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We sang a bilingual 'Aadh Granth Melody' with appropriate words on a
screen behind. The theme was, 'If you do not see God in all, you do not
see God at all' in line with the celebrations of the 400 years of the
compilation of the Aadh Granth by Guru Arjan Sahib Ji.
It is 27th September-2004 - my final entry in this month ... because, we fly
back to Oztralia today from UK.I expect to spend the rest of these week
doing 'nothing' in Adelaide. I must write about yesterday first and then
fill you in for the whole month of September.
Yesterday was the perfect end to a great memorable tour... and we sold
out all the cd's we took to the RAH!
26thSeptember-2004 - the big day at the Royal Albert Hall. Yes, Prince
Charles was there including over 5000 Sikhs and we performed in front of
him for 15 minutes just before his speech. I joked with him about the
fact that we bring warmest greetings from Down-under and also that we
knew that he had a soft spot for Australia. He smiled and acknowledged
with a wave.
The Royal Albert Hall is the dream venue for any musician/entertainer.
To have made it here with my group to sing 'gurbani'! Now that is what
dreams are about.
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We are in the final phase towards the culmination of this momentous tour
which started at the Smithsonian Institute on 24th. July and which
hopefully and with Waheguru Ji's grace will complete at the 400 Year
celebration of the compilation of the Aadh Granth Sahib (Sri Guru Granth
Sahib) at the Royal Albert Hall on 26th. September 2004.
1stSeptember-2004 We started the day with kirtan after the completion of
two Akhand Paths at the Ramgharia Gurdwara Sahib of Southall (where I
was married many many moons ago!). The gurdwara was almost full
surprisingly for a working day. Tejpal Singh Ryat and colleagues promote
Sikh youth activities and have always been very supportive.
An amusing (sad?) episode was an approach by young Sikhs of a 'thath' in
Southall in which womenfolk are not allowed to do kirtan (!!!) It was
explained that ladies are part of 'maya' and hence play a 'temptation'
role - so they should not be seen too openly and definitely cannot do
kirtan on stage! I did not know that such a thing existed in Sikhism.
Well, it does!! So, I was asked if I could do kirtan without my daughter
OR that my daughter sit at sangat level and not on stage with us! Now, I
have seen/heard it all. Some gurdwaras do not want my non-Sikh
colleagues to sit on stage with me and this gurdwara(thath) will not
allow my daughter to sit on stage with me because she is 'evil' and a
'temptress'! O Waheguru, please save Sikhi from such types of 'Sikhs'!
In the evening a very large sangat greeted us at the Singh Sabha
Hounslow. General Secretary Mohan Singh Nayyar (formerly from Singapore)
showed us through the new building of the Punjabi School which
accommodates up to 500 students. Tremendous work by the Singh Sabha
here. An example many many such large gurdwaras could learn from. We had
a wonderful one hour of kirtan to a very appreciative sangat full of
youngsters reflected in the very good cd sales.
Friday 3rd September-2004 program at Ramgharia Reading. It was pleasing to note
that many sangat members from Singh Sabha Reading where we had done a
program the week before also turned up. The premises are small and at
one point the electricity went but the warm response of the sangat was
overwhelming.
The Sunday morning program was at the Croydon Gurdwara. It is a real
pleasure doing programs at surburban gurdwaras where youngsters take an
active part and show great enthusiasm. A group of youngsters surrounded
me at langgar and quizzed me on various issues. Questions suggest
enthusiasm. May waheguru help these youngsters flourish in this life in
Sikhi.
It was a pleasure helping Bai Ji Principal Gurmukh Singh in proofreading
articles and also helping him write a joint article on kirtan, for a
special souvenir publication commemorating the 'Char Sau Sala' by the
Sikh Times newspaper. This will be out in a week or two and ready for
worldwide distribution. Anyone interested get in touch with Sikh Times
UK.
Wednesday 8th September-2004 Shepherd's Bush gurdwara program. Being a weekday program
the sangat was modest but the kirtan was enthusiastically recorded by
Mohan Singh Sohanpal. Shepherds Bush gurdwara records all ragis doing
kirtan here. Sadly there is strong factionalism here and sangat numbers
are dwindling. Not many Sikhs live in the Sherpherds Bush, Acton or
NottingHill area.
Thursday. An interesting evening as guests at a British Asian
Conservative Link gala event at the Brent City Town Hall to welcome the
Shadow Prime Minister (Tory) Michael Howard and other shadow cabinet
members and MP's. Great speech by the potential next Prime Minister of
UK wooing Asian voters. He even mentioned the 400 Anniversary of the
SGGS. About 1000 Asians turned up. Affluence was visible and the usual
Asian 'sucking up' to politicians.
For me the most notable observation was the fact that the most prominent
positions of this British Asian Conservative Link organisation ware held
by (supposedly) Sikhs, but Sikhs who appeared to be trying very hard to
hide the fact! For a start, only one office bearer proudly displayed his
surname "Singh" and he was cleanshaven. I would say that over 20 of the 30
or so office bearers were Sikhs but only about 3
were even prepared to display that at least their middle name was "Singh"!
There were even amusing surnames like Gidar (fox?), but the gentleman
was not prepared to state his name with Singh or even S. in the middle!
So a 'Singh' has finally become a Gidar! (I am sure the surname is not
what it says, but it is nevertheless quite amusing).
Chairman Ranbir Suri's giveaway was a resplendent white turban! General
Secretary Rami Ranger, could easily pass off as 'anybody' though I was
told he is definitely Sikh. Even the souvenir magazine showed a colour
picture of a boyish Krishan bhagwan on the front inside page and no
indication of any 'Sikh' presence. I wonder. Is it a prerequisite for a
Sikh businessman or a Sikh with aspirations for politics or further
business success to try and hide the fact that he is a Sikh, or pass off
as being part of the quagmire of Hinduism?
None of the 'Sikh' speechmakers made any indication of the fact that we
were celebrating the 400th. anniversary of the compilation of the Aadh
Granth, but credit where credit is due - Shadow Premier Michael Howard
'DID'. Nevertheless, great evening! he even mentioned the first 'VC'
recepient on the Japanese front - a Sikh Major!
Friday - a small spiritual 'mehfil' at my old friend, Ravi Vilkhu's
place. Good to meet up with old friends again. Stories of our exploits
in the 70's were relived - a most enjoyable evening! My daughter heard
of some of my exploits in my 20's - good excuse for her to break rules!
Saturday - a great private program at the Southfield gurdwara where the
birthday of a young one year old lad was celebrated. He is called Rio
Singh.
Sunday and away to Coventry - the Sri Hargobind Gurdwara Sahib. We have
always had a warm reception and hospitality at this gurdwara. A very
attentive sangat joined us for one and a half hours of kirtan. Lovely to
see so many youngsters and also the dialogues which ensued after the
program. (Programme organised by Davinder Singh Panesar & colleagues.)
Monday/Tuesday. Two late afternoon programs at the Guru Nanak College
Hayes. A great institution but one which does not perhaps value our
ability to engage youngsters in greater love and affection of kirtan,
through to gurbani and therefore a closer relationship with our Guru Ji.
We were deliberately left out of their major program on this coming
Saturday. The usual 'O we did not know that you were around'! Well,
their principal has overlooked us a number of times before much against
the wishes of other staff members. Better luck next time.
Wednesday - Birmingham - Stafford Road gurdwara. When we arrived
there were stern looking Sikhs in dark blue 'bana' and round saffron
turbans with chakras and small kirpans stuck in them. Saffron shawls
tied around their waists, complete with kirpans of various sizes and
also Sri-sahibs (swords) and some with spears! We seemed to have walked
into a medieval Sikh 'war zone'! BUT, once in the gurdwara one could
sense the spiritual energy generated over three days of Akhand Path.
Bhog was a ceremonious affair with great pomp. Gurdwara was packed with
the 'Akalis' [the true variety!] sitting in front. But as soon as the
didgeridoo sounded and the chant of 'Waheguru Bole Pyarea' started, everyone seemed to relax
and we had one and a half hour of kirtan bliss. The usual round of
'seropas' followed and langgar. A very interesting and uplifting
evening. On the M1 and back to Southall by 1 in the morning.
Great! Thursday off! Time to recuperate and go for a long long walk and
maybe catch a 'faludha' in Southall. Visited my good friends the
Kharbandas in their restaurant - Omi, almost opposite Southall College.
Friday - Northampton - left at 2pm from Southall and first stop at the
abode of the owner/editors of Sikh Times weekly - The 'Bains' in
Northampton. Great old rambly house - my kind of house. Northampton
always has a great, attentive sangat and more importantly a very young
committee [led by Amarjit Singh Atwaal] with youth activities of prime
importance. Three young girls did a couple of shabads before us and we
presented them with complimentary cd's. We were back in Southall by 1am. After another good
program.
Saturday - Milton Keynes Main Gurdwara. The new building of this
gurdwara is still being built and we were requested to do a Building
Fund appeal. We have done the same on the last three trips here. A
sizeable sangat turned up and it was pleasing to hear about 40
youngsters sing two shabads and our version of Mool Mantr before our
kirtan. Also met our 'Dublin' host of the previous trip, Kuldip Chauhan
and family.
Sunday - another long drive. This time to 'Robin Hood' country
Nottingham! A 'youth' program in a Comunity Centre. About 50 youths and
another 50 sangat members turned up. Our last two programs were below
par due to poor sound systems. This program made up for that because we
had a good sound system and one hour passed like a few minutes - such
was the atmosphere created. One of our good 'sponsors', S. Patwant Singh
formerly of Kenya and family attended.
Monday/Tuesday - days off! Wednesday we drive to Huddersfield for two
programs and then onto Derby on Friday.
Wednesday - Huddersfield. What a great day! We spent the late morning
and early afternoon teaching 40 non-Sikh school teenagers the Mool Mantr
and the basis and philosophy of Sikh spiritual music. They then
performed with us in a Huddersfield City Hall concert graced by the Lord
Mayor and other councillors. The local children also performed a play
based on the 400 Anniversary of the Aadh Granth. A great example for
other Sikh communities worldwide to follow. Congratulations Jitinder
Singh Virdhi and team. About 1000 school kids visited both gurdwaras
this whole week to gain knowledge of Sikhism, experience langgar and
also view the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The week has been dubbed 'Sikhism
Awareness Week' by the authorities. Well done the Kirklees Town Council
and the education authorities. I even saw some Muslim kids coming to
gurdwara. [Jatinder Pal Singh Virdee leads and promotes such youth
programmes. A most dedicated Gursikh.
Saturday 25th September-2004 A great program at the Neville Road, East London
Ramgharia Gurdwara. About 300 Punjabi school children and their
teachers,parents and grandparents. The Punjabi school jatha did kirtan
for half an hour and then we did kirtan for almost two hours. The joys
of this 'job'. The fruits! To see 300 attentive Sikh children listening to
Gurbani. This is what it is all about.
FINALLY - the big day! 26th. Setember 2004. The second main reason for
this tour - Royal Albert Hall, in front of Prince Charles and a capacity
5000 crowd - to celebrate the 400 Anniversary of the compilation of the
Aadh Granth. 'Organisational shambles' [reported by someone] did not dampen
our spirits as we managed to get our 15 minutes at peak time in front of Prince Charles.
We presented an 'Aadh Granth Medley' of selected bani lines thematically
in between Mool Mantr - the slogan being 'IF YOU DO NOT SEE GOD IN ALL,
YOU DO NOT SEE GOD AT ALL'. Parvyn also sang three English translations
composed by Quentin (2) and Keith. Our piece culminated in two huge
jekarays from the audience and applause. (OOPS! Sikhs should not applaud
gurbani!) Our second session was 'Game of Love' culminating with 5
jekarays, and yes, PP Singh Ji, there was thunderous applause as each of
our artistes did solo instrumentals in between and after the jekarays! A
successful end to a great historical tour for us. We are taking gurbani
to the streets and Waheguru Ji is with us. Now, back to Oz and a rest!
It was also great to meet some 'friends'. Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ji
of the Nishkam Sewak Jatha, Birmingham; the artistes - Singh Sisters; S.
Patwant Singh of Nottingham and family (we went to dinner with them in a
Polish restaurant afters!); and many many others.
'Smithsonian, Washington DC to Royal Albert Hall, London' has been an
incredible two month tour for us. My aspirations and dreams have
materialised by Waheguru Ji's grace. Our 'music' has grown on a new
generation. The objections are falling away. More and more Sikhs realise
that Sikh kirtan has become a ritual in gurdwaras rather than a tool for
upliftment and getting closer to Waheguru Ji. We look upon kirtan as a
spiritual journey to the source and also a calling card of Sikh
identity. Waheguru Ji is kind.
Cherdhi Kala,
Dya Singh
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