GSRI 2025 Intern
About Nehmat Kaur
Nehmat Kaur, 17, is a rising senior in Dallas, Texas, aspiring to go into the medical field. She has been involved in Gurmat Sangeet since she was 7, including learning tanti saaz (israj), and learning from renowned kirtaniye including Harlove Singh and Bibi Guneet Kaur. Nehmat has also competed in the Hemkunt Kirtan Competition for a total of 6 years, winning gold at both regional and international levels. She has also had the opportunity to be a part of the Gaavani sangat, participating at the Gaavani programs in Dallas and New Jersey.
About my project
An Exploration of the Twelve Months in Gurbani: The Bani of Barah Maha
This paper explores the Barah Maha bani, a central text in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji that uses the framework of the twelve months of the Nanakshahi Calendar to illustrate the spiritual journey of a seeker. Focusing on the compositions by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Maajh and Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Tukhari, this study offers a comparative analysis of the thematic, linguistic, and musical distinctions between the two compositions. By examining the emotional, natural, and theological metaphors embedded in each month's portrayal, the paper reveals how the cycle of time becomes a metaphor for divine longing, remembrance, and union. The paper also situates these banis in the broader context of Gurmat Sangeet, highlighting the unique structural components of each raag and their significance to spiritual emotion. Through detailed month-by-month reflections, the analysis brings forward the interconnectedness of inner transformation and outer natural change, emphasizing the profound depth of Sikh devotional poetry.