Sardar Paramjot Singh of Ludhiana has set a new world record of 313 hours over 14 days, and 5 hours and 21 minutes, for the longest hand drum playing. This achievement compares with the current world record of 301 hours for the longest hand drum marathon held by the noted mridangam exponent Kuzhalmannan Ramkrishanan.

Formal confirmation for inclusion in the Guiness book of records takes about 5 months. Paramjot played tabla over this duration subject to certain rules which allow 5 minutes rest allowance for each hour of tabla playing. This allowance can be added up. For example, if tabla is played continuously for 6 hours then 30 minutes rest allowance is allowed.

Paramjot Singh started his endeavour at Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib, Ludhiana , Panjab, from 5 April 2009 at 6.00 pm. He is a 29 years old and has been playing tabla since childhood. His first teacher was Sardar Jarinder Pal Singh a noted Tabla teacher at Ludhiana and is now a student of Ustaad Kulwinder Singh, President of Puratan Kala Punjab Ghrana Tabla Vadan Sikhya Kenra Society. Paramjot plays at functions organised by “Dhvani”, a prominent music association based at Ludhiana which also promoted this record breaking attempt by Paramjot.

The event became possible when the management committee of  Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib agreed to extend full support and provide facilities at the Gurdwara premises. The president of the committee is Sardar Pritpal Singh.

Paramjot Singh is a mild mannered “darshani” young Gursikh sardar, MA in history, B Ed, ETT in Visharad in Tabla and Sangeet Bhushan in Music Vocal. When he dropped in at our Ludhiana family base to invite me to the event, I could not believe that this slender sardar could accomplish such a Herculean task. However, when on 8 April, I dropped in with Randhir Kanwal, President of the art association, “Dhvani”, to see how Paramjot was doing, he looked fresh and relaxed as young ladies sang Shabads to his tabla accompaniment. There was no doubting the quiet determination to succeed. Others took turn at singing Shabads as he continued responding with different beats and display of his wonderful tabla playing talent.

Paramjot Singh and his family are to be congratulated on this world class achievement, while promoting Sikh identity and placing the name of our home city Ludhiana , next to his name on the Guiness book of world records.

Report by Gurmukh Singh ( UK )