We all Kahma Niwasis can take pride and stand tall when we look at the contribution of one family who contributed tremendously to the film and radio industry of India. This was the family of Pandit Devi Chand who was born in our village. He had an immense love for music and was expert in shastri sangeet. He instilled his passion of music in his three sons namely Pandit Amar Nath, Pandit Bhagat Ram and Pandit Hussan Lal and started giving them the education of shastri sangeet from early childhood.
 

Pandit Amar Nath

Pandit Amar Nath, the elder son of Devi Chand, was born in Kahma in 1905 and started learning shastri sangeet. In 1930 he moved to Lahore and started singing in films and Radio Station Lahore. He also became Dharam Bhara (brother by way of the same religion) of Kundan Lal Sehgal. He was a great harmonium player and following films were made under his music direction.
 

• Nishani (1942)
• Papi (1943)
• Dasi (1944)
• Earada (1944)
• Panchhi (1944)
• Dhamki (1945)
• KaiseKahoon (1945)
• Gagni (1945)
• Ghumke (1946)
• Sham Savera (1946)
• Shahar Se Door (1946)
• Mirza Sahiban (1947)

 

Unfortunately, Pandit Amar Nath passed away on February 20, 1947 at the young age of 42 before his last film Mirza Sahiban was completed. His farsightedness guided him to request his two younger brothers Pandit Bhagat Ram and Pandit Hussan lal to join him in Lahore. They also started directing music in films in 1944. It was this duel who completed his film Mirza Sahiban.
 
He left his son Harbans about whom not much is known but this much we know that he is a great violin player and under his own banner he produced music for a very famous Punjabi film Chahudari Karnail Singh. After him there is no body from Pandit Amar Nath’s family in film world. It is believed that Harbans stayed in the village at some occasions and our elders such as Jagat Singh, Mahan Singh and Sarwan Singh learnt music from him.

 

Pandit Bhagat Ram

Pandit Bhagat Ram was born in Kahma in 1918 and was13 years younger than his older brother Pandit Amar Nath. After getting some harmonium training at Parkash Studio in Bombay he joined Pandit Amar Nath in Lahore. Later on the youngest brother Pandit Hussan Lal joined him and both went to Bombay to try their luck in films in Bombay. Under the banner of Hussan Lal Bhagat Ram they gave music in their first film Chand in 1944. After this hit the pair gave music in almost 50 films till 1966. At this juncture, for some reasons they did not get any films and Pandit Bhagat Ram started playing harmonium, tabla and dholak for other music directors. On November 27, 1973 he passed away in Bombay and left a great legacy behind. His son Ashoke Parabhakar otherwise known as Ashoke Sharma is believed to be carrying the torch and still plays sitar along with his Parsi (Persian) wife Zareen Daruwala on sarode for other music directors.

 

Pundit Hussan Lal

Pandit Hussan lal was the youngest of all three brothers and was born on April 08, 1920. He was a great singer and gained expertise in thumri, gazal, light classical and bharatya shastri sangeet. He was also a great violinist as well. He joined Pandit Amar Nath at Lahore in 1940 and this culminated in the formation of the first dual (jori) of music directors in the film industry as Hussan Lal Bhagat Ram.

 

Their first film produced in 1944 was Chand. This film was a tremendous hit and celebrated its silver jubilee and they became famous as music directors. The films with their music are as follows.

• Chand (1944)
• Hum Eik Hain (1946)
• Nargis (1946)
• Heera (1947)
• Mohan (1947)
• Romeo and Juliett (1947)
• Aap Ki Rat (1948)
• Lakhpati (1948)
• Piar Ki Jeet (1948)
• Amar Kahani (1949)
• Balam (1949)
• Bansaria (1949)
• Bari Behan (1949)
• HamariManzil (1949)
• Jaltarang (1949)
• Nach (1949)
• Rakhi (1949)
• SavanBhadon (1949)
• Bhabi (1949)
• AdhiRaat (1950)
• ApniChhaya (1950)
• Birha Ki Raat (1950)
• ChhotiBhabi (1950)
• Gauna (1950)
• Sher Afgaan (1966)

• Meena Bazar (1950)
• Piar Ki Manzil (1950)
• Sartaj (1950)
• Surajmukhi (1950)
• Afsana (1951)
• Sanam (1951)
• Shagan (1951)
• Kafila (1952)
• Raja Harish Chandar 1952)
• Stage (1952)
• Aansoo (1953)
• Farmaish (1953)
• ShamaParwana (1954)
• Adle Jahangir (1955)
• Kanchan (1955)
• Mr. Chakram (1956)
• Aan Baan (1956)
• Dushman (1957)
• Zannat (1957)
• Krishan Sudhama 57
• Trali Driver (1958)
• Kia Baat Hai (1959)
• Apsra (1961)
• Shahid Bhagat Singh (1963)
• Tarzan and Circus (1966)

 

 

After this successful era a decline in their popularity in film industry started but their non film music was still very popular. Their one achievement which cannot escape notice was when on January 30, 1948 Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi was organised on the third day. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was attending this event and at his instructions, Information and Broadcast Ministry requested Pandit Hussan Lal to prepare tune for the song written by song writer Rajinder Krishan. Pandit Hussan Lal prepared the tune and sang it himself first and then it was recorded in the melodious voice of Mohammad Rafi. The song was hit and it goes like this:

 

Suno suno oh duniya walo bapuji ki amar kahani. It is with pride that we Kahma walas can hold our heads high and walk tall that the creators of this famous tune Hussan Lal Bhagat Ram were born in Kahma.

 

In their first film Chand, earlier singers like Zeenat Begum, Durani, Manju and Sitara sang in their music. In their later films Zohra Bai, Paro Devi, Noor Zahan, Suraya and Mohan Tara etc. sang for them. In 1949, Suraya sang an ever green song “O dour jane wale wahda na bhool jana” in their music. Surinder Kaur, Mohammed Rafi and Geeta Datt followed them. People today still sing this memorable song “Ik dil ke tukre hazar huai koi jahan gira koi vahan gira” sung by Mohammed Rafi in tune prepared by them.

 
Lata Mangeshkar sang first time in Bari Behan in 1949 and the hit song was “chale jana nahin nain mila ke” After that every film with music by Hussan Lal Bhagat Ram Lata Mangeshkar was the lead singer.
 
In 1966 differences with Lata Mangeshkar started growing and she stopped singing for them. In their last film Sher Afgan Suman Kalayanpur and Aasha Bhonsle sang instead. Hussan Lal then left Bombay and came to Delhi at the invitation of Door Darshan Delhi to share his experiences. Before he could fulfil his promises he passed away on 28 December 1968 at the young age of 48. He is survived by his wife Nirmala Devi, son Dinesh Parbhakar and daughter Paryanka Vishishat who herself is a great singer.
 

Jeevan – The Film Actor

Hukam Chand Chhoula (real name) was born in 1932 in Kahma. His father Sundar Ram belonged to a very poor family making living by raising a herd of goats. He was a sharp boy and studied up to grade 4 in the village school and completed his grade 8 education at village Gunachaur. From early childhood he started writing poetry and songs. In 1950 – 1951 Pandit Hussan Lal and Bhagat Ram came to our village to attend a wedding. Sunder Ram requested them to take his son with them as he was a good poet and song writer. They obliged and Hukma ended up in Bombay and started his career as a villain under the name of Jeevan. He played as Naradmuni in many films and made his name.
 
Some of his famous movies were, Do Phool (1958), Naun Do Giaran(1958), Sangram (1964), Waqat (1965), Talash (1969), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Dharamvir (1977), Sanam Teri Kasam (1982). In total he acted in about 300 films. He was married to a girl from nearby village Jabowal but after going to Bombay he got married to the daughter of a rich Marwari Seth from Poona. He was blessed with two sons and a daughter. One of his sons Kiran Kumar is still working in TV serials.

 

Kuldip Deepak

Contribution of Kahma to music and art continued when rising star Kuldip Deepak took over the torch and continued to date. Kuldip was born in Kahma and is the younger son of Jagat Singh Thekedar. He started singing at a very early age at village gurdwaras on the persuasion of his father who himself was a good gurbani singer.
 
Kuldip Deepak migrated to Canada after completing his Master’s Degree in History from Punjab University in Chandigarh, India. He landed in Canada in 1972 and immediately started working as a Management Trainee at Consumers Distributing. Although Kuldip was employed full-time since his arrival to Canada, he sought ways to satisfy his creative nature. He was determined to pursue his dream of becoming a presence on the Indian music, art and cultural scene.

 

Punjab DI Goonj Radio show

In 1978, Kuldip made his dream a reality by producing and hosting the Punjabi radio show, “Punjab Di Goonj” The show was well received in the community, so much so that it is one, which he produces and hosts to this very day. With over thirty years of being broadcast, it is the longest-running radio show of its kind in all of North America and thousands of listeners. It can also be heard on the internet.
 
Kuldip Deepak is the first and only Indian radio producer to receive an award from main stream Canadian broadcasting. He was nominated by and received a highly prestigious award from the Canadian Ethnic Journalists & Writers Club, on June 27, 2003, for his contribution to Canadian society and journalism.
 

Televison Show:

Kuldip’s multi-faceted talent does not end there. He also produced and hosted an Indo-Canadian entertainment TV show “Jhalak Punjab Dee” for over eight years on CHEX Television in Toronto as well as the very popular TV show “Intezar”.
 
“Intezar” TV show was a variety show Kuldip co-produced and co-hosted with his wife, Sharan, on Vison Television Network. This show has further cemented Kuldip’s popularity and elevated the husband-wife duo to star status in Punjabi homes all across Canada.
 

Musical Albums:

Since his younger age, Kuldip has dedicated his life to pursuing his love for music. Most notably, he was the first artist to produce an Indian album in North America. The title of the album was “Kuldip Deepak Sings Shiv Batalvi”. This album gave Kuldip instant recognition worldwide. Since that time, he has gone on to produce nine more musical albums.
 
Kuldip has successfully put the works of many poets into music. He has selected lyrics from famous classical literary Punjabi poets such as Shiv Kumar, Amrita Pritam, Surjit Patar, S.S. Misha and Gurcharan Rampuri. Some of this poetry had never been presented in musical form before. He is best-known internationally, for his renditions of the works of Shiv Batalvi.
 
Kuldip has also been fortunate enough to have worked with such famous artists like internationally renowned ghazal singer, the late, Jagjit Singh, famous music Director Charanjit Ahuja and some well known Music Directors from Bollywood who composed the music of his albums.

 

Some of his Musical Albums:

• Kuldip Deepak Sings Shiv Batalvi
• Memories of Shiv – Music Jagjit Singh
• EkSahSajna Da – Music Prem Gupta
• Passion – Music Charan Jit Ahuja
• Mid Night – LalitDildar

 

He has been also featured in the album “Shiv Kumar Solid Gold”, along with Mahindra Kapoor, Jagjit & Chitra Singh, and Punjabi folk singer Surinder Kaur and many more Punjabi Singers.
 
Born and brought up in Village Kahma, Kuldip gives credit to his father Late S. Jagat Singh, who after recognising his natural ability to sing, continuesly encouraged him to go on stages and perform. Kuldip was only 4 years old when he performed in front of Jawahar Lal Nehru in a major Political Rally with close to one hundred thousand audience in Anandpore Sahib.
 
Kuldip also gives credit to the people of his own village Kahma who appreciated his ability to sing and encouraged him to perform on various religious and cultural stages from very young age. During his school and college years he went on to learn music for over 3 years from his music guru Harbhajan Singh ji at Mohan Sangeet Vidyalia in Banga. Kuldip Deepak also like to thank his teachers, professors fellow students, friends and his family who recognised his strength in music and encouraged him.

 

Band of Naranjan Singh
This band was very popular in the early nineteen forties in the area until the late sixties. His band played a major role at the weddings.

 
Contributions to Professions
This segment is added simply to provide incentive, encouragement and enthusiasm to current and future younger generation so that they can realize their potential. It is our belief that it is certainly possible provided they are prepared to set their goals, persevere and work hard to achieve them. Kahma Canadian Association would like to be a part of that success in any way possible. Here are some examples of the achievements of some Kahma walas.
 

Medicine and Pharmacy

• Dr. Rupinder Singh Mahil, M.D. son of Joginder Singh Mahil
• Dr. Jaspaul Singh Dulku, M.D. (Canada) son of Amrik Singh Dulku
• Dr. Amarjit Singh Dulku M.D. (U.K.) son of Mohan Singh
• Dr. Gurminder Singh M.D. (U.K.) grandson (dohtra) of Mohan Singh
• Dr. Guminder Singh Banwait M.D. (U.K.) grandson (dohtra) of Jagat Singh Thekedar
• Dr. Arvind Singh, M.D. (Canada) son of Gurmail Singh son of Hazara Singh (U.P. wale)
• Dr. Harminder Kaur Dhillon, M.D. (Canada), wife of Arvind Singh son of Gurmail Singh son of Hazara Singh (U.P. wale)
• Ranjit Singh B.Sc. Pharmacy (Canada), son of Gurmail Singh son of Hazara Singh
• Roopinder Kaur B.Sc. Nursing (Canada) daughter of Piara Singh Roshan

 

Engineering

• Mahan Singh S.D.O.
• Piara Singh Kandola S.D.O
• Mohinder Singh B. E. son of Hazara Singh Africa wale.
• Piara Singh Roshan M.Sc. Engineering (UK) P. Eng. (Canada) son of Dhana Singh.
• Gurmit Singh P. Eng. (Canada) son of Jagat Singh Thekedar

 

Teaching

• Darshan Singh son of Havaldar Gurdit Singh B.A., B.T. started his own school in Bhiwani Haryana.
• Malkit Singh M.A., B.T. son of Sham Singh taught in Banga.
• Sucha Singh B.A., B.T. son of Kishan Singh Jhikka taught in Barnala.
• Piara Singh Roshan B.A., B. T. Son of Dhana Singh taught in Mahil Gaila.
• Mohan Singh B.A., B.T. son of Kartar Singh taught in Nawanshahar.
• Davinder Singh Art and Craft Teacher son of Sham Singh taught in —
• Gurmej Kaur Punjabi Language Teacher wife of Davinder Singh taught in Kahma.
• Gian Chand M.A. B.T son of Chanan Singh taught in Kahma as principal.
• Gurmail Singh son of Nanta Singh J.B.T. taught in Barnala.
• Nirmal Singh Drawing Teacher son of Banta Singh (billian de) taught in Mahil Gaila.
• Avtar Singh Lehal J.B.T.
• Varinder Singh Roshan, B.A., B.Ed. (Canada) son of Piara Singh son of Dhana Singh, currently teaching in Mississauga Ontario Canada

 

Business

• Information requested

 

IT

• Information requested

 

Law

• Raminder Singh Dulku L.L.B. (U. K.) son of Amrik Singh Dulku Canada