News

Another Chapter of Sikh History - The First Graduates in Sikh Music outside of India

14-11-2008

It took 540 years to get this far...

Thursday 13th November 2008 was a day that marked Sikh history with great pride, as not only was this day the birth day of Guru Nanak Dev Ji but also the day on which 15 Western students (Sikh and non-Sikh) graduated for the first time in history with a B.Mus (hons) in Music Performance and Composition of Sikh Music awarded by Thames Valley University London. Thames Valley University is the only university worldwide that offers this specialist degree and has built a strong faculty of Sikh and Indian Music.

This auspicious event took place at the newly built Wembley Stadium in the Great Hall in the presence of many honorable personalities such as The Chancellor, Lord Billimoria of Chelsea; Vice Chancellor, Professor Peter John; Head of London College of Music, Dr. Christopher Batchelor; Deputy Head of LCM, Sara Raybould; Head of Raj Academy and Head of the Sikh and Indian Music department at TVU, Professor Surinder Singh and world renowned journalist and Raj Academy Chief Media Advisor and India Recruitment Officer, Mr Nirpal Singh Shergill as well as many other great personalities.

For the first time in 540 years, Sikhs have now stepped onto the platform of British Academia where Sikh Music has been taught as a recognised bachelors degree and today witnessed the first set of students graduating on this very course. It could be called a coincidence or fate that this event took place on the very day commemorating the Gurpurab of the First Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

The names of the Graduates are as follows:
Kuljit Kaur Bajaj, Christine Frank, Lyn Stronach, Raslila Grant, Phuldip Kaur Gupta, Jasvir Kaur Matharu, Emma Moorakh, Amrik Phull, Pritpal Singh Pooni, Jasdeep Singh Rahal, Gurpreet Kaur Rayat, Harcharan Singh Rayat, Balwant Kaur Rehal, Amanroop Kaur Surdhar, Gurjinder Kaur Thethi

It was a very special day for all; students, teachers and families and this event was a result of the hard work and effort of Professor Surinder Singh who has strived single handedly to take Sikh Music (Gurmat Sangeet) to a recognised platform, and all credit goes to his dedication and determination.     

This event pays homage to “300 saal Guru de naal”.