Gurinder Harnam Singh is a renowned Indian vocalist who was born into a family that considers music to be a bhakti, a devotional worship. She has been performing across India, and gave many memorable concerts internationally.
She came to Cairo with her group, as part of the 8th International Samaa Festival for Religious Chanting and Sufi Music, which took place in Cairo between 20-27 September.
Ahram Online (AO): These days Indian music is becoming popular in Egypt, but mostly it reaches the people through Bollywood. How do you position Indian classical and devotional music with this?
Gurinder Harnam Singh (GHS): I love Bollywood music, too. I like good songs from movies as well as classical, Sufi, Bhakti, and Gurbani sangeet. I love music in all forms. But what I can sing and what I can render is a totally different story.
AO: So what did you select from your vast repertoire for performances in Egypt?
GHS: As we were invited to a Samaa Festival, we decided to sing traditional compositions by the Sufi saint Hazrat Ameer Khusro. It is a Muslim-related repertoire. There were some Sufi Punjabi language songs also.
AO: You also sing Bhakti songs, which is devotional music of Hindu origin. What are the differences and similarities between Bhakti and Sufi music?
GHS: In Bhakti tradition you sing songs of a particular deity. Like when Meera [16th century Indian poet, princess and saint] wrote, she connected with Lord Krishna. There will be people who are connecting with Lord Shiva.
Sufi poetry, as you know, is talking about the mundane life, but through it you are connecting with the Lord. People who are not in the Sufi mood would probably use it to address a beloved person. In Sufism your beloved is your Lord. It is about understanding your relationship with God through the metaphor of romantic love. In Sikh tradition, when you sing Nirgun (formless), it does not refer to any one deity. It is a mood which you can connect to any Lord, you won’t be mentioning any name, but it is relevant to whichever Lord you believe in.
AO: You perform Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim spiritual music with equal inspiration. So, for you, are there no religious borders?
GHS: I come from a Sikh family. I embrace and respect all beliefs, though I have my own belief, and I love singing songs of Allah. I feel that Sikhism is close to Islam. We read the Guru Granth Sahib [the central religious text of Sikh religion] like the Muslims read the Qur’an, and we believe in just one Lord. We don’t do idol worshiping, and we cover our heads also. Now in the modern world we might not cover our head on a daily basis, but when we enter our shrine called Gurudwara, it is a must. In Punjab, where the traditions are still stronger than in the big cities, women cover their head throughout the day, just like Muslim women do. Somehow I feel very connected with the Muslim culture. When I was singing some of the calls and naat shareef [poetry in the praise of prophet Muhammad, in Arabic it is called Madih], my uncle told me “Though you are a Sikh, I think you are half Muslim as well!”
AO: The eight-member group that you brought to Egypt includes your female students. Is it usual for a lady to sing spiritual music in your tradition?
GHS: In Sikh music we have ladies that sing spiritual music, but mostly they don't get to perform on the central platform in the Kirtan [religious chanting]. It is predominantly the men's domain. Usually three men would sit and sing there. I think I was the lucky one, I must have had some blessing from the Lord. I was performing on the central stage a lot for many years on various religious occasions. I also was the only female singer to perform Kirtan at the spiritual durbar at Anandpur Sahib during the 300 years of Khalsa celebration. Recently, I've noticed that instead of getting more liberal in this matter, they're getting a little conservative... But women do sing Gurbani sangeet.
AO: Music helps overcome differences between religions and cultures, indeed. What are your impressions of the 8th International Samaa festival for Religious Chanting and Sufi Music?
GHS: I think it is only through art and music that the world can unite, and festivals like this should be many more around the world. I am thankful to Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations for inviting me here. I feel really honored and my group also is very happy to have participated in this festival. Whatever I say will fall short of what I feel about it. If we came for an individual concert here and there, that would be different. But interacting with so many people from different countries, becoming aware of a vast, rich world culture in religious chanting was a huge, beautiful, invigorating experience. All these people coming from Greece, Algeria, Georgia, Zambia, and various other countries with their groups and share the same purity, love, and warmth. Everytime we met, we hugged each other! I did not understand the lyrics that they sang, and they did not understand mine, but the rhythm and the notes united us. There was so much positive energy. I feel this is one of the most wonderful things that has happened, that now we are connecting, spiritually also, and we are spreading love.
AO: How did the Egyptian audience receive you?
GHS: People of Egypt are amazing. They are so affectionate. And they do know something about India. When I came out on the street wearing my national clothes, they would shout: “India! Amitabh Bachchan! Shah Rukh Khan! Kareena Kapoor!” When we performed for the audience at Al-Ghouri Complex in Cairo, people came after the show and met me, some of them had tears in their eyes. They were telling me that they were very moved with the music that we sang and felt very emotional about it. Some of them gave me chocolates to express their feelings! One lady said - “I really loved what you sang, I didn't understand a word, but here is my number, I don't want anything from you, but let me take you around Egypt and show you...” Her name is Hamida. But to roam around I'd have to come again. We haven't had the time.
AO: So would you come to Egypt again?
GHS: I would love to. The way people pray here, the way they are dedicated to Allah, and how they chant His name... Even if I don't understand the language, the music itself takes me to another level. I have to drink from the Nile before I leave to make sure I’m coming back.
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