Darshan Singh Komal was born 2nd September 1918 in the Punjabi village of Nangal Kalan, Dist Hoshiarpur into the house of Hauldar Maluk Singh and Bibi Manho Kaur. At the young age of 2, Komal Ji lost sight in both eyes and became blind.
Accepting the Hukam of Waheguru, the parents sought Sangeet Sikhiya for Komal Ji, who was then enrolled into the Sangeet Vidiyala of Ustad Rababi Bhai Sain Ditta Ji (Punjab Gharana) at Chief Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar, where Komal Ji studied for 7 years. After this time, Komal Ji went on to spend 7 years in Multan, teaching as Sangeet Ustad in the school of Master Hukam Chand.
Following this, Komal Ji started the Guru Nanak Sangeet Vidyala in the Doaba region and also formed a Ragi/Dhadi Jatha with; Gurbachan Singh Hamdard, Jathedar Amar Singh, Kartar Singh Sarangi Master, Chanan Singh Nirmaan and Karam Singh Bahowal. This Jatha quickly became popular and went on to do sewa throughout Punjab until the death of Komal Ji on 24th April 1962.
Komal Ji was a towering figure in the world of Sangeet, Gurmat Sangeet, Kirtan, Raag, Dhadi, Poetry (Kaav/Kavi) and Astrology. Komal Ji was a prolific author and lyricist, and remained a fearless and dedicated voice of the Sikh Panth. Komal Ji was a powerful advocate of Punjab and the Punjabi language, clearly evident in their life and works. Komal Ji was referred to as the "Heartbeat of Punjab" and was regarded as the Shahenshah (Emperor) of Geet and Ghazals.
Most importantly, Komal Ji was Ustad to some of the biggest names in Sangeet, specifically, in the world of Gurmat Sangeet in the 20th/21st centuries, creating many experts involved in Kirtan seva internationally. Komal Ji's legacy continues to live on in this day through students of students - the Komal Phulwari.
Komal Ji was Ustad to approximately 2000 students within their short life of 44 years, of which around 25 years were spent teaching.
Students of Komal Ji
Komal Ji had over 3,500 students in their tutelage, therefore the student list is very extensive and long. It is important to reference names of some individuals below. This is list is not a complete list of students.
If you have any names, information or pictures to be added to Komal Ji's list of students, please email info@darshansinghkomal.com
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal, Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard (1963) as the Jatha following the death of Komal Ji.
Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard (c.1969)
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal
Bhai Ajit Singh Sohal, Jathedar Tirath Singh, Giani Chanan Singh Nirmaan, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard, Giani Ajit Singh Lutera Kalan, Bhai Didar Singh Nangal, Giani Gian Singh Surjit
Gravesend, Kent. 1977
Bhai Dharam Singh Zakhmi
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard.
Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, Clarence Place, Gravesend. c.1969
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard.
May 1979
Guru Amardas Ji's 500th Gurpurab
Royal Albert Hall, London.
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal (Sarangi Master), Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard.
Punjab c.1981
Bhai Shamsher Singh Zakhmi & Jatha
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard
July 1974
Progressive Likhari Sabha, Hounslow
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard.
Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, Clarence Place, Gravesend. c.1969
colourised
Bhai Pargat Singh Matharu (student of Master Rattan Ji of Phagwara), Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard
New York, USA. c.1978
colourised
Giani Sital Singh Sitara
Giani Inderjit Singh (Derby)
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard
c.1968
colourised
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard
6 Dec 1969
Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 500th Gurpurab Celebrations
Royal Albert Hall, London
colourised
Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard (c.1969) - colourised
Bhai Dharam Singh Zakhmi & Jatha
(left to right) Bhai Amrik Singh, Bhai Shamsher Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh and Bhai Hariqbal Singh Zakhmi
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard
6 Dec 1969
Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 500th Gurpurab Celebrations
Royal Albert Hall, London
colourised
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Sital Singh Sitara
Giani Inderjit Singh (Derby)
Ragi Beant Singh Bijli
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal & Jatha
Sarbjit Singh and Sukhdev Singh
NY, USA c.1985
Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard
1977
Giani Inderjit Singh (Derby) & Sons
Ragi Ajit Singh Mutlashi
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal & Jatha
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal & Jatha
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal & Jatha
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal & Jatha
Giani Sital Singh Sitara, Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Ragi Ajit Singh Mutlashi & others
12 September 1992
Ramgharia Sabha Slough
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal & Jatha
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal & Jatha
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard
6 Dec 1969
Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 500th Gurpurab Celebrations
Royal Albert Hall, London
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard, Bhai Bhupinder Singh (Tabla)
Jathedar Tirath Singh, Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Bhai Didar Singh Nangal (Sarangi Master), Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard.
Gravesend, Kent. 1977
Giani Chanan Singh Nirmaan, Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Bhai Ajit Singh Sohal, Giani Ajit Singh Lutera, Bhai Bhupinder Singh (Tabla)
Gravesend, Kent 1977
Giani Chanan Singh Nirmaan, Bhai Ajit Singh Sohal, Bhai Didar Singh Nangal (Sarangi Master), Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard, Giani Ajit Singh Lutera (Tabla)
Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, Clarence Place, Gravesend.
1977
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal, Bhai Ajit Singh Lutera
Gravesend, Kent. 1977
Bhai Didar Singh Nangal (Sarangi Master), Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Bhai Ajit Singh Sohal
Gravesend, Kent, 1977
Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Bhai Ajit Singh Sohal, Jathedar Tirath Singh, Giani Chanan Singh Nirmaan, Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard, Bhai Didar Singh Nangal, Giani Ajit Singh Lutera
1977
Jathedar Amar Singh, Bhai Ajit Singh Sohal
Punjab c.1977
Giani Gurbachan Singh Hamdard, Bhai Pargat Singh Matharu (student of Master Rattan Ji of Phagwara), Giani Gian Singh Surjit, Bhai Ajit Singh Sohal
Gravesend, Kent. 1977
Bhai Ajit Singh Sohal, Giani Chanan Singh Nirmaan, Bhai Didar Singh Nangal, Giani Ajit Singh Lutera
Giani Sital Singh Sitara
Bhai Ravinder Singh Khera, Giani Sital Singh SItara
Giani Raghbir Singh Diwana (Nairobi, Kenya)
There are various books published containing Komal Ji's works,
including Geet, Dhadi Vaaran, Kavishri and other poetry.
All Rights Reserved | Sangeet Professor Darshan Singh Komal Memorial Trust