Ustaad Jaswant Singh Bhanwra is a name perhaps known to many in the arena of Sangeet for his role as a music director, a singer and a teacher. But Ustaad Ji has some personal relevance to me as he sits in my extended family tree.
Ustaad Ji is a cousin of my Paternal Grandfather, Giani Pritam Singh Rahi, the son of a sister of my Great Grandfather. Ustaad Ji taught many individuals during his lifetime, one of which is Principal Sukhwant Singh Ji who has & is currently touring in the U.K.
Yesterday evening at the Khalsa Jatha, I was able to pose some questions to Principal Ji on the life of Ustaad Ji which I shall no doubt disclose upon further research. The Father of Ustaad Ji was a Giani, as was a brother of who served in the Army, a story for another day.
My interest in History really started developing during my university days when questions started hovering upon my head and upon reading upon the acts of past generations, I did not think that there would be such gems who occupied the position before me, I guess I was wrong.
Picture 3 (Giani Pritam Singh Rahi, Bhai Amrik Singh (Dilruba), Bhai Shamsher Singh Zakhmi, Bhai Dharam Singh Zakhmi & Bhai Hariqbal Singh Ji Bali (Tabla) - The first teacher who taught my Father Tabla. c. 1968
And so, from a young age myself and my siblings were pushed towards music and post Panjabi School & Guru Ka Langar, we would spend the afternoon learning & reciting Gurbani at the Ramgharia Gurdwara in Birmingham.
Now that I have passed the stage of adolescence, I now perhaps see things in a very different light, a light of the imagination that shines bright but also of the heart. And the power of Kirtan is that bright light stimulus that changes life in an instant…
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