There is little information known regarding the life of Tilly Bai Ji. Originally from the Sindh province of Pakistan, she moved to Bombay following the partition. Bhai Harbans Singh Suraj (UK) recounted that she performed Kirtan regularly in Ulhas Nagar and his father, Sant Ajit Singh Ji accompanied her on tabla many times. In her article ‘Listening to Female Voices in Sikh Kirtan’, Gurminder Kaur Bhogal has written that Tilly Bai recorded for Deutsche Gramophone under the Polydor label, possibly during the late 60s to 70s. Below is an excerpt from her article with regards to Tilly Bai.
‘Chetna hai to chet lai’ presents a wholly pared-down texture where a predominant melody in raag Tilang-Kafi is lightly accompanied by a simple metric pattern provided by the dholak (in dadra) and a barely audible doubling of the melody in the harmonium. The musical interludes are kept to a minimum and Tilly Bai’s treatment of raag is simple and refined with barely a nod towards melodic embellishment. Unlike any of the other kirtaniye heard here, Tilly Bai’s commitment to a slow tempo allows for a deliberate enunciation of the words, unencumbered by taans and other such ornamental gestures; as she ponders over the poetry and semantics of every phrase, we are invited to do the same.
Till Bai visited Malaysia in 1965 and some of the recordings available below were made then. If anyone has a photo or more recordings of Tilly Bai Ji to share, please contact us.
The Asa Ki Vaar below was recorded by Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) during her visit to Malaysia in 1965. Please ‘right click’ and ‘save link as’ to download audio files. Enjoy!
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – Asa Di Vaar 1965 RTM Part 1
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – Asa Di Vaar 1965 RTM Part 2
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – Asa Di Vaar 1965 RTM Part 3
Japji Sahib in Kirtan form recorded by late Sardar Sangat Singh Ji in Malaysia in 1965.
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – Japji Sahib
The following recordings were contributed by Bhai Harbans Singh Suraj.
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 01 Jo Mangai Thakur
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 02 Satgur Ke Charan
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 03 Ram Simar
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 04 Meri Meri Karte
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 05 Chetna Hai To Chet Lai
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 06 Rajan Kaun Tumare
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 07 Ram Siyo Kar Preet
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 08 Jaag Le Re Man Jaag
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 09 Aree Bai Gobind Naam
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 10 Tera Keeta Jato Naahee
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 11 Nanak Ghar Ke Gole
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 12 Sevak Ki Ardas
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 13 Haun Kurbani Teriya
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 14 Saach Kaho Sun Leho
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 15 Jaisa Satgur Sunida
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 16 Ghar Baahar Tera Bharvasa
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 17 Main Andhule Ki Tek
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 18 Apne Sevak Ki
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 19 Jap Mann Har Har Naam
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 20 Bhajaho Gobind Bhool
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 21 Naange Awan
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 22 Sagur Hoye Dayaal (half)
*New recording added on 12th May 2021
The following recordings are from the collection of Sardar Balbir Singh Ji from Tampin, Malaysia. Recordings courtesy of his son, Sardar Amarpall Singh Ji.
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 01 Asa Di Vaar
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 02 Gur Shabadi Gobind
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 03 Asa Di Vaar
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 04 Chetna Hai To Chet Lai
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 05 Asa Di Vaar
Tilly Bai (Bombay) – 06 Jap Man Satnam (Incomplete)
I BELIEVE TILLY BAI JI WAS DAUGHTER OF DADA CHELA RAM,
WHO WAS AT CHIEF SECRETARY LEVEL IN GOVT OF INDIA. A DEVOTED GURU PREMEE. HIS WHOLE FAMILY USED TO PERFORM SHADAD KIRTAN ALONG WITH HIM. I HAVE MEMORY, HAVING HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING THEIR KIRTAN AT CHANDIGARH IN 1963.
SHRI LACHMAN CHELA RAM LIVES IN DELHI, WHO IS SON OF DADA CHELA RAM. PROF. DARSHAN SINGH JI IS THEIR FAMILY FRIEND.
YOU CAN GET FULL DETAILS FROM PROF. DARSHAN SINGH JI.
KHALSA JI DI SADAAV CHARAHDIKALA……..
Dear AMITESHWAR SINGH Ji
We need to disseminate more info on Tilly Bhai ji to stimulate and help nurture female ragis. Could you please supply me with contact details of PROF. DARSHAN SINGH JI ?
Santokh Singh
Netherlands
ssmaan44@yahoo.com
Could KirtanSewa kindly bring this request to the attention of Sardar AMITESHWAR SINGH Ji?
I think bibi kamla jee is daughter of Dada chela ram jee and sister of lachman chela ram jee. I heard her singing shabad “sut apradh karat hai jete”on dharna of ” ramaia hau Barik tera” at Manji sahib dewan hall during sixties where dewan chela ram ji was visiting every year ,with whole family members , during guru ramdas ji gurpurab. Giani mohinder Singh was sgpc secretary then. She remained in control of Kasauli Ashram of dewan Chela Ram ji after his demise. So likelihood of Tilly Bai as daughter of dewan Chela Ram ji is not there.