The biography regarding Bhai Darshan Singh Ji Dilruba below was written by Veer Amanbir Singh who is a close family friend of Bhai Darshan Singh Ji’s family. His family is trying to collect more recordings of Bhai Sahib Ji and also recordings of his son, Bhai Malkeet Singh Ji. If anyone has recordings of theirs to share, please contact us.
There are so many things that could be said about Bhai Darshan Singh Ji Dilruba, a true gem in the jatha. He was born on 21st January 1921. Bhai Sahib Ji was a master in ‘Gatka’ and ‘Gurmat Sangeet’. One fated night he was walking in the streets of Shimla when he heard Simran coming from a building. He was enthralled and immediately wanted to meet the people who were singing. When he was admitted inside, Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Ji hugged him and told him that he had been waiting for him to come, even though they had never met before. This is where his story began. For many years, Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Ji would call upon him to do Kirtan for hours and hours. Bhai Darshan Singh Ji played the Dilruba like no one else, hence he was given the nickname of Dilruba by Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Ji. Dilruba Ji then taught many of the prominent Kirtaniye’s of that age and created many of the famous compositions in the jatha that are still sung today such as “Har Simree Din Sabh Rain”. He was truly a genius when it came to Gurmat Sangeet, never singing the same composition more than once and always changing them to bring out a new feeling. The mark that he left in Kirtan will never be forgotten. Not only this but he was also a master in Gatka and held Gatka Akhara’s in Shimla.
One of the stories that I always remember hearing about him is that once he was very sick and was in a hospital. Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Ji was calling for him to do Kirtan and his Singhs told him that he was very ill. Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Ji then went to the hospital, they said Fateh to each other, and Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Ji remained silent for a few minutes doing Ardaas. He left abruptly after saying Fateh and within a few days Dilruba Ji’s condition improved, and he was able to go home, but was still very weak and could barely walk. Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Ji then called for his Singhs to bring Dilruba Ji no matter what to do Kirtan, and the Singhs had to help him into the Divan hall. Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Ji then said to him, “Don’t think that those medications saved you, we asked Vaheguru ji for you”. That night they performed Kirtan for hours and Bhai Darshan Singh Ji Dilruba said after, that he was in so much ‘Sehaj’ he had no idea what was going around him and felt much better. Dilruba Ji’s legacy can never be recreated but he has still taught so many students, and his family continue this tradition and are all experts in Gurmat Sangeet.
If anyone has any recordings or pictures of Bhai Sahib Ji, please contact us.
Bhai Darshan Singh Ji Dilruba – Vadh Sukh Renardiye Pria Prem Laga