Surrinder Bains’ Playlist
Ardas – The Sikh Prayer
I was brought up within the Sikh faith and my earliest memories of hearing this prayer. I no longer am a practising Sikh but a few years ago my father passed away and I heard this prayer again. Immediately I was transported to being a young child hearing it for the first time.
Chal Chal Chal Mere Saathi – Kishore Kumar
This song brings back memories of when my dad first brought a radio and he would tune into a local station where Indian songs were played. All the excitement of seeing this wonderful machine that played music was fascinating to a small child.
Chalte Chalte Yunhi Koi Mil Gaya Tha – Meena Kumari
There was a TV programme on Sunday mornings devoted to the Indian community living in the UK. At the end of the show it always ended with a song and these were two from back then. It was something we all watched together as a family.
Zindagi ek Safar Hai Suhana by Kishore Kumar
Mary Mary Quite Contrary
This was the first nursery rhyme I learnt in English when I started school in 1969. My first language was Punjabi and I remember really struggling with a new language.
