The Sikh Pipe Band That Once Played In The Merdeka Parade

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Founded in 1986, the award-winning Sri Dasmesh Pipe Band took part in National Day celebrations 35 years ago.In 1990, the Sri Dasmesh Pipe Band participated in the Merdeka Day parade. (Sri Dasmesh Pipe Band pic)KUALA LUMPUR: In 2019, a Malaysian band captured global attention by winning an international championship. But did you know they also performed in the Merdeka Day parade over three decades ago
Sri Dasmesh, the world’s largest Sikh pipe band, was founded in Kuala Lumpur in 1986. It was the brainchild of brothers Harvinder and Sukdev Singh, who started it as a community initiative for youths.
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, Harvinder explained that the main goals of the band were to instil discipline, create a safe space for young people, and give them the opportunity to travel across the world.
They started out by performing at local Sikh community events, but it wasn’t long before they began to gain wider recognition.

“Our first major international trip was in 1989, where we were invited to Singapore for the opening ceremony of the central gurdwara, which was attended by Lee Kuan Yew.
“We had a very big performance at that event, and in 1990, we were invited to play in the National Day parade at Dataran Merdeka,” Harvinder recalled.
The band took part in the parade under the banner of the Malaysian Sikh Youth Organisation (Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia).
Harvinder Singh, co-founder of the world’s largest Sikh pipe band. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)Harvinder recalls that, on top of their own practices, they attend four days of rehearsals leading up to the parade. For him, it was an experience unlike any other.
“It gave us a lot of inspiration because we felt so Malaysian at that time. Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) was the prime minister, and all the ministers were there, and we had the opportunity to march past all of them.
“I remember the kind of response that we got from the stage and crowd – it was very motivating. I think all of us will remember that experience.”
Harvinder was the pipe major, responsible for coordinating all the music in the band, while Sukdev served as the drum major, leading them from the front.
“Bagpipes are one of the most difficult instruments in the world to play. It could take you anywhere from six months to 1.5 years before you can confidently play on the bagpipe,” Harvinder explained.
The band’s early overseas appearances date back to the early 1990s. (Sri Dasmesh Pipe Band pic)He admitted that early on, their musical standards were a far cry from what they are today. “When we started piping, it was some localised version of Scottish tunes,” he said with a laugh.
The turning point came in 2011, when a pipe major from Australia volunteered to train the band, bringing them on par with the rest of the world.
Since then, they’ve accomplished what Harvinder and Sukdev set out to do. The band members have travelled to various countries to perform, including in 2015 at the National Anzac Day Parade in Sydney, Australia, where they led the Sikh contingent.
That year, they also became the first band from Asia to qualify for the World Pipe Band Championships. In 2019, they were the first from Asia to win.
Surrounded by 8,000 pipers and drummers from 195 bands, most of them hailing from western nations, the Sri Dasmesh Pipe Band proudly carried Malaysia’s name.
In 2019, the band emerged the top winner of the World Pipe Band Championship in Scotland. (Facebook pic)“We feel absolutely Malaysian. Whenever we go, we carry the Malaysian flag,” Harvinder expressed.
“In 2015, when we were at the world championships in Scotland, most of us had tears in our eyes when we saw, for the first time in 70-odd years of the world championships, that there was a Malaysian flag flying in the field.”
On Aug 31, the band will again make history with “Fortress of Dreams” at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas – Malaysia’s first bagpipe concert.
National Day will also mark 35 years since the band performed in the Merdeka parade. Would they return?
“We haven’t been able to participate again, but we never know. But if we get another chance, we will,” Harvinder concluded. - FMT
‘Fortress of Dreams’, Malaysia’s first bagpipe concert, will be held at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas on Aug 31. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)Click here for more information about the ‘Fortress Of Dreams’ concert. Follow the Sri Dasmesh Pipe Band on Facebook.

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