Real name: Bhai Surjan Singh Ragi & Party

Effective period / Period of releases: 1964

Bhai Surjan Singh

One of the most popular Raagi jathas of all time would be the jatha of Bhai Surjan Singh Ji whose set of Asa Di Vaar records remain one of the best selling after more than 50 years. Bhai Surjan Singh Ji was born in the village of Naushera near Tarn Taran in 1911. He was visually disabled, but it is unclear if he was born without sight or he lost it due to an illness. However, he did not allow this to limit his achievements in any way. As we commonly hear, when we lose one sense, our body has ways of heightening other senses and skills. Bhai Surjan Singh Ji was blessed with a very melodious voice and an amazing memory.

As a young boy, he used to be awed by one Raagi by the name of Takhat Singh (Khadak Singh) from Tarn Taran. He used to travel to Tarn Taran often just to listen to Bhai Takhat Singh Ji with the hopes of singing like him constantly playing on his mind. He went on to learn music at the Central Khalsa Orphanage in Amritsar under the guidance of renowned master of Gurmat Sangeet, Bhai Sain Ditta Ji who also taught Kirtan to Bhai Santa Singh Ji and Prof. Darshan Singh Ji Komal. When Bhai Santa Singh Ji formed his jatha initially, Bhai Surjan Singh Ji used to accompany him on the side harmonium. However, when Bhai Santa Singh Ji’s brothers completed their training and joined him, Bhai Surjan Singh Ji formed his own jatha.

Although Bhai Surjan Singh Ji had been formally trained in the Gurmat Sangeet tradition, he developed his own style which was somewhat more simple and this style resonated to the general public who did not have much knowledge regarding Gurmat Sangeet. When asked by one of his close friends, Prof. S.S. Amol “How is it that you have this power in your Kirtan that allows you to grip the attention of the listener?”, Bhai Sahib answered “Honestly speaking, I used to perform Kirtan in Tarn Taran and at that time I listened to many great Raagis and people also listened to me. Everyone used to compliment me but deep down I was not feeling satisfied with myself. One morning at around 1 a.m., I sat in front of the door of the Darbar Sahib and cried for half an hour. After doing so, I bowed my head and did an Ardas requesting Guru Arjan Dev Ji to bless me with the ability to perform Kirtan in a way that would please Him. I have no idea what happened next, but that morning when I performed Kirtan, there was a whole different vibration to it.”

One of the members of his jatha was Bhai Arjan Singh Ji Matharu who accompanied him on the side harmonium and another was Bhai Prem Singh Ji who provided tabla accompaniment. This was the jatha that got recorded in the Asa Di Vaar album. According to Bhai Arjan Singh Ji, this album was recorded in two sessions. There were many other albums of Bhai Surjan Singh Ji as well that were released by various recording companies such as ‘His Master’s Voice’ and ‘The Twin’. Some other notable members of his jatha at various points in time include Bhai Kalyan Singh Ji, Bhai Vishan Shah Ji and Bhai Asra Singh Ji Sindhi.

Aside from being an amazing Raagi, Bhai Surjan Singh Ji also led a very saintly lifestyle. His mind was always attached to ‘Naam Simran’. Coming back to his astonishing memory, he was able to recite Akal Ustat and Bachitar Natak by heart. It is said that he would wake up every morning at 2 a.m. to perform his daily Nitnem. He would then go on to recite the Shabads that he had memorised in a loud voice so that it would be deeply embedded in his mind.

Bhai Surjan Singh Ji settled in Delhi following the division of Punjab. One day in 1965, he traveled to Jalandhar to perform Kirtan at the residence of Sardar Dilbagh Singh and he passed away there leaving behind three daughters and one son, Sardar Avtar Singh who works in a bank in Delhi. The information above was obtained from the book ‘Punjab De Parsidh Raagi Rababi’ written by Sardar Balbir Singh Kanwal. If anyone has more recordings of Bhai Surjan Singh Ji, please contact us.