Bhai Sain Ditta (Amritsar)

 

The information below regarding Bhai Sain Ditta Ji was obtained from the book ‘Punjab De Parsidh Raagi Rababi’ by author, Balbir Singh Kanwal. A translation of it was also available online at a website that I had come across many years ago. However, that particular site seems to have vanished. Upon searching, I found that someone had posted it at the forum ‘Sikhawareness’  under the topic ‘The Rababi Tradition’. Some of the translation has been left intact while some parts were amended. Unfortunately, no source of the translation was available so we are unable to provide credit. 

During the 19^th century, there were two Rababi brothers in Amritsar who went by the names of Bhai Mehra and Bhai Kheira. Bhai Kheira was sometimes also known as Giddu. They performed Kirtan together and were usually accompanied on the Pakhawaj by Bhai Mohammad Baksh who was also known as Baba Mahnda. Baba Mahnda was considered as the ‘Avtar of Pakhawaj’ by Dhrupad singers across India.

Bhai Kheira had two sons; Bhai Labhoo and Bhai Sain Ditta. Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Bhai Sain Ditta Ji also made a named for himself in the field of music. Four gramophone records in his voice were released in 1907 and their details are as follows:

• • Aa Ja Vey Gale Lag Aa Kar Piara (Tappa in Raag Bhairvi)
  • Kaise Bahaar Gul Besur Harson Chaman Mein (Raag Khamaj – record no. 4163e-4-12262)
  • One record in Raag Tilang – Taal Tilwara
  • Re Nar Eh Sachi Jia Dhaar (Shabad in Raag Jog – Taal Tilawara)

Within the same year, a few more recordings by him were released and the details are as follows:

• • Ghol Ghumai Lalna Gur Man Deena and Tu Ghar Aa Sajna Dekha Darshan Tera (Raag Pahari – Taal Keharwa)
  • Maango Daan Thakur Naam (Raag Bhairvi) and Satgur Aayo Saran Tuhari (Raag Bhairvi)
  • Koi Aan Milaave Mera Pritam Piara (Raag Kaunsi) and Kuchal Kathor Kapat Kaami (Raag Mand)

Besides Gurbani and Punjabi songs, an Urdu song was also recorded with the accompaniment of a harmonium. The title of the song was ‘Tu Bhar Bhar Jaam Pila Gul-Lala Rang Wala, Joban Wala, Sabh Se Aala’.

In the beginning of the 20^th century, gramophone companies were on the lookout for talented artists in various categories of music and because of this, Bhai Sain Ditta’s brother, Bhai Labhoo also made a record of ‘Lacchi’; Aaho Ni, Lachhi Dian Gol Pinnia and on the other side, ‘Nimboo Rupe De Chaar Mundeya’ in Raag Pahari. Not to be left behind, Bhai Sain Ditta also followed suit and recorded a couple of songs in 1907, of which the details are as follows”

• • Sun Larke Zargar De, Paohanchi Kyon Nahi Dinda Ghar Ke?’ (Raag Bhairo) and ‘Na Cherh Arheya, Peed Karde Nazuk Bundey’ (Raag Pilu)

In those days, many accomplished Raagis and Rababis resided in the holy city of Amritsar. Among them, one of the most eminent names in the field of Kirtan was that of Bhai Moti. After him, the next most sought-after was Bhai Sain Ditta Ji. He lived in the ‘Koocha Rababian’ at the ‘Chownk Pasia’ in Amritsar. He was famous for his Dandaut (Manglacharan). He taught music in the Central Khalsa Orphanage from 1914 to 1932 and he produced many distinguished Raagis. Some of his most notable students include Bhai Santa Singh, Bhai Surjan Singh, Professor Darshan Singh Komal and Ustad Bahadur Singh (Tabla Nawaz).  

He had opened a school of music in a ‘Bunga’ behind the ‘Gaao Ghat’ within the ‘Parkarma’ of Darbar Sahib. He also opened a shop selling musical instruments in order to promote music. Besides that, he co-owned an agency with Lala Dholan Das which dealt with kerosine oil. The respect that he received at Darbar Sahib could be gauged by the amount of ‘Karah Parshad’ that was allocated to him. He was one of the very few who received ‘Khula Ghapa’ while others were given only a handful.

Those who had the privilege of listening to him still remember him as one of the finest and melodious of Raagis, who was also an expert in playing the harmonium. They still remember his ‘Swars’ of Raag Malhaar, which was performed during the rainy season and the melody of which always mesmerised the listeners.

The sweetness in his voice had an electric effect, which is proved by the following letter, written during 1929/30, when during the summer drought, his song was responsible for the fall of rain. The letter by a novelist Sujan Singh is thus: –

“Bhai Sain Ditta was a ‘Hazoori Rababi’. His time for ‘Chaunki’ (music time) was from three till five in the afternoon. His co-singer was his very talented son Bhai Desa and on the tabla was Bhai Santa. I was eleven years old and had just arrived from Calcutta. I had heard that Bhai Lal and Bhai Moti were previously Hazoori Raagis. Bhai Moti had passed away and Bhai Lal was amongst the famous Raagis, which I had the privilege to listen to at ‘Durgeana Raag Darbar’ during Holi. But now he had stopped doing Kirtan.

While he was crossing the bridge, the Sangat requested Bhai Sain Ditta to perform Kirtan. Bhai Sain Ditta never used to sing any songs, which were not from Gurbani. Although being a Muslim, he was a devout follower of Sikhism. I do not remember the ‘Shabad’ nor I had the knowledge of classical music at the time, but this I saw with my own eyes. Elders say that it was Raag Malhaar which Bhai Sain Ditta rendered. It could have also been ‘Megh Malhaar’. There was not a cloud to be seen in the sky on his commencement, but slowly clouds started gathering from the side of ‘Baba Atal’. The ‘Chaunki’ was for two hours and after one and half hours it started to drizzle and at the end of ‘Chaunki’, it was raining in torrents.

When the Sangat complimented and started to thank Bhai Sain Ditta, he only said that, ‘Satguru has saved his honour’.

Yours, Sujan Singh.

P.S. It was a holiday and Bhai Sain Ditta’s ‘Chaunki’ was crowded with people. I was standing behind his ‘Jatha’ when all the above took place. As the rain showers kept falling, the Sangat kept on showering Bhai Sahib with money. At that time, it was allowed to present the Raagis with money at Darbar Sahib.

In the words of one of Bhai Sain Ditta’s grandsons, Asif Sheikh, who is living on Multan Road, Lahore, the following information was received – “This unique singer of Gurbani died at Amritsar in 1932. He had two sons – Bhai Desa (1905-1973) and Bhai Mulkha. Bhai Desa’s one son Mohammed Afzal is an accomplished mandolin player, who regularly plays for Radio Pakistan, Lahore.”

Bhai Desa was also talented like his father, and used to accompany Bhai Sain Ditta during Kirtan at Darbar Sahib. Renowned classical vocalist, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan was quite fond of Bhai Desa’s singing and he used to request Bhai Desa to sing some of his favourites. If anyone has more recordings of Bhai Sain Ditta, Bhai Desa or Bhai Labhoo, please contact us.

 

The Shabads below are from two 78 rpm records released by His Master’s Voice (HMV) in the early 20th century. One of the records (P785) was released in 1907, and based on the record number, the other was probably released shortly after. Please ‘right click’ and ‘save link as’ to download audio files. Enjoy!

 

His Master’s Voice (Record number: P785)

Bhai Sain Ditta (Amritsar) – 01 Ghol Ghumai Lalna

Bhai Sain Ditta (Amritsar) – 02 Tu Ghar Aa Saajna

 

His Master’s Voice (Record number: P813)

Bhai Sain Ditta (Amritsar) – 01 Har Ki Gat Na Kou Jane

Bhai Sain Ditta (Amritsar) – 02 Eh Dhan Maya Paiya Piare