Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa
Description
Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa, the only Padamshree Awardee Gurbani Singer (Raagi) from the Govt. of India, was born on 12.04.1952 at Village Jandwala, Bhimoshah, Ferozepur, Punjab in the house of Giani
Chanan Singh and Mata Gurdev Kaur. After his school education upto matric, he obtained a diploma in
Gurmat Sangeet from Shaheed Sikh Missionary College in 1976. After that he learnt music from renowned
musicians like Prof. Avtar Singh Ji Naaz of Amritsar and Ustad Gulam Ali Khan of Lahore, Pakistan. He
has been inspired by great Gurbani singers like Bhai Bakshish Singh Ji, Bhai Samund Singh Ji, Bhai Santa
Singh Ji, Bhai Dharam Singh Ji Zakhmi and Bhai Shamsher Singh Ji Zakhmi. Bhai Gurbachan Singh, former
Hazoori Raagi Sri Darbar Sigh (now in U.S.A.) has also been a great source of inspiration. Beginning his
career, he served as a Music Teacher in Gurmat College, Rishikesh, U.P. (1977) and in Shaheed Missionary
College Sant Baba Fateh Singh, Sant Chanan Singh Budha Johadh Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan in 1978.
Since 1979, he is Hazoori Raagi, Sachkhand Sri Darbar Sahib, Sri Amritsar. In addition to performing as
a Hazoori Raagi at Sri Amritsar, Bhai Sahib has recited Gurbani at various places in India including all the
Takhts and in more than 50 countries of the world. He has given various programmes on radio and T.V. and
the music companies like T. Series, Tipps, Music Today and Music Touch have released a large number of
their cassettes.
Their unique contribution is their singing gurbani with Tanti Saaz (Old musical instruments
of the times of the Gurus). Their recitation of Sri Sukhmani Sahib in raag Gauri and singing of Asa Di Var
have become so popular that the same have been sold like hot cakes running into more than 50 lacs cassettes.
The reason being that they have sung gurbani in Gurmat style (shaily) and not on the basis of light music
tunes. Bhai Sahib has large number of fans all over the world and some of them being non-sikhs have
adopted Sikhism in SIkhi saroop (one of these persons is Doctor Navprabhat Lal from Chhattisgarh). Bhai
Sahib, being a role model Gurbani singer, has received numerous awards and honors in India and abroad.
The same include the award of Supreme Keertania from Guru Ramdass Gurpurab Committee, Sri Amritsar
(1990), Diwa National Award from Indian Musical Industry (1994) Shiromani Raagi Award from Khalsa
Fateh Jung, Ferozepur (1999), Sifti Award from United Sikh Organisation, Delhi (2003), Bhai Mardana
Award from International Institutue of Gurmat Studies, Los Angles (U.S.A. 2004). Special Award from Sikh
Supreme Council of Africa (2005) and various other awards from Jawadi Taksaal, Chief Khalsa Diwan and
S.G.P.C. When 500th Birth Anniversary of Sahib Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji was celebrated at Khadoor Sahib, he
was honored with Bhai Hira Singh Award. On receiving Padamshree in 2009, Kes Sambhal Parchar Sanstha
honored with Shan-E-Khalsa at Khalsa College, Delhi. Bhasha Vibhag, Punjab honored him as Shromani
Raagi in 2011 and Punjabi University, Patiala made him visiting Professor. Bhai Nirmal Singh Ji has a keen
desire to promote the teachings and tenets of Sikhism for bringing a feeling of universal brotherhood and
peace and harmony among the people of the world. He also writes many a times to express his feelings
conveying his desire that a Begampura like “Halemi Raj” be established so that all the people live in peace.
Thus as a uniqure spreader of the message of love and universal brotherhood of the Gurus, Bhai Sahib is a
role model preacher of Sikhism.