Bhai Gurcharan Singh Sagoo migrated from Ludhiana, India in late 1960s to Kenya, East Africa. He left the Army School of Karnal, where he held the post of a teacher, after being called by his father, Giani Amar Singh Ji Sagoo, who was serving as a Head Granthi at Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Nairobi, Kenya. He then came to Zambia, Central Africa as a teacher of technical courses in a top secondary school, while still maintaining family ties in Kenya.
Owing to his talent and devotion to Gurbani Keertan, he was highly respected in the Sikh society, who referred to him as “Giani Ji”. In 1971, Bhai Gurcharan Singh Ji along with other members from the Hindu and Sikh communities, and respected personalities like Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia (now Head of Nishkaam Sewa Jatha – Birmingham, England) was instrumental in setting up the Guru Nanak Council of Zambia (GNCZ) – Gurdwara in Lusaka. It was the only Gurdwara in Southern Africa at the time.
As he was a teacher, he taught in secondary schools around the country. Wherever his posting was, he performed Keertan every week. He would also travel to Lusaka specially for Sunday Gurudwara Diwans. He also served on the Lusaka Gurudwara committees from time to time. In 1987, he received an offer for a teaching job in Botswana and opted to move on to spread his teachings to the Botswana community. However, his attachment with the Zambian Sangat remained strong, which he expressed in his farewell speech by mentioning that he did not feel like leaving.
In fulfilling this part of his wish, Waheguru Ji brought him back from time to time as he would be travelling from Kenya to Botswana, he would make stop overs in Lusaka, Zambia specially to seek ‘Darshan’ of the local Sangat and the Lusaka Gurudwara which he fondly helped to set up.
While in Botswana, Giani Ji developed a heart condition, and returned to Ludhiana for treatment. He however did not make it and answered the call of the Almighty in 1998. Giani Ji is survived by three daughters – Jagjit Kaur “Bubbly” (now residing in Ludhiana, India), Kawaljit Kaur “Lovely” (now residing in Nairobi, Kenya) and Parminder Kaur “Sweety” (now residing in Nakuru, Kenya) and one son – Bhupinder Singh (now residing in Portland, Oregon, USA). Kawaljit Kaur “Lovely” had accompanied Giani Ji on tabla for many years.
The information above was provided by Sardar Satnam Singh Virdy from Zambia and some additional information contributed by Sardar Avtar Singh Ji Birdi, who was an ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels Mathematics and Physics teacher, and also served as the Secretary for Sikh Sangat at Copperbelt for many years. He is now residing in Ludhiana, India.
If anyone could provide us with more information, photos or recordings of Bhai Gurcharan Singh Ji, please contact us.
The Asa Di Vaar and Shabads below were contributed by Sardar Satnam Singh Virdy. These were recorded in Zambia in the 1980s by Sardar Avtar Singh Birdi (the then Copperbelt Secretary, now residing in Ludhiana, India). Accompanying Bhai Gurcharan Singh Ji are his two daughters (Kawaljit Kaur”Lovely” and Parminder Kaur “Sweety”) who very often accompanied him during his Kirtan. On Tabla is Giani Ji’s son, Bhai Bhupinder Singh, who is now residing in the USA. Please ‘right click’ and ‘save link as’ to download audio files. Enjoy!
Asa Di Vaar
Shabads
Asa Di Vaar by Bhai Gurcharan Singh Sagoo and Bhai Nanak Singh (Nabha) recorded in the Gurudwara Sahib, Lusaka, Zambia in 1986. The first half is By Bhai Gurcharan Singh Sagoo and then followed by Bhai Nanak Singh in the second half. Tabla Master, Bhai Sohan Singh Jutley (Now residing in the UK) is accompanying on Tabla.
This recording is another recording of Asa Di Vaar by Bhai Gurcharan Singh Sagoo and Bhai Nanak Singh (Nabha) that was done in Gurudwara Sahib Lusaka, celebrating the Parkaash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in 1986.
The voices in the recording are of:
First half – Bhai Gurcharan Singh Sagoo (Bhai Nanak Singh Nabha on side)
Second half – Bhai Nanak Singh (Nabha) (Bhai Gurcharan Singh Sagoo on side)
Pauree by Bhai Guriqbal Singh Brar (Now residing in Ontario, Canada).
Tabla by Bhai Sohan Singh Jutley (Now residing in the UK)
The recording below is also from the collection of Sardar Satnam Singh Virdy, and he has also provided detailed information about the following recording.
“This was one chance that the Lusaka Sangat took advantage of Giani Ji’s stoppage in Lusaka in January 1993 as he was travelling from Kenya to Botswana. He arrived on a late afternoon Saturday flight and was to leave the next day Sunday morning flight. There being no chance of having a Sunday Keertan Session with Giani Ji, the Sangat opted to organise a ‘Rensbai’ through the then General Secretary Bhai Harcharan Singh Virdy (still residing in Zambia) and a Committee member Bhai Satwant Singh (Veterinarian now residing in the UK), to which Giani Ji willingly obliged. In all his Keertan sessions throughout the night, Giani Ji was accompanied by Tabla master Bhai Sohan Singh Jutley (now residing in the UK). The backing voices heard in the “Asa Di Vaar” recording are of Bhai Satnam Singh and Bhai Gurkirpal Singh who is also heard playing the “tali” towards the end. Both are still residing in Zambia.”