Bhai Avtar Singh Raagi is no more

Legendary Bhai Avtar Singh Ragi (81), who brought the Taoos – a bow  and string instrument invented under the patronage of sixth Sikh master Guru Hargobind, its playing modes as well the craft to make it to the 21 st century -- passed away at his residence in Delhi late Friday night. He was diagnosed with Lukemia around three months back. His commitment to perpetuate the tradition of kirtan with this instrument of the Guru period rejuvenated the instrument and now the next generation in his family and some young amateur dabblers in kirtan, especially in Canada, have been drawn to it and are practicing it. His forefathers started kirtan at the time of Guru Arjan Dev and it has been the commitment of generations down the line to preserve and practice the original style of kirtan and he till his passing away never drifted from this commitment or compromised. "He along with his brother, Bhai Gurcharan Singh Ragi, brought the gurus' Gun-naad modes to the 21st century," says his grand nephew and student Bhai Baldeep Singh. It was after 70 years that in the third week of October last year that musical waves from Taoos wafted through the air in Darbar Sahib Amritsar when on one fine morning he performed kirtan in the sanctum sanctorum.

For imbibing the heritage of 15/16th century in its true style  and spirit of the religious music his son Kultar Singh, a trained mechanical engineer - rather a gold medalist in his engineering degree, had been accompanying his father after taking - self imposed - long leave from his business. Bhai Kultar Singh has taken upon himself the responsibility of translating and transliterating into English/Roman the script and notations of the two volumes of the book authored by his father "Prachin Reet  Ratnawali" – a Punjabi University Patiala publication which have centuries old Reets (compositions) of Shabads and they also prepared MP3 CDs along with these for the benefit of generations to come. Bhai Avtar Singh performed kirtan in ragas as prescribed in Guru Granth Sahib and in taals like  Dhamaar, Adha Chotala, Chaar Taal, Panj Taal ki Aswaari, Soolfaat, rarity for most of other ragis.