Rabbi Shergill

Winner of the - "Sikh of the year award 2008".
He deserves first post in his name. Okay leaving aside these reasons I have put him here just because he is one of the "Sikh Icons".
Bulleh Shah ( Mir Bulleh Shah Qadiri Shatari) a renowned punjabi sufi poet of the late 17th century (1680-1757) in Uch, Pakistan who was refused by the mullahs to be buried in the community graveyard because of his lifestyle, his views -that were not unorthodox (or as mullahs wanted them to be) but were the reflections of the society, represented the time he had lived pointing out the ill-logical concepts of the then living, has awakened again in the form of this Sikh Icon -Rabbi Shergill (born as Gurpreet Singh Gill in Delhi, India in 1975), this is the way the people who have heard him sees him and I'm no exception to this.
Anyone who has heard him is in love with him, is in love with his music, is in love with the lyrics of his songs and Sikhs all across the world are in love with the kind of work he is doing while keeping the Sikh identity i.e. supporting a turban and unshorn beard. This is only one of the many things that distinguish him from his contemporary Punjabi (or Hindi) singers. He sings in punabi, he sings in hindi and has the capability of mesmerisng his audience.

Hey! if you want to check the authenticity of my words you can do it by watching the video of one his songs from his second album "Avengi Ja Nahin"

So, how much authenticity have you found? I think you won't mind telling me that in the comments below. Let's come back to Rabbi Shergill.
Well, I would like to discuss everything about him with you, from his strugging life to the lyrics and meaning of his latest album "Avengi Ja Nahin" (will she come or not).but I have already told you, no history over here, so just in very brief sentences his complete struggle is what I have tried to put here. His father was a Sikh preacher and his mother is a college principal and also writes punjabi poems. He's a brother of four sisters and studied at Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur khalsa College. He struggled very much to get his first album out, he tried to get with Sony but sony backed out. He then approached Tehelka's editor in chief who like his music and offered him a contract. Here's what Minty Tejpal (editor in chief) writes about Rabbi-
Sometime in May 2000, in the midst of putting together the match-fixing expose, Rabbi Shergill walked into the tehelka office. He was wearing a calm, gentle demeanor over his trademark kurta pyjama. Smart sardar, looks like a bard, I thought. He spoke fluently in Punjabi and English, narrating a familiar tale of music companies hustling him, not recognising his talent. Yeah, sure. “You got a tape,” I asked? Rabbi fished out a tape with just two two songs – Bulla ki Jaana and Aj Nachna. I heard Rabbi’s music for the first time sitting in my car. It was stunning – great voice, haunting lyrics and some real melody — unlike any other Punjabi music I had heard. It was music that touched you, made you ache inside and yet lifted you. We went for a drive, as I listened some more, getting to know him. Tarun and Aniruddha heard the music and liked it. I pitched it to them – we have to do his album, I urged. He is the real thing.
But after Tehelka's string operation way back the company had to cancel the contract due to financial problems. I also got to know that Magnasound also had a contract with him but had to drop because of bankruptcy. Finally, all pains ended and his debut album titled "Rabbi" was out by the Phat Phish Records.
I could easily see the suspense building up there, what could be that track that made him so mush unique and liked by all. Here it is for all you out there.

Now he's out there with two solo album titles to his name and as a music director of hindi movie Delhi Heights. He has done various live shows where he has thrilled his audience and made them say, " I would love my children to sing like him, he puts life to music". Well there has been a lot of chaos among the politicians and the administration on his following song that depicts the story of a riot victim. Just check out the song...

Here are the lyrics.

Bilqis (Jinhe Naaz Hai)

Rabbi

Mera naam Bilqis Yakub Rasool ( My name is Bilqis Yakub Rasool)

Mujhse hui bas ek hi bhool ( I committed just one mistake)

Ki jab dhhundhhte thhe vo Ram ko ( That I stood in their way)

To maen kharhi thhi rah mein ( When they were looking for Ram)

Pehle ek ne puchha na mujhe kuchh pata thha ( First, one asked me but I knew nothing)

Dujey ko bhi mera yehi javab thha ( Then another but my answer was the same)

Fir itno ne puchha ki mera ab saval hai ki ( Then so many that now I have a question)

Jinhe naaz hai hind par vo kahan the ( Where are those who are proud of India)

Jinhe naaz hai vo kahan hain ( Where are those who are proud)

Mera naam shriman Satyendra Dubey ( My name gentlemen is Satyendra Dubey)

Jo kehna thha vo keh chukey ( I’ve already said what I wanted to say)

Ab parhey hain rah mein ( Now I lie on the road )

Dil mein liye ik goli ( With a bullet in my heart)

Bas itna kasur ki hamne likha thha ( My only fault being that I wrote)

Vo sach jo har kisi ki zuban thha ( A truth that was on everyone’s lips)

Par sach yahan ho jatey hain zahriley ( But truth here turn poisonous)

Jinhe naaz hai hind par vo kahan the ( Where are those who are proud of India)

Jinhe naaz hai vo kahan hain (Where are those who are proud)

Mujhe kehte hain anna Manjunath ( My name brother is Manjunath)

Maine dekhi bhatakti ek laash ( I’ve seen the corpse of conscience lying)

Zamir ki beech sarhak Lakhimpur Kherhi ( In the middle of the road at) Lakhimpur Kherhi

Adarsh phasan jahan naaron mein ( Where ideals are stuck in slogans)

Aur chor bharey darbaron mein ( And the royal courts are full of thieves)

Vahan maut akhlaq ki hai ik khabar baasi ( There the death of righteousness is old news)

Jinhe naaz hai hind par vo kahan hain ( Where are those who are proud of India)

Jinhe naaz hai vo kahan hain ( Where are those who are proud)

Mazha nau aahe Navleen Kumar (My name is Navleen Kumar)

Unnees june unnees var ( Nineteenth June and nineteen wounds)

Unnees unnees unnees unnees ( Nineteen nineteen nineteen nineteen)

Unnees vaar ( Nineteen wounds)

Unnees unnees unnees unnees (Nineteen nineteen nineteen nineteen)

Unnees unnees unnees unnees ( Nineteen nineteen nineteen nineteen)

Unnees vaar ( Nineteen wounds)

Looto dehaat kholo bazaar ( Loot the villages and open markets)

Nallasopara aur Virar ( Nallasopara & Virar

Chheeno zameen hamse hamein ( Snatch our land and send us to)

Bhejo pataal Hell)

Jinhe naaz hai hind par vo kahan hain ( Where are those who are proud of India)

Hey! I think the line Mujhe kehte hain anna Manjunath should be translated as my name is brother manjunath rather than as my name brother is manjunath. What do you think?..I think you will vote for me isn't it or will you go for Rabbi?

.....Everybody is yelling at me to prepare the tea, so I have to end up this post here and I'll put up his songs and their lyrics in the next post. Anyhow if you want to check who Bilquis is? then you may read my this post.