Moga; August 17, 2014 – The voice of noted proponent of Patiala Gharana and well known Punjabi Sufi Singer Barkat Sidhu became silent last late night and left this world in a painful way. Noted Punjabi poet and former president Punjabi Sahit Academy Ludhiana Gurbhajan Gill told Punjab Timeline over phone that he breathed his last at 10.45 pm on August 16. Sidhu was suffering from cancer and it was diagnosed some two and half months ago at the last stage.
He was under treatment at Ludhiana and with the initiative of Gurbhajan Gill, Punjab government was bearing the expenditure of the treatment.
His relatives took him back home at Moga about 13 days ago from Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) Ludhiana. His conditions had become so serious due to the ill of Cancer that he couldn’t speak or even drink glass of water.
The hopes of his survival were fainting with the passage of every moment. The pole-star of Punjabi Sufi Music, Barkat Sidhu, who showed way to many singers and newcomers, himself couldn’t find any way out of his poor health condition. He was reduced to mere a living skeletal.
Barkat Sidhu, cousin of Puran Shah koti never compromised with soul of pure Sufi Singing. There are numbers of popular Sufi poetry, which he sang at the national or an International level. “Utth Gaye Gwandon Yaar, Alif Allah, Har Surat Vich Tu, Deedar Mahi Da, Rom Rom vich tu” are some of his best much admired Sufi Songs. He also performed on the various stages and also took part in the Virsati Festivals.
Laddi Sidhu, youngest Son of Barkat Sidhu said that he could not see the critical condition of his father and now have decided to come back here in Moga. He said that doctor could not provide the Chemotherapy due to the week body of his father. He said that they were getting medical aid from the state government free of cost. He also showed the almost three- four dairies of Sufi kalams, which was handwritten by him.