Shyrone Kaur

Once upon a time, in a far off town in California settled by Sikhs, young Sikh children were cutting their hair to assimilate into the North American culture, some due to harassment and others for peer pressure. Their parents were all very concerned at the children losing their identity in favor of a supposedly more modern culture. Every weekend, droves of these girls and boys went to the mall to get haircuts, play video games, purchase fashionable clothes and hang out with the "in crowd". Some even attended church, where they were made more welcome than at the local Gurdwara. Slowly, there were very few Sikh children left in the city who still retained their Sikh roots and the ‘sardar’ image.

The local Gurdwara president, who happened to also be the Mayor and the town's wealthiest person, decided that something had to be done to bring the youth back into the fold. Mayor Singh called an urgent meeting and on that eventful day many parents and community elders showed up.

Addressing the attendees Harmeet Kaur told them about her sister who had the same problem with her teenage children. Frustrated, she had sent all of her six children to Malaysia and then Australia, to attend Sikh Youth Camps there. The children returned anew -- with an insatiable thirst for Sikhi.

Mayor Gurcharan Singh felt that perhaps that was the way to go and asked how such a camp could be started in California. He was told that one key figure in both camps was a “wandering Sikh minstrel” called Dya Singh, accompanied with his small group of musicians. He was not “conventional” but that was what the children had liked about him– not a stuffy ‘Granthi’, but a fun loving minstrel who loved kids.

“Let us get him. We shall pay him whatever he wants, as long as he has a positive impact on the youth of our fair city,” he proclaimed.

Mrs. Kaur advised that this “larrikin raagi” and his group would soon be coming to America on an extended tour to perform in Gurdwaras and at Sikh Youth Camps. She would get in touch with Dya Singh and arrange for him to visit California for a week and interact with young boys and girls.

The parents and elders were all very delighted to know that there was still some hope for their children. Perhaps this raagi could succeed where they had all failed.

A few months passed and the day arrived when the Dya Singh World Music Group came to the city. The children were excited with anticipation! Parents looked forward to a week of learning for their children as well as spending a week without their kids! Some parents of course also volunteered to help with all sorts of sewa.

Two hundred Sikh youth arrived for the camp. Dya Singh advised them that what they were about to embark upon, was nothing like any of the Sikh camps that they had previously attended.

“This camp will be fun and you will learn a lot about yourselves, not only from us, but mainly from your Guruji and best friend, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji”.

A wonderful week of great bliss, fun, Kirtan and music, and learning had passed. On the last day of the Camp, the parents were invited to see a ‘finale’ organized by the youth. How much the children had learned about Sikhi and developed a greater pride for being Sikhs was evident. They sang upbeat Gurbani and knew some Shabads by rote, for the first time in their life. The parents were overjoyed to see their children attempting to converse in Punjabi and narrate history. It was a miracle!

Mayor Singh was very pleased but there was an undercurrent of opposition from his council and Gurdwara committee members.

“His group members are non-Sikhs,” said one.

“We can organize our own youth camps now that we know how. Why do we have to pay him so much money? He sings amongst non-Sikhs and other festivals and makes plenty of money ‘selling’ Kirtan. He does not need money from us! He should do all this as selfless sewa,” said another.

“He turned Darbar Sahib into an entertainment center! He even made everyone laugh with some jokes! Religion is serious business, he has turned religion into a ‘fun’ thing! He is blasphemous! We should never pay him or invite him here again,” said another.

Mayor Gurcharan Singh was sad but had to go along with his committee members. He summoned Dya Singh and told him that they would not be able to pay him due to the opposition. He was sorry, but that was what his committee had advised him to tell him.

This saddened Dya Singh but he had heard this opposition before and wasn't hurt by the Mayor's sentiments. He graciously thanked the townspeople for their hospitality and for letting him have a memorable week working with the youth.

Later that evening, the Dya Singh World Music Group left the town, as they sang Gurbani inside of their tour bus. All of the hundreds of children slipped away from their homes, hearing the Kirtan. They happily began singing Shabads as they followed the group and their tour bus -- lost forever to their parents, but having found a strong attachment to their beloved Sikhi.

The next morning the parents were grieving and weeping when they realized that Dya Singh had led their youth off into the 21st century to discover true Sikhi and to be closer to Waheguru.

Author's Note: I have assisted with the coordination of Dya Singh’s USA programs and traveled with the Dya Singh Group on some of their journeys over the last three years. I have always been amazed at his high energy level and aspirations to spread a very positive and vibrant Sikhi among modern Sikh youth worldwide.

However, Dya Singh is frowned upon by Sikh ‘Traditionalists’. He is not a ‘conformist’ of the ‘expected norms’ such as wearing the more traditional accepted form of dress of the kudta-pajama or Bana, at all times as expected of a Sikh religious Kirtanee. Or, singing Kirtan only to Sikh Sangats and in the prescribed raag.

Nonetheless, Dya Singh follows the traditions of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, as he travels throughout the world, sharing Sikh music with people of many different faiths and cultures. He helps to spread the universal message and spirit of the Sikh faith by performing Kirtan, using both Gurmukhi and English transliterations. Nor does Dya Singh believe that Kirtan should be confined to only within the walls of Gurdwara Sahibs. Thus he presents Kirtan in an upbeat World Music style in various venues – taking Sikh music to the world, and bringing World Music to the Sikhs. Yet, Sikh youth who are looking for 21st Century role models, love him, listen to him, and inter-act with his lovely group of non-Sikh musicians and his two daughters.

I am often inspired by Dya Singh’s Kirtan and his latest release, Dya Singh-Along which inspired me to write this short story. Indeed, many people have referred to Dya Singh as a Pied Piper.

Copyright ©2002 Shyrone Kaur. About the author