Kamal Ghorui
Days after Arijit Singh surprised fans with his January 27, 2026 retirement announcement from playback singing, a deeply personal story about his roots has come to light. In a recent interaction, his father Surinder Singh opened up about the family’s journey from pre-Partition Lahore to West Bengal — and Arijit’s early musical beginnings in a local gurdwara.
‘Our ancestral home was near Lahore’
Recalling the family’s migration, 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 time, they were forced to leave everything behind. “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 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.Recalling his son’s early musical days, Surinder Singh shared that Arijit would accompany his mother to the gurdwara to sing kirtan during special occasions. Music, clearly, was always part of his upbringing.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’.”
‘Ei maatir emoni taan’
Despite a successful career in Mumbai, Jiaganj has always pulled Arijit back. “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 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 facilities. Meanwhile, the singer recently released Raina, composed by Shekhar Ravjiani and written by Priya Saraiya. The track is available on the Garuuda Music YouTube channel and has already begun drawing attention.
