Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Two gursangeet "yatras" in Muar and Batu Pahat (Malaysia)

I have attended many 'kirten' presentations by various 'ragis' over the last thirty years but not anyone or anything like this man. Firstly, he is 'one of us' being born in Malaysia, even though now Australian. Secondly he is bilingual, even throwing in the odd word in Malay.

Most importantly, he takes one on a spiritual journey which he appears to experience himself. He is not here 'just to do kirten'. He sings to reach his higher self and ours, if we allow ourselves.

I wish to write about two programs he did, one two days ago in Muar and one yesterday in my town of residence, Batu Pahat.

Two kirten sessions, two different journeys, same journey-master.

First about other jathays (kirten groups) - most dress alike, come in threes and normally remain aloof from the sangat. They never mingle with the younger Sikhs. They come to do kirten, collect their takings, and leave; if they ever come to small towns like Muar and Batu Pahat, that is.

Not Dya Singh. I saw him arrive in Batu Pahat for the second 'journey' - a 'good morning' towel tied around his head, tattered old track suit pants and a sweat T-shirt. He was eating some 'dukus' (a Malaysian tropical fruit).

First he alighted, waving a quick 'fateh' to waiting committee members, to chat with some youngsters. I heard him asking them which was the nearest 'bukit' (hill) to climb and whether they would like to join him in the morning - there was enthusiasm from them! He also wanted to know which was the best 'teh tarik' (tea stall), 'chendol' (a Malaysian sweet delicacy) and 'nasi' lemak' (malaysian fish rice) in town. He was one of us and here to enjoy his own kirten and stay!!

My first impression of Dya Singh was in Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji's Varsi in Malacca a few years ago. Then he looked like a super-star but still meeting as many people as he could and stopping to greet the youngsters, especially.

Darbar was packed when he delivered his power-packed kirten 'performances' with his non-Sikh group members and his daughters. A spectacle, if ever there was one in a Gurdwara and in big crowds.

Two days ago in Muar, I wondered what sort of a man he was as he was doing 'only' kirten with his maestro tabla-player, Dheeraj (from Nepal). I had not seen him arrive, but there was an aura and a charisma of a very interesting man as he strode in, dressed in all-blue followed by tabla master, Dheeraj Shrestha dressed in black.

As soon as Rehraas was over, he sang the last 'shalok' in a very deep spiritual tone to a slow tabla beat - not the high powered 'Jo thao prem khelan ka chao' with blaring electric guitar and high voices I know him for.

No, in fact the whole sangat, all fifty-odd of us were drawn in to sing along - 'Milai ta jivaan, milai ta jivaan - Nanak naam milai ta jivaan, than man thivai herea.'

"Hopefully you have all left your problems, anxieties, sadnesses, depressions etc. in your footwear outside - I have, because I have come here in Babay-dhi-hejuri to feed my soul with 'gurbani'."

In one and a half hour, we were transported to that realm where there is no old age, no birth, no death, no pain, only bliss. His eyes were closed most of the time and he was in apparent bliss.

I was amazed and wanted to know more about this man who is often painted as a bit of a larrikin and considered 'not really a ragi' by some supposedly knowleadgeable 'listeners'. He had moved me and helped me to spend some time in total bliss - not unlike anyone else had ever done before.

Next day, I saw him arrive - the 'larrikin'. I promised to take him up Bukit Banang. He bragged that he had just climbed Bukit Tampin two days ago.

He did not look that fit!!

He disappeared to rest awhile and change in our gurdwara conference room. I peeked in - he was seated under the fan, hair and beard open drinking 'cha' (tea) and asked me to join him but I knew that he wanted to rest and change.

In the middle of Rehraas he appeared - a complete transformation - the man in blue, a radiance which is hard to describe and focussed on what he had to do. But he seemed different from Muar - he seemed more 'live' than laid back.

He began the same 'salok' but this time it was "Main nirguniaray ko gun naahi, appay tarss bheyoyi." He explained that it was in Raag Sham Kalyan.

A sangat of almost two hundred joined in as the 'pangati' repeated again and again. This time the kirten had moments of bliss and quiet but also, uptempo as he narrated a dharmic kaveta of Guru Gobind Singh and announced the Naujawan Sabha's Vesakhi Dharmic Mela in Cheras and also that the rest of his group would be joining him.

This was different 'journey' from Muar - I was intrigued because Bhai (now Sant) Niranjan Singh sounds the same day in day out, Sant Anoop Singh sounds the same and so on. But this was a different Dya Singh from Muar and the super-star with a five piece group belting out 'Ik Onkar, Satnaam.' or 'If you want to play the Game of Love, come to me.' or 'Hovay janam sohela.'

This was a more exciting journey where the 'atma' (soul) soared to new heights and there was a sense of exhileration instead of the 'peace and calm and contentedness' of Muar! The last rendition, a dharmic kaveta 'Bajan vala Guru teg, khich lelkardha' boomed down from above as Guru Ji roared for five heads!! This was certainly a different kind of exhileration. We walked on air as we left.

Next morning we headed for Bukit Banang. The 'larrikin' with a towel tied on his head, dark shades and a sun visor - same tattered old track suit pants and a sweat shirt. Yes, he as fitter than he looked and prided himself on the need for physical fitness for a Sikh. He even commented that most Malaysian Sikh teenagers looked like withered, haggard opium smokers and generally looked sick. That, Sikhi did not lay enough stress on physical well being, a 'must' where he was concerned. I wonder whether Sants Anoop Singh and Niranjan Singh could climb up Bukit Banang, or whether they ever asked youngsters to look after their physical well-being.

I asked Dya Singh about different 'journeys' for the atma (soul). He was impressed that I had experienced that.

"All a great many sangat members would remember is that the 'kheer' was very nice, let alone what 'shabad' was sung/heard or that they had experienced a spiritual journey," he joked.

"You know, the American Sikh sangats experience this sort of journies. I have barely come across anyone of Indian Sikh origin, let alone a whole sangat that can experience such a 'journey'".

"Every kirten occasion is food for the Atma (soul) and a journey to reach Permatma (Waheguru). I have been encouraged to treat each kirten occasion as a 'spiritual journey' by my reverend father, by Baba Sohan Singh Ji of Malacca, and lately by the American Sikhs who dabble into yoga and meditation in a big way. Some journeys are subtle, peaceful, loving etc. Others are soaring, exhilerating, loud! Then with the group, I have my whole 'crew' and the journey is compounded. But first one must go to Gurdwara with the correct frame of mind - that we are there to 'Gobind milen ki eha teri beria' (to meet our 'creator', Karta Purakh). Unfortunately even so called Ragi's do not explain such matters to sangats and just come and do kirten and people pay them respect according to how popular they are in India, not how much spiritual exhileration, soulful upliftment they get."

"From Bhai's they become 'Sants' and people start to rever them rather than experiencing spiritual advancement from their kirten. Our habit of worshipping 'sants' rather than finding our own spiritual elevation thru their company and through kirten, Naam Simren and Nitnem has been inbuilt into us over centuries of Hindu thought. I guess it will take generations for us to realise that our spiritual elevation, our emancipation, our enlightenment, depends on our own 'actions' not the worship of other human beings."

I look forward to meeting and joining other 'spiritual journeys' into the future, led by 'journey-master' Dya Singh. I look forward to the day other 'kirtenias' or 'ragis' will treat kirten as a form of Simren / Meditation in Kalyug (this Age of Darkness).

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh


Dya Singh CD’s available for sale now at www.ethnicisland.com