Santrain Avtar Singh – Kirtan Sewa

As I was growing up, I recall owning a few albums released by ‘Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani’ featuring the melodious voice of Santrain Avtar Singh Ji, who was especially popular in the 1970s and 1980s. He was widely known as Kaka Avtar Singh, as his journey into Kirtan began at a very young age. Due to his innocent boyish looks and sweet Kirtan, he was well liked by the ‘Sangat’ of Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh and many other cities.

Santrain Avtar Singh Ji was born on 2^nd October 1955. His parents were blessed with seven children; three boys and four girls. His father worked as an assistant to a lawyer in Kapurthala. As a young boy, Kaka Avtar Singh used to love dressing up in the traditional Sikh attire (Bana), and carry a sword with him. He would be in full traditional attire when going to the Gurdwara to learn ‘Paath’ and ‘Kirtan’. He was blessed with ‘Amrit’ at the tender age of five, and was guided by the ‘Singh Sahib’ to learn Kirtan. His initiation into music was by Giani Kartar Singh Ji from Kapurthala. His older brother, Jagjit Singh was started off to learn the ‘tabla’. Both brothers, having acquired the knowledge and skill, formed their own ‘jatha’ in 1969 with their father. Their first Kirtan performance was at Gurdwara Model Town, Delhi.

As the jatha of Kaka Avtar Singh began gaining popularity, they travelled to other locations across India such as Pune, Hazoor Sahib and many more. They also made several trips abroad to Malaysia, England, United States of America and Canada. Santrain Avtar Singh Ji also did Kirtan in Pakistan, and while in Lahore, he recorded a few Shabads at the Lahore Radio Station. Back in India, recording companies such as ‘Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani’ released many albums of his, which became very popular among the Sangat. He also sang the Shabad ‘Gur Ka Darshan Dekh Dekh Jeevan’ in the 1970 Punjabi film, Nanak Dukhiya Sabh Sansar. Unfortunately, it is not featured on the soundtrack, but the clip can be viewed in the film.

Currently, Santrain Avtar Singh Ji lives in Shalimar Bagh, Delhi with his wife and children.

Special thanks to Dr. Jagir Singh Ji for sharing the information above, which was written for the ‘Amrit Kirtan’ magazine.

The first batch of recordings were obtained from Sardar Baldave Singh (Leo Enterprise). These were recorded by his father onto spools during Santrain Avtar Singb Ji’s trip to Malaysia in the 1970s. Please ‘right click’ and ‘save link as’ to download audio files. Enjoy!

Santrain Avtar Singh – Bhajo Gobind Bhool Mat Jao

Santrain Avtar Singh – Chim Chim Varse

Santrain Avtar Singh – Chit Na Bhayo

Santrain Avtar Singh – Eh Man Pyarea

Santrain Avtar Singh – Jine Tohe Dhiayo

Santrain Avtar Singh – Jis Nu Baksh Lehe Mere Pyare

Santrain Avtar Singh – Jo Raj Deve Ta

Santrain Avtar Singh – Koi Aan Milave

Santrain Avtar Singh – Madho Eh Janam

Santrain Avtar Singh – Man Re Prabh Ki Saran

Santrain Avtar Singh – Mere Lal Jio

Santrain Avtar Singh – Mil Mere Gobind

Santrain Avtar Singh – Mil Mere Pritma Jio

Santrain Avtar Singh – Mitar Piare Nu

Santrain Avtar Singh – Mohe Na Bisaro

Santrain Avtar Singh – Nadiya Vaho Vichuniya

Santrain Avtar Singh – Pal Pal Nimakh Sada

Santrain Avtar Singh – Raati Jaye Sune Gurbani

Santrain Avtar Singh – Saach Kaho Sun Leho

Santrain Avtar Singh – Satgur Ki Sewa

Santrain Avtar Singh – Simro Simar Simar Sukh

Santrain Avtar Singh – Sun Yaar Hamare Sajan

Santrain Avtar Singh – Thakur Mere Suno Bananti

Shabads from the album ‘Kya Toon Soya Jaag Eyaana’.

Santrain Avtar Singh – 01 Kya Toon Soya Jaag Eyaana

Santrain Avtar Singh – 02 Kya Maango Kich Thir Na

Shabads from the album ‘Tu Daata Jeea Sabh Na Ka’.

Santrain Avtar Singh – 01 Tu Daata Jeea Sabh Na Ka

Santrain Avtar Singh – 02 Har Har Tera Naam Hai

Santrain Avtar Singh – 03 Sarab Sukhan Main

Shabads from the album ‘Salok Sheikh Farid Ji Part 1’.

Santrain Avtar Singh – 01 Eh Due Naina Mat Chhooho

Santrain Avtar Singh – 02 Naal Pyaare Neho

Santrain Avtar Singh – 03 Thoda Maan Kari

Shabads from the album ‘Salok Sheikh Farid Ji Part 2’.

Santrain Avtar Singh – 01 Uth Farida Uju Saaj

Santrain Avtar Singh – 02 Daati Sahib Sandeyaa

Shabads from the album ‘Cheet Aave Taan Sarab Ko Raja’.

Santrain Avtar Singh – 01 Tera Ek Naam Taare Sansar

Santrain Avtar Singh – 02 Mokao Tu Na Bisaar

Santrain Avtar Singh – 03 Jis Vakhar Ko Len Tu Aaya

Santrain Avtar Singh – 04 Cheet Aave Taan Sarab Ko Raja

Santrain Avtar Singh – 05 Mera Vaid Guru Govinda

Santrain Avtar Singh – 06 Rajan Kaun Tumhare Aave

Shabads from the album ‘Dhur Ki Baani Aayi’.

Santrain Avtar Singh – 01 Dhur Ki Baani Aayi

Santrain Avtar Singh – 02 Kurbani Tinah Gursikha

Santrain Avtar Singh – 03 Je Ko Khaave Je Ko Punchey

Santrain Avtar Singh – 04 Sahib Tere Naam Vitoh

Santrain Avtar Singh – 05 Tujh Bin Kavan Hamara

Shabads from the album ‘Jo Sukh Prab Gobind Ki Seva’.

Santrain Avtar Singh – 01 Madho Satsangat Saran Tumhari

Santrain Avtar Singh – 02 Nirgun Rakh Liya Santan Ka Sadka

Santrain Avtar Singh – 03 Jo Sukh Prab Gobind Ki Seva

Santrain Avtar Singh – 04 Charan Kamal Tere Dhoe Dhoe Peeva

Santrain Avtar Singh – 05 Amrit Naam Nidhaan Hai

Santrain Avtar Singh – 06 Mero Sundar Kaho Mile Kit Gali

Shabads from the album ‘Man Mere Sukh Sehaj Seti Jap Nao’.

Santrain Avtar Singh – 01 Man Mere Sukh Sehaj Seti Jap Nao

Santrain Avtar Singh – 02 Waheguru Tera Sabh Sadka

Santrain Avtar Singh – 03 Aisa Gyan Japo Man Mere

Santrain Avtar Singh – 04 Eh Janam Tumhare Lekhe

Santrain Avtar Singh – 05 Har Jape Har Mandar Sajeya

Santrain Avtar Singh – 06 Mere Saha Main Har Darshan Sukh

Santrain Avtar Singh – 07 Sun Sakhiye Eh Bhali Benti

Shabads from the album ‘Ram Ko Naam Japo Din Raati’.

Santrain Avtar Singh – 01 Har Jio Kirpa Karo Tum Piare

Santrain Avtar Singh – 02 Daata Oh Na Mangiye

Santrain Avtar Singh – 03 Satgur Mera Sarb Pritpaley

Santrain Avtar Singh – 04 Ram Ko Naam Japo Din Raati

Santrain Avtar Singh – 05 Gur Sant Jano Pyara Main Mileya

Santrain Avtar Singh – 06 Pichle Augun Baksh Laye

Shabads from the album ‘Ram Simar Pachhtahega’.

Santrain Avtar Singh – 01 Ram Simar Pachhtahega (with Katha)

Santrain Avtar Singh – 02 Apne Karam Ki Gat Main Kya Jano (with Katha)

Shabads from the album ‘Sun Wadbhagia Har Amrit Bani Ram’.

Santrain Avtar Singh – 01 Sun Wadbhagia Har Amrit Bani Ram

Santrain Avtar Singh – 02 Ram Simar Pachhtahega

Santrain Avtar Singh – 03 Bhajo Govind Bhool Mat Jao

Santrain Avtar Singh – 04 Jab Lag Jane Mujh Te

Santrain Avtar Singh – 05 Sun Sakhiye Eh Bhali Benanti

Santrain Avtar Singh – 06 Man Mere Tin Ki Oat Leh

The next batch of recordings were obtained from the ‘Sewapanthi’ channel on Youtube. These were recorded at Gurdwara Mitha Tiwana in Hoshiarpur. Please check out their channel for more recordings.

Kirtan on 15th July 1997

Santrain Avtar Singh – Je Ko Apni Sobha Lore

Santrain Avtar Singh – Madho Hum Aaise Tu Aaisa

Santrain Avtar Singh – Sada Ang Sange

Santrain Avtar Singh – Satgur Tumre Kaaj Savare

Santrain Avtar Singh – Tera Ek Naam Taare Sansar

Santrain Avtar Singh – Waheguru Naam Simran

Kirtan on 16th July 1997

Santrain Avtar Singh – Gur Nanak Bole Dargeh Parvaan

Santrain Avtar Singh – Sada Ang Sange 1

Santrain Avtar Singh – Waheguru Tera Sabh Sadka

Kirtan on 11th February 1998