Sarvjeet Tamta, a self-taught qawwali singer and harmonium virtuoso from Almora, delves into his love for the folk music of his state, his journey with his band Himali Mou and their alter ego Rehmat-e-Nusrat, playing to packed houses across the globe today and his dalit background.
Sarvjeet left home at sixteen to follow his passion for music. Coming from a dalit background, he remained undeterred in the face of caste discrimination and today performs to full houses across the country and internationally. He says he loves his folk music but does want to be the guardian of a culture that still discriminates on the basis of caste. He deeply loves the music and plays because he wants to not because he feels the need to protect it.
Sarvjeet formed his group Himali Mou in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. Himali Mou is popular for showcasing diverse musical styles from the region, including Jhora, Chanchari, Chapeli, Nyoli and Chaiti. The beauty and complexity of “pahadi” music finds its roots in the rich cultural heritage of the mountains.
Through the melodies of the “bansuri” (bamboo flute) and rhythmic beats of the “dholak” and hand claps, the group celebrates the vibrant tradition of pahadi music. The group has performed at the Jaipur Literature Festival, Ziro Festival of Music 2023, India Habitat Centre’s Annual Lok Sangeet Sammelan, Almora Literature Fest, among others.
A fan of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Amir Khusrao and Kabir, Sarvjeet began doing qawwali with his group, now called Rehmat-e-Nusrat as their alter ego in 2014. “Our clothes change but our faces remain the same,” he says in an interview. He met Amarrass Records in 2019 who were blown away after listening to his music and decided to sign him on and manage him.
Since then Rehmat-e-Nusrat, has held pop-up concerts at Museo Camera Museum, Throttle Shrottle, virtual concerts with Sacred Music Seattle, In2Wild Festival UK, Hothouse Chicago, and FabIndia. They played at major festivals like the Surajkund Crafts Mela, Jaipur Literature Festival 2021, Ziro Festival of Music 2022 and venues such as Windmills Craftworks, India Habitat Centre, Royal Opera House Mumbai, Almora Literature Fest, Noor Festival of Lights (Dubai), among others.
Rehmat-e-Nusrat presents qawwalis by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sufiyana kalaams by the great poets Amir Khusrao, Meera Bai, Baba Bulleh Shah, besides ghazals, Kabir bhajans, and original compositions. By performing at various college festivals around North India, the band has introduced Sufi and qawwali music to new audiences.
Among his teachers, Tamta counts Ustadji Wadali Brothers from Amritsar, Ustadji Fakira Khan Saheb from Barmer, Rajasthan and Ustadji Padma Shri Anwar Khan Manganiyar.
To watch Rehmat-e-Nusrat live in the serene surroundings of the Himalayas, sign up for the music tour ‘Himalayan Baithak’ presented by Amarrass Records in partnership with Village Square. To book your spot visit musictours.co.in or get in touch with Village Square on Instagram.
Lead photograph and video clips courtesy Amarrass records.
Novita Singh is the Associate Director, Video at Village Square.
