On a Sufi note

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SD Sharma

Singing kalaams of Sufi saints in the glory of God, Aman Lata grew up performing with a group of qawwals, led by her father and Guru Ustad Harmesh Rangila, at religious functions, qawwali mehfils, darghahs and shows in auditoriums.

She used to sing all compositions to near perfection though the meaning and essence of all the couplets was not clear to her at that tender age. “I still used to steal the limelight, winning applause, which enhanced my confidence,” she beams.

While submitting the final thesis of her PhD in classical music at the Punjabi university, Patiala, she looks back, “Qawwali has a sub-format of Ishaq Haqiqi which is practiced at dargahs, though the other format of Ishaq Mazazi is very popular and in demand. But I prefer the former.”

Born on Indian Independence day. August 15, she shares something very interesting, “My name was Amandeep Kaur till class four, when my fans at village Siana (Nawanshehar) asked me to change it to ‘Aman Lata’, which incorporates the name of the legendary Lata Mangeshkar ji.”