We had many performers at Drishti’s first anniversary; we had artists, musicians, dancers and models. But there was one young man in particular that really caught our eye. His name is Gurpreet Singh Mangat, a man proud of his culture, and not afraid to show it. From his colorful turban, to the tumbi in his hand, he looks as if he was straight out of a music video. Not only did he model in traditional Indian attire, but he also performed, played his tumbi, and got the crowd riled up. His flare and flamboyance have even earned him the name of Sardhara Singh, and we had a chance to sit down with him and ask him some questions.
Drishti: So Gurpreet, tell us a little bit about yourself, your family and your education.
Gurpreet: Well, what is there to tell, I’m just an average guy born and raised in Canada really. I mean, yeah, I grew up with about 20 people living in one little house but I guess that’s why I’m so attached to my Punjabi roots. I went to John Oliver, and then graduated from BCIT. You say you are attached to your Punjabi roots, can you elaborate on that for us?
Of course. When I was young, anyone who came over to Canada from India lived with us. Over time there were about 20 of us living under one roof, interacting and talking (in Punjabi) every day. So even though I was born in Canada, I was raised in my very own slice of Punjab, and I loved it!
Wow, many kids try and keep their Punjabi side and Canadian side separate, but you seem to have embraced them both. Tell us, how did you end up with the name Sardhara Singh?
It’s a funny story. Over the years I’ve been called many things by my friends, Singh Sahib, Sardhar Ji, things like that. One day at work someone was trying to get my attention and yelled out, “Oi! Sardhara Singh!” and the name just stuck. Well Sardhara Singh, what are your hobbies…what are your likes and dislikes?
Hobbies, hmm, I’d have to think about that. I go to the gym every morning, and I love to sketch, but I don’t know if those would be considered hobbies. Now likes and dislikes, well, I love Punjabi and Indian culture. From the colorful clothes to the music, I love it all. Dislikes, I’d have to say Chinese food (I’m sorry, that’s all I can think of right now). After eating the kind of food my mom makes, there’s no way you would like anything else in general!
Who do you consider to be your role models in life and why?
My number one role model would have to be my Dad. I’ve grown up watching him do things, handle situations, and most importantly, do it all with a smile on his face. The man I am today is a reflection of the things he’s taught me. But other than him, I would have to say there’s one other person that I look up to in life, and as funny as it sounds, that man is Malkit Singh. He’s just so cool! All the different colored turbans, the outfits, the music…he’s a legend! You seem to be a big music fan.
What kind of music do you enjoy?
I’d have to say Bhangra music. I enjoy Punjabi music in general but Bhangra music is definitely my favorite. That’s why I started playing the tumbi in the first place, I just love the sound of it. It’s like they say, you know you’re Punjabi if you can’t control yourself when you hear the dhol and tumbi play.
The tumbi is a very difficult instrument to play, how did you learn?
Form listening to songs and following the beat. I would just sit there and try to follow the beat for hours and play until my hands cramped, its true what they say, practice makes perfect.
So why do you do all this, all the dressing up, all the colors, the tumbi…
My culture is something I’m proud of and it’s something I want to share. People often come up to me saying, “Aren’t you the guy from so and so…”, and it makes me feel good that people are recognizing me for the effort that I put into all this.
How can people not recognize you, especially after the Canucks playoff run. You’ve been in the Vancouver Sun, the Province, the National and your picture is now in the Canucks’ 40th Anniversary book! How did you manage to get on all these places?
All it took was some color coordination and some face paint! Every game day I would wear the Canucks colors to show my support for the team I love, whether it was my white turban with the green, or the vintage colors with the black turban and the red. But apparently what people really loved was my face paint and my colored beard. I have to admit, I was really loving the attention.
So what now. What are your future goals and where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully I’ll still be doing what I love. I’ll continue to do shows and make sure the kids of today know what it means to be Punjabi. Their culture is something they should know and something that they should share with others, I’m just here to remind them of that.
Well, thank you Gurpreet, or should I say Sardhara Singh, for your time.
No problem, the pleasure was all mine!
I always spent my half an hour to read this website’s articles or reviews daily along with a mug of coffee.
You are a very capable individual!
Thanks for every other informative website. The place else could I get that kind of info
written in such an ideal way? I have a project that I’m just now running on,
and I have been at the glance out for such info.
magnificent points altogether, you simply gained a logo new reader. What might you recommend in regards to your submit that you made a few days in the past? Any positive?
My spouse and i got so fortunate that Albert managed to complete his preliminary research from the precious recommendations he came across from your very own site. It is now and again perplexing to simply possibly be giving away hints which often others might have been trying to sell. And we realize we’ve got the writer to give thanks to because of that. All of the explanations you’ve made, the straightforward website menu, the relationships you will give support to foster – it is everything superb, and it’s aiding our son and the family do think the idea is entertaining, and that’s highly mandatory. Thanks for the whole thing!
Hello.This post was extremely motivating, especially since I was looking for thoughts on this topic last couple of days.
I think this is one of the most important information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on few general things, The web site style is great, the articles is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers
Just desire to say your article is as amazing. The clearness in your post is simply cool and i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying work.
I am so happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the random misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this best doc.
Very nice article and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is actually the best place to ask but do you guys have any thoughts on where to hire some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂
It really is practically unattainable to encounter well-informed readers on this theme, even though you seem like you fully grasp what exactly you’re revealing! Regards
It’s actually almost not possible to come across well-advised visitors on this theme, in addition you appear like you know those things you’re raving about! Excellent
It really is almost unattainable to find well-advised users on this issue, still, you seem like you fully understand what exactly you’re writing about! Excellent
I do accept as true with all of the concepts you have presented in your post. They are really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very quick for beginners. May you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
I just could not depart your web site before suggesting that I extremely loved the usual information an individual provide for your visitors? Is going to be again continuously to inspect new posts
I am constantly searching online for tips that can benefit me. Thx!
Thank you for some other informative website. Where else may just I am getting that kind of info written in such a perfect method? I have a venture that I’m simply now running on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.
I have been examinating out a few of your stories and i can state nice stuff. I will surely bookmark your blog.
Great awesome issues here. I¡¦m very glad to peer your post. Thank you so much and i am having a look ahead to touch you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
I have not checked in here for a while as I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for great info I was looking for this information for my mission.
I do agree with all of the ideas you’ve introduced to your post. They are really convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are very quick for beginners. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thank you for the post.
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your site offered us with valuable info to work on. You have done a formidable job and our entire community will be grateful to you.
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do some research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such magnificent information being shared freely out there.
Hello, Neat post. There is an issue together with your site in web explorer, would check this¡K IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a good part of other people will pass over your great writing due to this problem.
I am not sure where you’re getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for magnificent info I was looking for this info for my mission.
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this website. Studying this information So i¡¦m happy to convey that I’ve an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I most indisputably will make certain to do not forget this site and give it a look on a continuing basis.
Hello.This article was really remarkable, particularly because I was looking for thoughts on this issue last couple of days.
What i don’t realize is in fact how you are no longer actually a lot more smartly-appreciated than you might be now. You’re very intelligent. You recognize therefore considerably relating to this topic, produced me personally imagine it from a lot of numerous angles. Its like women and men aren’t interested except it¡¦s something to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs great. All the time deal with it up!
I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my site 🙂
Helpful info. Lucky me I discovered your site accidentally, and I’m stunned why this twist of fate didn’t happened in advance! I bookmarked it.
I’ve been browsing on-line more than 3 hours today, yet I never discovered any fascinating article like yours. It¡¦s lovely value sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the net shall be a lot more useful than ever before.
Hello very nice site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally¡KI am glad to search out a lot of helpful information here in the publish, we’d like develop more techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
Hi my loved one! I wish to say that this post is amazing, great written and come with approximately all significant infos. I¡¦d like to see extra posts like this .
I as well as my friends were looking at the good ideas on your web page and the sudden came up with a horrible feeling I had not expressed respect to you for those tips. All of the women came absolutely joyful to read through them and have now in actuality been enjoying them. Appreciation for actually being simply thoughtful as well as for picking out certain fabulous topics most people are really needing to be informed on. Our own honest regret for not expressing gratitude to you sooner.
You completed several nice points there. I did a search on the issue and found nearly all folks will consent with your blog.
It¡¦s actually a nice and helpful piece of info. I am glad that you just shared this useful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
As a Newbie, I am constantly searching online for articles that can help me. Thank you
Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Very helpful information specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this certain information for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
As I site possessor I believe the content material here is rattling great , appreciate it for your hard work. You should keep it up forever! Best of luck.
I would like to show thanks to you for bailing me out of this type of predicament. As a result of researching through the the web and obtaining ways that were not beneficial, I believed my life was done. Being alive minus the strategies to the problems you’ve sorted out as a result of the short post is a serious case, and the kind which could have in a wrong way damaged my entire career if I had not noticed your site. Your own capability and kindness in dealing with every aspect was tremendous. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t discovered such a subject like this. I can also now relish my future. Thanks a lot very much for your specialized and sensible help. I will not hesitate to refer the sites to any person who should get care on this area.
I truly wanted to post a simple comment to be able to express gratitude to you for the unique guides you are giving out at this website. My rather long internet look up has at the end been honored with sensible knowledge to go over with my visitors. I would assert that we readers are very much endowed to exist in a decent place with very many brilliant people with great tricks. I feel extremely blessed to have encountered your website and look forward to tons of more enjoyable times reading here. Thanks once again for all the details.
Magnificent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a blog site? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear concept