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Amritsar Sahib (KP) - This past week as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Avtar Makkar inaugurated the annual Gurmat Sangeet Competition at the Punjabi University in Patiala, he appealed to Sikh musicians worldwide to take an active role in propagating the standards of Gurmat Sangeet as inscribed by the Sikh Gurus. This appeal was made as bani of Guru Granth Sahib is recorded in different raags and taals but a vast majority of kirtanis take no interest in doing kirtan according to the proscribed raag.
Not very long ago, the SGPC passed fresh measures to ensure that Gurmat Sangeet does not become extinct when it made a formal announcement to ragis using stringed instruments to perform kirtan at Sri Harmandir Sahib. Furthermore, over the past year, the SGPC has also hired a number of interns to play stringed instruments such as saranda, dilruba and tanpura along with Ragi Jathas who do not have skilled string instrument players.
Avtar Makkar held that the SGPC has not fully succeeded in reinvigorating Gurmat Sangeet within the Sikh Sangat as it once used to be. The influence of Bollywood remains a major concern since it has changed the taste of music within the Sikh masses. Avtar Makkar appealed to the Ragi Jathas to provide their support in this venture by adhering to Gurmat Sangeet principles while performing and rehearsing kirtan.
A plan to adopt Gurmat Sangeet as a separate course in different educational institutions was also announced by the SGPC President. A grant of Rs.1.1 Million for the Punjabi University Gurmat Sangeet department was also announced, along with Rs.100,000 each for the participants.
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