurudwara – guru ka dwar is open to all -irrespective of caste, class and religion and who is SGPC to stop anyone from entering and paying respects there?
I alll along thought Sikhism is the only religion which is welcoming to all!
Sarabjeet
With the blessings of Jagat Guru BabaNanak ji that We are indebted to Bhai Sahib Bhai Mardana ji whoe’s lineage is still continuing the shabad keertan tradition so very reverbrating and soulfull and transdental. I would appeal to the sikh jagat & SGPC to start a scholarship in the name of Bhai Mardana ji and invite Bhai Chand ji to start a gurmat sngeet school here in India. We are ready to do what the Guru shall direct us to contribute and help if this is transformed to reality.
Since Bhai Mardana was the first sikh of guru Nanak dev ji so Bhai Chand is also a SIKH by any standards.
These people are ancestral raababis…its in their blood ..Guru Nanak Ji knew what he awas doing having Mardan…he was creating a legacy for the sikhs…in them
Let us have a separate Raag darbaar where anyone of any race color or creed recite gurbani in devotion ….otherwise we’d have disinherited its finest parts
Its a difficult question I know wether to allow a non amritdhari to recite gurbani at the darbaar sahib or in a gurudwara
Until a solution is found let us not loose out forever on what little of this legacy remains
let the great minds amongst us lead us to find a solution and regain our lost treasures
theres a very recent video of Bhai Lall Ji put up on youtube.com, the link is below
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ldWpJkgOGkI&
Profiling people based upon their looks and cultures is against the basic tenants of Gurmat. I very much wish that Sikhee is taken out of the prison walls set by our clergy class and given to humanity at large. Only then it will fulfill its destiny of being the light for whole human race. In Sikhee we do recognize people by their color, creed or culture but by the divine light they carry within. I believe a time will come when Guru will take over the destiny of his Panth and restore its position among the world religions that serve whole humanity.
eternal thanks to gursikhs who have endavered to record and made available these heavenly songs to all those interested.