About Us

We are committed to revive, restore and preserve our Sikh Panth’s treasure trove of shabad-kirtan. We digitally re-master old recordings of yester-year ragis and kathavachaks, and also strive to bring current emerging voices to the forefront.

Our inspiration, S. Amir Singh ji of

Singapore

or Vade Bhapaji, as he is known to us, started recording kirtans at the local Gurudwara Sahib as a hobby in the 1960s.

Singapore

had a small, close-knit Sikh community and usually, members of the sangat did kirtan and seva in the Gurudwara Sahib themselves. So, when any ragi jatha came down Vade Bhapaji would record their kirtan. Inevitably, people would ask for copies. The word spread and, soon enough Vade Bhapaji was sending tapes all over the world – from

Iran

and

India

England

and North America. His ‘office’ was open 24/7 to accommodate all time zones.

Vade Bhapaji’s extensive collection includes recordings of Late Bhai Gopal Singh ji, Bhai Rajinder Singh ji and Sant Sujan Singh ji, and katha-vichar of the Moolmantra and Kundalani by Sant Maskin ji among others. In addition to jewels like Kabirj ji and Baba Farid ji’s saloks, the collection includes a comprehensive commentary on the Ardaas by Professor Pishaura Singh, a step by step explanation of the Laavans and the description of the entire ceremony, and translations of Japji Sahib, all in English. Vade Bhapaji was one of the first few who foresaw the growing influence of the English language on the new generation. His vast collection of live recordings spans over three decades; a treasure of kirtan, katha, commentary and translations, it has enriched and inspired an entire generation of Sikhs.

Now in his 90s Vade Bhapaji has passed on the onus of his great seva to his niece, S. Jasvinder Kaur and her husband, S. Inderpal Singh Bajaj. Based in Toronto,

Canada

, our team (which comprises mainly family) is dedicated to continuing Vade Bhapaji’s seva. Kirat aspires to re-master and restore these tapes and spools by digitally improving their sound quality and transferring the recordings on to Cds. In this small way we hope to preserve and protect our Sikh Panth’s wealth of kirtan and katha. In addition to re-mastering old tapes, we also record current ragi jathas.

Vade Bhapaji started this endeavour as a hobby; his hobby grew into a seva and is now a legacy. It is our effort to make this legacy a part of every Sikh household.

If you have kirtan, katha, vichar, Punjabi poetry, tapes or spools, or any such recorded material that would prove valuable to the Sikh Panth we will re-master it free of cost. Please email us at info@kirat.ca