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Tajvinder Singh - A Rising Star.
At the young age of 22, not only is Tajvinder Singh the youngest Sikh to become an official Hazoori Ragi of Sri Darbar Sahib – a title to which thousands aspire but few attain – but also the only American-born Sikh to do so. While Sikhs leave their houses, families, and the fertile land of the five rivers behind and head to the US with a seed of hope in their hands and a desire for the American Dream, Tajvinder Singh followed his heart back to the holy land of Amritsar – a land on which the Gurus built the foundation of Sikhism – stone by stone, brick by brick. Leaving the Taco Bells and Pizza Huts of the American West for the dhabas of Amritsar and replacing the Nike hoodies and South Pole jeans for the simple, white kurta pajama, he has never felt closer to home. “I can’t even begin to express in words the feeling I have living at the door of Darbar Sahib,” he says. “My mind feels comforted here and I feel the presence of the Guru, and I think to myself how blessed I am to be walking the same roads that the Gurus walked hundreds of years ago. This truly is Guru di dharti (The Land of the Gurus) and this is the dhar (door) that I do kirtan on. When I enter the Golden Temple and then leave, I feel like I’m a totally different person. And everyday is a new feeling. I guess I can describe it as “Sahib Mera Neet Nava” (My Lord and Master is forever new). I feel He’s closer to me than even my own hands and feet.” THE BEGINNING OF A DREAM It was Tajvinder Singh’s first visit to Harimandir Sahib that instilled within him a passion for kirtan and reaffirmed his faith and love for his Guru. He says on his website: “It was always my dream to become a Darbar Sahib ragi from childhood. When I was 8, I went to Darbar Sahib and sat behind the Hazoori Ragi while they did Keertan. Ever since that day, I had made up my mind that this is where I want to live and Keertan is what I want to do.” The very next year, his mother brought home a harmonium and tabla from her visit to India and taught him his very first shabad – Saadho Gobind Ke Gun Gaavo. (Holy Saadhus: Sing the glorious praises of the Lord of the universe). And since then, he has been doing just that. With the guidance of cassettes and albums of various Ragi Jathas, the encouragement and support of his family, and his own passion for kirtan, Tajvinder Singh began the slow but steady path to excellence. Kirtan became a way of life rather than a mere hobby. Performing at local weekly Children’s Programs became the motivation to master the next big shabad sung by the most popular Ragi Jatha of the time. Practicing and perfecting taals and ragas became priority for the annual Sikh Children’s Day state-wide competition. And he never failed to astound the judges and sangat with his kirtan and tabla. As a student in the midst of 21-23 unit semesters at California State University, Sacramento, Tajvinder always found time to routinely visit the local gurdwaras and mingle with the sewadars and ragis. His steadfast commitment and respect for kirtan and for those who perform it only deepened his desire. MODESTLY RISING From the humble beginnings of drumming on overturned pots at the age of four, Tajvinder Singh has come a long way. Conversations with him are now interrupted by phone calls from sangat and fans all over India requesting him to perform a particular shabad that tugs at the strings of their souls. Many of his hours are spent at the recording studio in Amritsar where he and his kirtan colleagues perfect each and every note for the upcoming release of their first album “Babal Mera Vadh Samratha”. Between the days of his scheduled kirtan duties at Darbar Sahib and the days at the studio, he travels all over Punjab and as far as Jaipur, accepting kirtan invitations from Sikhs that share the same love and respect for Harimandir Sahib as he does. But even with his newfound rising fame and popularity, you will find him more often than not, in the underground level modestly polishing and cleaning the dust off the shoes of the more than 50,000 devotees who come to the Golden Temple daily to receive the blessings of Guru Ram Dass Ji. “I surrender all my hopes and desires and problems to Him and I have never failed. Interacting with the loving sangat here and doing seva and kirtan lets me sacrifice my mind to my Guru and accept His Hukam (Will).” Rather than actively seeking national recognition or international acclaim, he lives his life simply desiring to become a star in the eyes of his Guru. “Everything else,” he says “will take care of itself.” “Aapas ko jo janey neecha, sou ganiye sabh te oocha” (One who sees himself as lowly shall be accounted as the highest of all). Listen to Bhai Tajvinder Singh Ji live on sgpc.net during his scheduled kirtan duties. He also has a website at bhaitajvindersingh.com where you learn more about him, as well as listen to and download his kirtan tracks. All translations above are from srigranth.org. By Felicia K. Jodhka March 27, 2008 Note: Comments do not represent the views of SikhNet. Comments containing profanity, provocation or slandar will be removed by the moderators.
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