City lad’s book of poems on Sikh Panth

Amritsar, March 18

A young poet, Arvinder Singh, has come up with his first book of poems — ‘Sohlae Guru Panth Ke’.

A masters degree holder in religious studies, Arvinder is learning the traditional music instruments and Gurbani recital under the tutelage of renowned Gurbani exponent Bhai Baldeep Singh. Singh says he started penning ‘sohlae’ (songs of praise) around three years ago. Singh has studied the traditional poetry style extensively for years before making an effort to revive the old poetic style. His first book is a collection of songs of praise on Sikh institutes, rituals, beliefs, traditional dresses and instruments of the Panth.

“To me, poem is a verse what can be sung. If you feel a poem cannot be sung, either you have not got its essence or you do not know how to sing it,” he says.

Arvinder Singh said that he learned about traditional poetry in the company of varied groups as Nihang Singhs’ Dal. Arvindar says that he has learned a lot from the works of Pandit Kartar Singh Dhakha. The book will be released on Hola Mohalla at Shri Anandpur Sahib in coming days. — TNS