Former Hazoori Ragi Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa exposes denigrating selection process of Raagis in SGPC

AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—Former Hazoori Ragi of sanctum sanctorum Sri Darbar Sahib Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa has exposed the denigrating selection criteria of Raagis for employment in SGPC. Notably, the Supreme Sikh body SGPC governs the historical Gurdwaras across Punjab.

In an interview posted on social media, Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa said that the SGPC has appointed a sub-committee to select Raagis to perform Kirtan in historical Gurdwaras of Punjab but unfortunately the sub-committee is forced to work under political pressure. He has said that whenever the sub-committee members start process of scrutinizing the eligible candidates to perform Kirtan in sacred Sikh shrines, the SGPC members start calling to recommend their known candidates. He further said that the poly-lateral recommendations often create factions within the sub-committee resulting in selection of candidates who don’t adhere to the parameters of Gurmat Sangeet.

Pained over the effect of politics over Kirtan, Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa said that only 2% of the total Raagis in SGPC adhere to the parameters of Gurmat Sangeet.

He said that once he used to be a member of sub-committee of SGPC for selection of Raagis but now he has resigned from the membership of sub-committee due to internal politics.

The interview was conducted by ABP Sanjha.

“While at one time, there was an official selection process, it is no longer in use within the SGPC.  While the selection committee is given instructions from the SGPC to ensure that only students of Gurmat Sangeet are selected, however, at times, there are threats to the members of the selection committee when they oppose selection of certain candidates based on their merits,” Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa states in his interview.

 

Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa shares one incident when he was accompanied to Darbar Sahib by renowned musician Ustad Gulam Ali Khan.  As both were at Darbar Sahib one day, Ustad Gulam Ali Khan told Bhai Nirmal Singh that at one time, Sri Darbar Sahib was renowned as a center of music, not just by the Sikhs, but by others as well.  However, now, as claimed by Ustad Gulam Ali Khan, untrained people are employed by the SGPC to do kirtan at Darbar Sahib.

“When sometimes we refuse to give clearance to certain candidates, they often go directly to the SGPC without even going through a selection criteria,” Bhai Nirmal Singh states.

In relation to anti-Gurmat life style of Ragi Singhs, Bhai Nirmal Singh states that such issues often catch fire and become big within our community.  “We have forgotten our main issues and are focusing on small things.  “I don’t care about what one eats, what I do feel is that we should not make issues of such things on Youtube.  If there is any issue with a specific kirtani, we need to talk to them, rather than exposing them online,” he adds.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Just Reunite Punjab ,Haryana and Himachal to get over this simple problem created by past politicians.
    Live thereafter happily together as brothers and one big family.

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