Where did you get your passion for music from?   My whole family is connected to music. My mother, father, brother and sister are all lecturers in music. My father Dr. R.N. Singh is a renowned music professor in Northern India. He has taught M.A. and Ph.D students. Since I was a child, I would hear their recitals and performances. When I got round to doing my M.A. in Music, I knew many parts of music by ear. You could say I had a flow for music, an automatic ear for music.   In Akbar's Darbar, there were the famous nine jewels - Nav Rattans. One jewel was Tansen, the musician. He could change the weather by invoking Raagas. When I used to give my dad tea, I'd just sit and listen in on what was being practiced. When I hummed a tune later, my dad would tell me which Raag it was.   What is your favorite music and why?   Classical is my favorite music. Classical is our heritage and even though composers use varieties and modern music, their base is classical. We must preserve our heritage. When you have mastered classical music, you can master any music.

Your studies?

I did an M.A from M.D. University, Rohtak, Haryana. (Topper which means I was first in the university), Sangeet Praveen (equivalent of M.A), Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad (I secured second position in India). I also did a Ph.D on Goswami Tulsidas Krit (Vinay Patrika mein Raag or Ras Sambandhi Vivechar).

How did you come to Baru Sahib?

I was a music lecturer in Khalsa Collge, Barara, Ambala. I left work to raise my son and my husband went to work abroad. I was at one point alone at home. I had been selected for Birla School, Nainital. I was all packed to go and went to my father. My father had a gut instinct that Nainital wouldn't be good for me. He worried that earthquakes took place there and it was risky. In those days, a friend of my father, Jaivinder Veerji, someone who has dedicated years of devotion to Baru Sahib, called and said, “we need a good music teacher, who will train the women in our Academy and start up formally a music Academy.” Jaivinder Veerji knew nothing about me. My father said he'd look at who was under his study but that he knew one person who was very talented and who could teach women to Ph.D level. My father said, “However, there is one condition - She wouldn't teach beyond six hours, so that the rest of her time was spent in composing music”.

Baba Ji encouraged me to join. I was worried that I didn't know Punjabi or Gurbani - how would I teach the students?

Then what happened?

I came to Baru Sahib with my mother, but I explained that I simply couldn't fulfill all expectations. Baba Ji just stayed silent and blessed me on my forehead and asked me to go and teach. My heart and mind stayed in Baru Sahib and I haven't looked back since and have been teaching for five years.

Tell me about your students?

Most come from disadvantaged rural backgrounds and their families are struggling. They don't tend to have studied but are devoted in gaining some learning and doing some Sewa for the institution for a while.

Babaji wanted me to train them so well that once they leave, they are empowered as women. They don't have to rely on anyone for the rest of their lives. Tabla and Gurmat sangeet are compulsory for every girl. I focus on teacher training and allow my students to develop competency in teaching others. In India, becoming a teacher is an important job opportunity for women as in this country unemployment is very high. Most of my students, who have left have found jobs in music teaching.

I started with 14 students and now I teach 100. My students practice their teacher training by training other students. They take theory classes and teach in junior classes. I keep an eye on classes and directly teach senior students. In the end, if they complete training they will get ‘Sangeet Pabhakar Diploma' - the equivalent of a B.Ed. and be able to teach music in schools.

I am proud to have grown a tradition that has been in Baru Sahib for years - a Music Academy: Advancement of Women, ‘Akal Gurmat Sangeet Kala Kendar'.

Why teach Tabla to women?

So that women don't end up dependent on men to play Tabla as is culturally the case. Also, so they are independent and versatile in all instruments. This is Baba Ji's hopes for our students.

With all your qualifications, have you never been tempted to teach in university and earn more money as well as status?

I am qualified to teach music at University level (UGC Net). I am only here because I know my students are rising from their original, humble situations in rural disadvantage. Along with this, my students are spreading the message of peace and Gurbani and Sangeet to the world. All the Jathas who go abroad are from here and trained by me. I feel this as a reward. In helping women from non-advantageous situations to rise above their situation is a reward that simple money and status cannot give. My husband, Rajiv, is inspired by my devotion in helping such a movement to empower women and with Baba Ji's dedication in service for humanity. Even though, Rajiv works in Noida and I am here with my son studying here, we are both inspired by this spiritual mission.

Thanks so much Dr. Purvi for sharing your insights with us and your inspiring mission.