The information below regarding Bhai Beant Singh Bijli was obtained from the back cover of the 6 CD box set released by the Guru Angad Institute of Sikh Studies.
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli was born on January 2nd, 1930 in the Jalandhar District of Punjab and lived in the town of Phillaur. He started learning Kirtan at the age of 5 years and started achieving recognition right from the age of 12. At the age of 16, he won the Basant Raag Sammelan held in Patiala. He learnt music from various teachers, both professional and amateur. He cared for the art that any teacher had to offer versus the social stature or religion of the teacher. One of his vocal teachers was the great Prof. Darshan Singh Komal of Hoshiarpur and Gurbaksh Singh of Ludhiana. He also learnt from teachers by becoming an apprentice with teachers who were in various professions for the love of learning what those individuals had to share.
Bhai Beant Singh Ji earned the introduction of ‘Bijli’ (meaning Lightning) as he could modulate his voice to a very high pitch. Prof. Darshan Singh Komal once sitting behind him was so impressed with the performance of Bhai Beant Singh Ji, that he said in a matter of fact way, “Please lower your pitch. If you don’t control it, I am afraid your notes may not bring down the stars.” Bhai Beant Singh Ji at the passing away of one of his teachers, promptly created a Raag while singing a composition in honour of his teacher, as a variation of Raag Malkauns, and called it Komalkauns.
Bhai Beant Singh Ji’s contemporaries include Bhai Avtar Singh and Gurcharan Singh. Bhai Avtar Singh Ji was a close friend from childhood of Bhai Beant Singh Ji. Other contemporaries include Bhai Dharam Singh Zakhmi and several other renowned Kirtanias. Bhai Sahib was the ‘Head Sevadar’ of the historic Muktsar Gurdwara. Before the partition of India, tabla accompaniment to Bhai Sahib was given by Iqbal, one of the greatest tabla players who went on to train great masters like Tariq Khan and others. Bhai Sahib also had his brother who accompanied him on the ‘dilruba’ and Bhai Sahib himself used to play it before harmoniums came in vogue. Then Bhai Sahib moved to Kenya where he was the ‘Head Granthi’ of all the Gurdwaras from 1968 to 1982. He was awarded a gold medal and often came on the local TV in Kenya in his years there.
After a successful career as the ‘Head Granthi’, Bhai Sahib went into semi-retirement and started to spend his time between his hometown in Phillaur, India and in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) visiting his sons and daughters with his wife. It was in the year 2001 to 2007 when Bhai Sahib Ji was living in Gaithersburg, Maryland with his son, Dr. Gur Jai Pal Singh that he was requested by some members of the local Sikh community in Northern Virginia’s Dulles Corridor to start doing Kirtan again to bless the local Sangat with rich and divine Raag based Shabad Kirtan compositions that he knew so well. Bhai Sahib along with his son and grandson, Bavan Pal Singh who is an upcoming tabla player began to do Kirtan in the local Gurdwaras on special request.
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli took his last breath and passed away peacefully on 20th August 2019. If anyone has more recordings of Bhai Beant Singh Bijli to share, please contact us.
The first batch of recordings were kindly contributed by Sardar Didar Singh Chana and family. Please ‘right click’ and ‘save link as’ to download audio files. Enjoy!
Asa Ki Vaar in Kampala, Uganda in 1968. These recordings feature Bhai Ajit Singh Mutlashi on tabla.
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Asa Ki Vaar 01
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Ji MIlo Maire Maee – Asa (Ektaal)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Asa Ki Vaar 02
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 04 Vada Apaar Tera Martaba – Bhairo (Rupak)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 05 Asa Ki Vaar 03
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 06 Har So Heera Chaad Ke – Lalit (Teentaal)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 07 Asa Ki Vaar 04
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 08 Mohan Ghar Awoh – Basant (Teentaal)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 09 Asa Ki Vaar 05
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 10 Rain Gayi Mat Din Bhi Jaye – Pahari (Dadra)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 11 Asa Ki Vaar 06
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 12 Raj May Raja Jog May Jogi – Asawari (Teentaal)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 13 Asa Ki Vaar 07
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 14 Asa Ki Vaar 08
Below are a few more Shabads from an evening Kirtan program in Uganda in 1968 with Bhai Ajit Singh Mutlashi accompanying on tabla.
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Mangla Charan (Malkauns – Chartaal)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Ab Mohe Ram Apna Kar (Malkauns – Teentaal)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Mangna Maangan Neeka (Pahari)
Kirtan in Toronto in June 1982
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Kuchal Kathor Kapat Kami (Pancham – Japtaal)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Maan Karo Tudh Upere (Pahari – Karhwa) & Kavata
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Tu Mere Praan Adhare (Multani – Tintaal) & Balhari Kudrat Vasia
The two Shabads below were recorded in Toronto by late Sardar Kuldip Singh Plaha.
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Jini Mainda Laal Rijaeia
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Maan Karo Tudh Upre (with Vichaar)
The following recordings are from a ‘Rain Sabai’ held in London on 28th August 1977. Accompanying him are Bhai Pargat Singh Matharu and Bhai Sital Singh Sitara with Bhai Avtar Singh on tabla. These were kindly contributed by Sardar Tarlochen Singh Mohr from Coalport, Shropshire, UK.
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Guru Ramdas Rakho Sarnaee (Raag Komalkauns)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Oh Bela Kou Houn Bal Jao (Raag Bhatiyar)
The following recordings were kindly contributed by Bhai Beant Singh Ji’s grandson, Veer Bavan Pal Singh.
Kirtan in Hazoor Sahib in 1976.
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Beet Jahai Beet Jahai
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Kaha Gaafal Soyaa
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Gun Gobind Gaayo
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 04 Bhooleo Man Maya Urjhaeyo
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 05 Tegh Bahadur Simriye & Anand Sahib
Kirtan in 1982 with Bhai Ajit Singh Mutlashi accompanying on tabla.
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Teentaal Tabla Solo (by Bhai Ajit Singh Mutlashi)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Gun Naad (Puriya Kalyan – Dhrupad)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Kaun Jaane Gun Tere (Sriraag)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 04 Maangna Maangan Neeka (Incomplete)
The recordings below are from a program in the United Kingdom from the 1970s. These were kindly contributed by Bhai Harbans Singh Suraj.
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Satgur Aayo Saran Tuhare
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Bahe Jinha Di (Dharmak Kavta)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Sewak Ki Ardas & Dharmak Kavtas
The following recordings were kindly contributed by Sardar Nachatar Singh Sahota.
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – Amrit Vele Boleya (Ramkali)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – Assen Khatey Bahut Kamandey Ant Na Paravar
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – Bhagat Bashall Sun Hot Ho Niras Ridhey (Madhuvanti)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – Choji Mere Gobinda (Lalit)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – Kirpa Karo Deen Ke Datey (Inc.)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – Nanak Bijlian Chamkan (Malhar)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – So Kyon Bisrey Meri Maye
The next few Shabads were kindly contributed by Sahib Singh Bakshi from New York. Please subscribe to his YouTube channel ‘Sahib Singh Bakshi’ for more treasures. The recordings below also feature Bhai Ajit Singh Mutlashi Ji accompanying on tabla.
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – Gun Naad Dhun Anand Beid (Dhrupad)
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – Jio Bhave Tyo Mohe Prathpal
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – Mere Lal Jio Tera Ant Na Jana
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – Pritam Ke Des Kaise
The recordings below are from a set of 6 CDs released by the Guru Angad Institute of Sikh Studies. Other artists that performed in these recordings include Ustad Bhai Rajinderpal Singh ‘Jindi’ (tabla), Ustad Iqbal Hussain (violin), Bavan Pal Singh (tabla), Dr. Gur Jai Pal Singh (vocal), Manmeet Singh (sarangi) and Sher Singh (vocal).
Vol. 1
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Aao Ji Tu Aao Hamare
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Oha Prem Piri
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Sajan Des Videsiade
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 04 Maee Mere Man Ki Preet
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 05 Mohan Khar Avo Karo
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 06 Aye Mil Gursikh Aye Mil
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 07 He Rav He Sas
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 08 Mehma Sadhu Sang Ki
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 09 Mitar Pyare Nu Haal
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 10 Shyaam Sunder Taj Needh Kio
Vol. 2
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Mero Sundar Kaho Milai
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Ab Koa Raam Kavan Gat
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Har Ke Charan Kamal Man
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 04 Hamari Pyari Amrit Dhari
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 05 Beet Jaihai Beet Jaihai Janam
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 06 Sureh Ki Jaisi Teri Chaal
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 07 Jap Gobind Gopaal Lal
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 08 Jaag Leho Re Mna Jaag Leho
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 09 Meharvaan Sahib Meharvaan
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 10 Tuj Oopar Mera Hai Maan
Vol. 3
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Prabh Ju Toh Kai
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Kuchal Kadhor Kapat Kaami
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Mu Lalan Sio Preet Bani
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 04 Prem Patola Teh Seh Dita
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 05 Houn Vaar Vaar Jao Gur Gopaal
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 06 Mori Run Chun Laeya Bhaine
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 07 Dekho Bhaee Gyaan Ki Ayee
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 08 Kavan Gun Pranpat Milo
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 09 Praan Ke Bachaeea Dhoodh
Vol. 4
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Barsai Megh Sakhi Khar
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Rang Rata Mera Sahib Rav
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Thakur Tum Sharnaee Ayea
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 04 Gur Poorai Meri Raakh Laee
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 05 Aab Mohe Jalat Raam Jal Paea
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 06 Maee Moro Pritam Raam Batavo
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 07 Priya Ki Preet Pyari
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 08 Prabh Ji Tu Mere Praan Adhaar
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 09 Aiso Gur Ko Bal Bal Jaeeai
Vol. 5
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Maee Charan Gur Meethe
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Jai Jai Jag Kaaran Shrisht Ubaaran
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Maha Maha Mumarkhi Chadea Sda
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 04 Rajan Kaun Tumarai Avai
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 05 Eh Baani Jo Jio Jaanai
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 06 Tu Thakro Bairaagro Mai Jehi
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 07 Sajan Mainda Chaeea Habh Kahi
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 08 Kio Jeevan Pritam Bin Maee
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 09 Aisi Laal Tujh Bin Koun
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 10 Dhiro Dekh Tumarai Ranga
Vol. 6
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Maadho Ham Aisai Tu Aisa
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Mai Banjaran Raam Ki
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Meri Preet Gobind Sio
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 04 Re Man Oat Leho Har Naama
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 05 Satgur Paas Benantia Milai
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 06 Saajna Sant Ayo Merai
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 07 Khoob Khoob Khoob Khoob Khoob Teri Naam
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 08 Koee Jan Har Sio Devai Jor
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 09 Houn Kia Salahee Kiram Jant
*New Recordings Added – 15th February 2023
The recordings below were kindly contributed by Sardar Didar Singh Chana and family. These were recorded at Pape Gurdwara, Toronto in 1982. Accompanying Bhai Beant Singh Bijli are Bhai Ajit Singh Mutlashi and Bhai Gurjit Singh.
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 01 Shaan
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 02 Dinan Ki Pritpal Karai Nit
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 03 Joban Jande Na Dara
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 04 Kahe Ko Dholat Hai
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 05 Deho Daras Man Chao
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 06 Deh Ahaar Agan Mai Raakhai
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 07 Kavan Gun Praanpat Milo
Bhai Beant Singh Bijli – 08 Je Puli Je Chuki Saee
The following Asa Di Vaar was also kindly provided by Sardar Didar Singh Chana and family.
Pita ji had an excellent Kirtan skills. He always sang in actual Kirtan Shelly which was always commendable. His Kirtan will live with us for generations to come. I always encourage everyone to listen to real Kirtan .