Arijit Singh's Father Reveals Family's Partition Journey & Early Gurdwara Music Days
Days after playback singing sensation Arijit Singh surprised fans with his January 27, 2026 retirement announcement, a deeply personal story about his family roots has emerged. In a recent interaction, his father Surinder Singh opened up about their journey from pre-Partition Lahore to West Bengal, and how Arijit's musical beginnings trace back to a local gurdwara.
'Our Ancestral Home Was Near Lahore'
Recalling the family's migration during the tumultuous Partition period, Surinder Singh told The Telegraph India, "Our ancestral home was near Lahore. After Partition, my father and his three brothers migrated to Lalgola." Like countless families displaced during that traumatic time, they were forced to leave everything behind and start anew.
"They were cloth merchants and somehow ended up in Jiaganj and found their home by the river," he added, explaining how the family gradually rebuilt their life from complete scratch. Some relatives later settled in what is now known as Panjabipara, where the Sikh community established a gurdwara that became central to prayer and community life.
Arijit as 'Shomu': Singing Kirtan in His Early Years
Jiaganj eventually became more than just a place of refuge—it became home. It was here that Arijit grew up as "Shomu," long before he became a household name in 2013 with his breakthrough Bollywood songs.
Recalling his son's early musical days, Surinder Singh shared that young Arijit would accompany his mother to the gurdwara to sing kirtan during special occasions and religious ceremonies. Music was clearly always an integral part of his upbringing and cultural environment.
Speaking about what it feels like to be the father of one of India's most celebrated singers, he said with a smile, "Moja lagey. I feel amused. People ask me 'what is your son doing', 'what is his next project'."
Jiaganj: The Emotional Homeland That Always Pulls Him Back
Despite building a phenomenally successful career in Mumbai's film industry, Jiaganj has always maintained a powerful emotional pull on Arijit Singh. "This is such a peaceful place. Even my son couldn't live in Mumbai and had to return. Ei maatir emoni taan," his father said, describing the deep emotional bond the family shares with their hometown.
Even today, Arijit remains closely connected to Jiaganj. His children study there, and several of his charitable initiatives focus on upgrading local schools and community facilities. The singer's philanthropic work demonstrates his ongoing commitment to his roots.
Musical Journey Continues Amid Retirement Announcement
Meanwhile, the singer recently released "Raina," a new track composed by Shekhar Ravjiani and written by Priya Saraiya. The song is available on the Garuuda Music YouTube channel and has already begun drawing significant attention from fans and music critics alike.
This revelation about Arijit Singh's family history and early musical development provides fascinating context to his career trajectory, coming just days after his surprising retirement announcement from playback singing. The story highlights how personal history, cultural roots, and early spiritual experiences in a gurdwara helped shape one of India's most beloved musical voices.
