A poet laureate descended from Guru Gobind Singh crafts ethereal songs

Famous mystic singer and composer Shivpreet Singh, who is residing in California and is the tenth descendent of Bhai Nandlal Goya, the poet laureate of Guru Gobind Singh, enthralled the Capital’s audience on Tuesday at Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan with his heartfelt performance of devotional songs.

On this day, the Nanakshahi calendar’s celebration of the new year was observed.

Gursharan Kaur, the wife of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, was the major guest of the event. She opened a unique exhibition titled “From Rabab to Nagara: Tracing the origin and development of Sikhism from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh.”

Bhai Vir Singh Sadan is led by Manmohan Singh as its president.

The celebration today marked the start of the Sikh New Year, which falls on March 14 in accordance with the Nanakshahi calendar.

Former MPs Tarlochan Singh and HS Hanspal, former ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, non-executive chairman of Punjab and Sind Bank Charan Singh, chairperson of the Punjabi Sahit Sabha Renuka Singh, president of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Vidya Kender Harcharan Singh Nag, and Jyoti Bhalla, wife of Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, were among the distinguished guests at the recital.

Initiating the celebration of the Nanakshahi Calendar’s New Year, Shivpreet Singh captivated the audience with his performance. He captivated the audience with Shabad in a variety of ragas, including Dhanasari, Tukhari, Suhi, and Basant.

The setting and event’s importance were explained by Mohinder Singh, Director of Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, who said, “This is a research center established in the memory of Bhai Vir, who was a great saint poet of Punjab.” The Sadan has developed into a preeminent organization in the nation’s capital for promoting Punjabi language, literature, and culture under President Manmohan Singh’s leadership. Our goal is to engage the younger generation in line with the Guru’s teachings of promoting devotion without the need for financial exchanges.

Shivpreet is now in India for the Global Spiritual Mahotsav, which President Droupadi Murmu opened on March 14 in Hyderabad. He will also give a talk to young people who are involved in promoting kirtan, or devotional music based on the ragas and ancient instruments utilized by the Sikh Gurus.