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Nirmal Singh Khalsa

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Bhai & Panth Ratan
Nirmal Singh Khalsa
Hazoori Ragi Darbar Sahib
Singh Khalsa in September 2011
Born(1952-04-12)12 April 1952
Jandwala Bhimeshah, Ferozepur, Punjab, India
Died2 April 2020(2020-04-02) (aged 67)
Resting placeFatehgarh Shukarchak
Alma materShaheed Missionary College
Occupations
TitleHazoori Ragi
Children3
AwardsPadma Shri (2009)
WebsitePadma Shri Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa

Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa (12 April 1952 – 2 April 2020) was a Sikh Hazoori Ragi of Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab, India.

Early life and career

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Bhai Nirmal Singh was born on 12 April 1952 at Jandwala Bhimeshah in Fazilka, Punjab.[1] In 1976, he graduated with a Diploma in Gurmat Sangeet from Shaheed Missionary College, Amritsar. In 1977–78, he served as a music teacher at Gurmat College in Rishikesh and later taught at Shaheed Sikh Missionary College in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. From 1979, he started serving as a Hazoori Ragi at Darbar Sahib. He had performed Kirtan at all five Takhts, various historical Gurdwaras across South Asia and throughout 71 countries. Bhai Sahib was a highly regarded ragi with knowledge of all 31 Raags of Guru Granth Sahib.

For services in the field of arts, Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa was awarded the Padma Shri,[2] fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India in 2009.[3] He was the first Hazoori Ragi to receive this award.[4]

Death

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On 2 April 2020, Nirmal Singh Khalsa died due to cardiac arrest after testing positive for COVID-19, at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar.[5] His body was cremated at village Fatehgarh Shukarchak in Amritsar.

References

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  1. ^ Tur, Jatinder Kaur. "COVID-19: A Padma Shri awardee from the Mazhabi Sikh community was denied cremation spaces in Punjab". The Caravan. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  2. ^ http://india.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=14, "Padma Awards at the Govt of India Portal".
  3. ^ "Bhai Nirmal Singh gets Padma Shree". The Tribune. India. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Who was Giani Nirmal Singh? Ex-Hazoori Raagi of Golden Temple, Amritsar". IndiaTV. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  5. ^ Former Hazoori Ragi Nirmal Singh Khalsa dead due to COVID-19 The Tribune. Retrieved 2 April 2020.