| Bhai & Panth RatanNirmal Singh KhalsaHazoori Ragi Darbar Sahib | |
|---|---|
 Singh Khalsa in September 2011 | |
| Born | (1952-04-12)12 April 1952 Jandwala Bhimeshah, Ferozepur, Punjab, India |
| Died | 2 April 2020(2020-04-02) (aged 67) Amritsar, Punjab, India |
| Resting place | Fatehgarh Shukarchak |
| Alma mater | Shaheed Missionary College |
| Occupations | |
| Title | Hazoori Ragi |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Padma Shri (2009) |
| Website | Padma 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
Bhai Nirmal Singh was born on 12 April 1952 at Jandwala Bhimeshah in Fazilka, Punjab. 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, fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India in 2009. He was the first Hazoori Ragi to receive this award.
Death
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. His body was cremated at village Fatehgarh Shukarchak in Amritsar.
References
- 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.
- http://india.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=14, "Padma Awards at the Govt of India Portal".
- "Bhai Nirmal Singh gets Padma Shree". The Tribune. India. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- "Who was Giani Nirmal Singh? Ex-Hazoori Raagi of Golden Temple, Amritsar". IndiaTV. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- Former Hazoori Ragi Nirmal Singh Khalsa dead due to COVID-19 The Tribune. Retrieved 2 April 2020.