S. Babu Singh Maan carries a deep understanding of religion, heritage, and the dignity of the land. Among his songs, the ghorī written in praise of Guru Nanak Patshah’s wedding procession is an extraordinary creation. He shows remarkable skill in weaving a religious theme into a folk rhythm and composing it in a way that feels completely natural.
Set to the toombi played by Muhammad Sadiq, and sung beautifully by Bibi Ranjit Kaur, this piece is so captivating that one feels like listening to it again and again.
For us, the importance of this song becomes even greater because he was born in the Batala region. Guru Nanak Dev Ji came to Batala for his wedding, arriving from Sultanpur (from the in-laws’ village of his elder sister, Bibi Nanaki). Even today, this wedding occasion is remembered as “Babe da Viyah” and is celebrated every year. The ghorī written by Babu Singh Maan Ji in Guru Sahib’s honour is like this — and doesn’t it feel as if Bibi Nanaki herself is singing the wedding song for her brother?
Punjabi poem (kept same, only in English script)
Latkende vaal sone diyan lariyan
Nanak veera main tainu ghorī chadhēnī ān.
Terī akhīāṁ ‘ch nām sarūr vīrā ve.
Tere mukhṛe te rabb da nūr vīrā.
Tū aṇdisde manzil da rāhī,
Tū ikk jagdī jot ilāhī,
Nanak veera
Main tainu ghorī chadhēnī ān.
Terī sabh ton nirālī shān vīrā.
Terī ramzāṁ ton jagg kurbān vīrā.
Sāthī bālāṁ te mardānā,
Vīrā bann shagnāṁ da gānā,
Nanak veera main tainu ghorī chadhēnī ān.
Dittā sat santokh da dāj vīrā ve,
Jihṛī bannī dā tū sirtāj vīrā ve,
Oh te giān dhiān dī sītā,
Māṁ ne vār ke pāṇī pītā,
Nanak veera main tainu ghorī chadhēnī ān.
Terī duniyā de vich jai jai kār hove.
Sabh lok terā parivār hove.
“Mānā” sūraj chann sitāre,
Tere bannan barātī sāre,
Nanak veera main tainu ghorī chadhēnī ān.
S. Babu Singh Maan has a rare and powerful ability to compose devotional songs. When he writes about the Tenth Guru, Dasmesh Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, he fills the writing with complete force and spirit. This song itself stands as proof.
Punjabi poem (kept same, only in English script)
Jāvo nī jāvo saīyo
Shradhā nāl jā ke kahīyo
Devo sandeshā
Nīle de shāh asvār nū
Sant sipāhī bann ke jisne
Khedī khed niārī –
Main balihārī
Aje tīk vī jhuk jhuk sajde
Kare srishtī sārī – sau sau vārī
Param-purakh gurū-rūp-khālsā
Panth de sirjanahār nū…
Jāvo nī jāvo saīyo…
Dharam-het parivār vār
Jis rabb dā shukar manāyā – karz chukāyā
Sabh kuch maut de mūṁh vich de ke
Mahāmbalī muskāyā –
Naīṁ ghabrāyā.
Namaskār lakh vār merā
Us pūran gur-avtār nū
Jāvo nī jāvo saīyo…
Sabhbe sānjhīvāl sadāin dā
Jis dittā nāhrā –
Baṛā pyārā
‘Mān’ uhde updeshāṁ nū ajj
Bhulyā ālam sārā –
Fer do bārā
Jagat jalndā yād karendā
Dushṭ-daman dātār nū
Jāvo nī jāvo saīyo…
I have grown up, so to speak, drawing deep meaning from the continuous flowing stream of folk tradition inside Babu Singh Maan’s songs. He feels like someone walking ten years ahead of me, holding a lantern — a guide who shows the way.
In his company, laughter bursts open like pomegranates; there is a joy like the fragrance released when one crushes tiny cardamom pods. To be around him feels like breathing in the very breeze of fragrance.
At present, S. Babu Singh Maan spends most of his time in Mohali, and some time with his family in his ancestral village, Maraar (Faridkot). For countless writers like me, he stands like a luminous lighthouse — a generous giver of language. I offer a prayer for his long and healthy life.
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