AMRITSAR: Pakistan’s young Hindu shabad and devotional singer Jatinder Kumar aspires to sing shabad in Golden Temple but fears that being a non-kesadhari Sikh, he may not be allowed to do so.“For over a year, I have been singing shabads at the local gurdwara Gurpota Sahib in accordance with maryada, thinking that I am singing shabad in Golden Temple of Amritsar,” said Jatinder Kumar, while talking to TOI over the phone from Pakistan on Tuesday.Kumar, a 25-year-old BCom graduate sings shabad and Sikh devotional songs with another shabad singer, Amit Kumar. He is assisted by Sahil Kumar on tabla at the gurdwara in Kherpur Mir’s city in Khairpur district of Sindh province in Pakistan.He said he expressed his desire with many Nanakpanthis (followers of Guru Nanak Dev) as well as Gurdwara Gurpota Sahib president Nanak Ram. But, he said, he fears that the administration of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) may not allow him to sing shabad in Golden Temple since he does not have a turban and beard."I will talk to the SGPC president in this regard," he said.According to Kumar, he and his fellow shabad singers are frequently invited to gurdwaras and homes of Sikhs and Hindus across the Sindh province, who are Nanakpanthis for the most part.He said he had been going to the gurdwara regularly since the age of nine. “Earlier, I used to perform cleaning sewa (voluntary service) in the gurdwara. Then I started learning the tabla and joined a group of shabad singers. Gradually, I started singing devotional songs and hymns,” he said.Jatinder Kumar also said the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) does not have any role in gurdwaras in Sindh. He said he teaches youth how to play the tabla and harmonium, besides imparting knowledge about the ragas.

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