LUDHIANA, January 24: From being convicted in a criminal case, for which he was in Borstal jail for nine years, to a band master who teaches the art to students of various schools, it has been a change of heart for this 49-year-old Ludhianvi.
“I was in jail from 1986 to 1995. I did my bachelors in Arts from there and further did my masters in Punjabi from 1988 to 1991. In 1987, I learnt this art of playing music in a band from Harmandar Singh Grewal. Later, I used to play piper in the jail band,” said Surinder Singh.
He added: “After completing my sentence, I took tuitions for kids up to Class 10 and later joined as band master in 2000 at Nauharia Mal Jain School. In 2003, I joined as part-time teacher at R S Model School at Shastri Nagar and Green Land Public School. Since last year, I am also training students of Sacred Heart Convent School.”
The band master — father of three, two sons and a daughter — said he has trained hundreds of students who play various instruments used in a band. He added that apart from preparing a band of inmates in Borstal Jail, he also trained many school students for the upcoming Republic Day function.
“I make them rehearse for an hour so that they can play various instruments perfectly during the Republic Day. Also, I teach them how to walk while playing the instruments,” said Surinder, who loves training students in the art.
Meanwhile, his students are full of praise for their teacher. “Sir is a master of the art and a fabulous human being. I am thankful to him for teaching me fine nuances of playing drum. I am really proud to have a teacher like him,” said Chetan, a student of R S Model School.
