Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa (12 April 1952 – 2 April 2020) was a Sikh Hazoori Ragi of Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab, India.
Bhai & Panth Ratan Nirmal Singh Khalsa Hazoori Ragi Darbar Sahib | |
|---|---|
 Singh Khalsa in September 2011 | |
| Born | 12 April 1952 |
| Died | 2 April 2020 (aged 67) |
| Resting place | Fatehgarh Shukarchak |
| Alma mater | Shaheed Missionary College |
| Occupations | |
| Title | Hazoori Ragi |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Padma Shri (2009) |
| Website | Padma Shri Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa |
Early life and career edit
Bhai Nirmal Singh was born on 12 April 1952 at Jandwala Bhimeshah in Fazilka, Punjab.[1] In 1976, he graduated with a Diploma in Gurmat Sangeet from Shaheed Missionary College, Amritsar. In 1977–78, he served as a music teacher at Gurmat College in Rishikesh and later taught at Shaheed Sikh Missionary College in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. From 1979, he started serving as a Hazoori Ragi at Darbar Sahib. He had performed Kirtan at all five Takhts, various historical Gurdwaras across South Asia and throughout 71 countries. Bhai Sahib was a highly regarded ragi with knowledge of all 31 Raags of Guru Granth Sahib.
For services in the field of arts, Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa was awarded the Padma Shri,[2] fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India in 2009.[3] He was the first Hazoori Ragi to receive this award.
Death edit
On 2 April 2020, Nirmal Singh Khalsa died due to cardiac arrest after testing positive for Coronavirus disease 2019, at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar.[4] His body was cremated at village Fatehgarh Shukarchak in Amritsar.
References edit
- ^ Tur, Jatinder Kaur. "COVID-19: A Padma Shri awardee from the Mazhabi Sikh community was denied cremation spaces in Punjab". The Caravan. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ http://india.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=14, "Padma Awards at the Govt of India Portal".
- ^ "Bhai Nirmal Singh gets Padma Shree". The Tribune. India. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Former Hazoori Ragi Nirmal Singh Khalsa dead due to COVID-19 The Tribune. Retrieved 2 April 2020.