Balbir Singh

Balbir Singh (23 March 1933 – 23 February 2020) was a Sikh Hazuri Ragi who sang and performed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar for 36 years. He was one of the last masters of traditional Sikh gurbani kirtan of the Golden Temple (kirtan parampara).

Biography

Early life and education Balbir Singh was born in his maternal village of Mrigindpura (located near Bhikhiwind), in 1933 to parents Santa Singh and Prasan Kaur. It is claimed that he had 3,000 shabads memorized and could perform over 200 raags.

After his retirement, he continued to perform throughout India and recorded almost 30 albums. Balbir Singh released a multivolume of shabads titled Guldasta of the performance of all the raags found within the Guru Granth Sahib. In-response, the Akal Takht issued a ban against Balbir Singh performing gurbani kirtan and issued a formal punishment against him.

Death Balbir Singh died on 23 February 2020 due to a long-term illness. The Shiromani Ragi Sabha mourned his death. Balbir Singh's remains were cremated at a crematorium located near Shaheed Ganj Baba Deep Singh.

Awards

Shiromani Ragi Award (1983) from the Akal Takht Kendriya Singh Sabha (1987) Chief Khalsa Diwan (1991) Vismaad Naad Ludhiana (1991) Sant Sujan Singh (1994) Bhai Mardana Yadgari Award (1995) President of India Hon’ble Shri K. R. Narayanan (1996) Sardar Prakash Singh Badal, and Bhai Batan Singh Memorial Award (1997) Gurmat Sangeet award by Jawaddi Taksal, at Gurdwara Gur Gian Parkash, Ludhiana (1999) Punjab Languages Department (2001) from the Honorable Chief Minister of Punjab Sant Sarwan Singh Gandharva Award (2001) S.G.P.C., Amritsar (2004) Bhai Mardana Gurmat Sangeet Vidyalaya and Missionary Society, Midland, UK (2006) Bhai Dilbagh Singh Kirtaniya Samrat Award as well as Bhai Nand Lal Goya Sanman by Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (2010) National Sangeet Natak Academy Award (2012), being the first ragi from the Harmandir Sahib tradition to be honored with this award