Principal Dyal Singh – Kirtan Sewa

Principal Dyal Singh was one of the most distinguished exponents and teachers of Gurmat Sangeet. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he dedicated himself to the study, preservation, documentation, and transmission of traditional Sikh music, becoming a central figure in the revival and institutional continuity of this rich heritage.

Principal Dyal Singh was born in April 1934 in the village of Badla Singha in Meerut district, into the home Sardar Ujjagar Singh. At the age of twelve, he left his village school to join the Gurmat Vidyalaya at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi, an institution founded by Sardar Bahadur Dharm Singh Ji for the training of Raagis in classical Gurmat Sangeet.

Under the tutelage of Giani Hardit Singh Ji, young Dyal Singh immersed himself in the study of Kirtan, Katha, and Path, with a strong focus on stringed instruments such as the Dilruba and Saranda, as well as Tabla. He trained intensively at the Vidyalaya for five years, laying a deep foundation for his future contributions.

In 1952, Dyal Singh joined the ‘jatha’ of Bhai Samund Singh Ji, one of the most revered Raagis of the 20th century. As a Dilruba accompanist, he gained invaluable experience and exposure. In December 1954, he began serving at Gurdwara Bala Sahib at the request of the musicologist Gian Singh Abbotabad Ji. Here, he collaborated with eminent musicians, including the visiting Bhai Taba Ji, a preserver of the Rababi tradition. Between 1954 and 1958, Principal Dyal Singh Ji documented over 200 ancient compositions across more than 60 Raags, including rare Partals and Guldastas; many of which were later included in seminal texts.

In 1959, Dyal Singh began his service at Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar as a Dilruba accompanist, performing during key daily recitations such as Asa Di Var and Sodar Chauki. In 1960, at the request of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, he was tasked with reviewing, proofreading, and organising the material compiled by Gian Singh Abbotabad Ji for the upcoming publication of Gurbani Sangeet. In 1964, responding to the call of his mentor, Giani Hardit Singh Ji, Dyal Singh resigned from his position in Amritsar and returned to Delhi. There, he took up the responsibility of refining and expanding the second edition of Gurbani Sangeet, contributing intricate ‘alaaps’ and details of the Raags to the volume.

In the final days of Giani Hardit Singh Ji’s life, as his health declined, Sardar Narinder Singh Ji, a trustee of the Gurmat Vidyalay requested Dyal Singh to begin assisting with teaching responsibilities. Following Giani Hardit Singh Ji’s passing on 25^th January 1967, a large gathering of his former students assembled at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib on 6^th February to pay their final respects. During this solemn occasion, the Secretary of the Guru Nanak Vidya Bhandar Trust, Sardar Kahn Singh Ji, consulted the assembled disciples regarding the future leadership of the Vidyalaya. With unanimous agreement, they nominated Dyal Singh Ji to take on the role. At the age of thirty-three, he accepted the responsibility and began the ‘Sewa’ that he would carry forward with unwavering dedication for the next forty-five years. During his service, Principal Dyal Singh taught with unmatched dedication, often at the cost of his own health and comfort, leading a life of austerity in the service of the Guru and the Panth.

Principal Dyal Singh was also a prolific author and some of his key works include:

Gurmat Sangeet Sagar (4 Volumes): A comprehensive anthology of ‘Shabad Reets’, encompassing multiple Raags, Dhrupads, Partaals, and Guldastas.
Tabla Mridang Sagar: A detailed instructional text on ‘tabla’, tailored for Gurmat Sangeet accompaniment.
Annotated Asa Di Var: A pioneering publication that sets the entire Asa Di Var in multiple Raags.

Many of his students went on to become respected Raagis in India and abroad, spreading the teachings and style of their Ustad. Among the most prominent include Bhai Surjit Singh (Long Island, USA), Bhai Kanwarpal Singh, Bhai Parkash Singh (New Jersey, USA), Bhai Gupal Singh (Boston, USA). Principal Dyal Singh passed away in 2012, leaving behind a rich musical and spiritual legacy. His life’s work continues to influence students, scholars, and musicians within the Sikh community and beyond.

Most of the information above about the life of Principal Dyal Singh Ji was obtained from the Gurmat Sangeet Project website.

The Shabad below was recorded and kindly contributed by Sardar Nachata Singh Sahota. Please ‘right click’ and ‘save link as’ to download audio files. Enjoy!

Principal Dyal Singh – Bolo Bhayea Ram Naam (Bilawal – Partaal)

The large batch of recordings below were kindly contributed by a Gupt Kirtan Premi. These were recorded in Houston, Texas in 1996. A special thanks to Veer Damanjit Singh and Gagan Singh Kler for digitising this entire collection. Both brothers run the ‘ws3ks3‘ channel on Youtube. Please check out their channel for more treasures.

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