Heritage body calls to preserve Gurmat Sangeet legacy

In a significant step to conserve Punjab’s fading intangible cultural legacy, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has launched a new initiative focussing on the preservation of Gurmat Sangeet, the original form of Sikh devotional music. The INTACH Punjab Chapter, under the leadership of its state convener Maj Gen Balwinder Singh (Retd) and the Kapurthala Chapter led by Advocate Kanwal Jit Singh Ahluwalia, recently organised the first in a series of events titled “Conserving Intangible Heritage – Gurbani Sangeet and its Journey.” The programme featured an enlightening presentation and a live performance by Bhai Baldeep Singh, a 13th-generation exponent and renowned scholar of Gurmat Sangeet. Gurmat Sangeet, the traditional musical system established by the Sikh Gurus, is based on a strict raga framework and performed using rare string instruments like the rabab, taus and saranda. It stands apart from modern kirtan styles, which have increasingly moved away from the original discipline. Recognising the risk of this heritage being lost, INTACH has stepped in to raise awareness and inspire revival efforts. Bhai Baldeep Singh, who has spent decades documenting oral histories, notations and manuscripts linked to Sikh sacred music, shared rare insights into the spiritual and historical roots of Gurbani Sangeet. He also demonstrated the intricacies of traditional raag-based renditions, while emphasising the urgency of preserving these oral traditions for future generations. Maj Gen Balwinder Singh (Retd), INTACH Punjab Convener, recalled his student days in Amritsar when he would listen to original Gurbani renditions at Harmandir Sahib several times a week. He underlined the importance of preserving this spiritual art form, saying, “Our identity stems from Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the sacred ‘Sur’ that was passed on orally. We must ensure this continues in its true form.” He also referenced Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s month-long stay in Amritsar in 1873, where the profound impact of kirtan at the Golden Temple inspired him deeply. Tagore later translated Sikh scriptures and was deeply moved by Guru Nanak’s aarti “Gagan Mein Thaal Rav Chand Deepak,” which envisions the cosmos itself as an offering to the divine. Advocate Kanwal Jit Singh Ahluwalia emphasised INTACH’s broader mission, noting that the organisation’s work goes beyond restoring monuments — it also aims to safeguard oral, musical and linguistic traditions that form the essence of regional identities. He called on spiritual institutions and the younger generation to engage actively in such efforts. Maj Gen Balwinder Singh said this event marked the beginning of a series planned by INTACH to spotlight Punjab’s rich spiritual music heritage and ensure its continuity through documentation, awareness and mentorship.

Jalandhar