PATIALA: When she recites shabads in a
gurdwara, the mellifluous magic of this American citizen, a
researcher at Punjabi University’s Department of Gurmat Sangeet,
leaves the devotees spellbound. After wrapping up her recital of
shabads written by her, Canadaborn Jan Protopagas, clad in a Punjabi
suit with head covered, greets this correspondent with a
genial “Sat Sri Akal”.
Jan, who claims to be in love with India, its
musical heritage and the Sikh culture, says her soul belongs to
India, and it’s only her skin that is of a foreigner. “I came to
India some 20 years ago as a student and went to Varanasi, where my
life changed completely. I was fascinated by the historical
consciousness of the country,” says Jan, who lost her right hand
thumb in an accident during here stay in Varanasi.
“I returned to America after treatment and was
soon back to start research in Sanskrit and Shastriya Sangeet from
my guru Mangla Tiwari, who is a teacher at Basant Women’s College,
Varanasi,” says Jan, who is proficient in Hindi and Sanskrit.
A multifarious personality, she recently
completed work on an album containing various forms of Indian music
ranging from qawwalis, bhajans and Buddhist music, besides
translating Chidgagana Chandrika from Sanskrit to English. So high
was her fascination for Indian music that she used her saving from
the job of an English teacher in America to be in India.
“I met my husband in Varanasi. He is a musician
and hails from South Africa. My daughter is studying in Mussoorie,
while my husband and son live in America,” says 45-year-old music
scholar, who visits them regularly. A couple of years back, Jan
moved to Punjab for her research in Sikh music and this is when she
took a shine to Gurbani. “I came to Punjabi University to pursue my
PHD, but here I found that Sikhism has lot more to give than just
its teaching,” she says.
Read Also