Karamchand Sugrim also known as ‘Kishan’, 20, of Reliance Settlement, Canje, Berbice is currently training at the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra in India to become a classical vocalist. Kishan, who was second runner-up in the E- Networks Emerging Voices 2016 competition is doing the Hindustani Classical Vocal course which is being taught in mostly Hindi and some English.
According to Kishan, his singing journey began at his temple many moons ago with his mother teaching him bhajans at the age of six which he would then sing during the morning service at the mandir. “Two years later, the Golden Om Dharmic Youth Organization hosted for the first time in 2008, its Anand Sargam competition… I entered in the junior male category and was successful in gaining the first prize,” he said.
In 2009, he once more entered the same competition in the same category and took away the first spot again.
It was at that point that he realized he wanted to become a great singer one day. “This was definitely an eye opener for me with my singing abilities because after that competition, over the years, I’ve sang at many events across Berbice such as local shows, school events and at the annual Diwali motorcades at the Welfare Ground [East Canje Berbice],” he recalled.
As the years went by and he garnered local fame, he decided to enter the E-networks Emerging Voices competition in 2014. “I was filled with eagerness, wanting to be part of this new singing adventure and I auditioned but unfortunately I wasn’t selected.”
But his dream did not end there, rather, he realized, “I had so much more to work on in singing and training.”
He had completed his Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations in 2016 at the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School when the E-networks Emerging Voices competition had returned for Season Two. “I didn’t want to miss this opportunity,” he said. “Once more I auditioned and I was selected this time to participate in one of the best and top singing competitions in Guyana and I was also nervous participating alongside top Guyanese singers, however I was so overjoyed.”
He explained that before the competition started all of the participants went through an “intense training” period with two well trained vocalists, Purnash Durgapersaud and Jeffery Iqbal. “Getting vocal training was one of the best things that ever happened to me because I wasn’t a trained singer and it was something that I looked forward to,” he said. “Sometimes it was very difficult for me during the process, but it all had to be done by practicing a lot. At that time also I realized that it’s not only about singing a song, it’s important that you understand what you’re singing, the melody must be accurate and coordinate with the band, which was definitely a first time for me.”
He said that singing with a band with talented musicians from India and participating in the competition was no easy task. “Sometimes I would have bad comments from the judges, but I took it in ways for me to improve myself in singing. Being there week after week competing, sometimes I emerged among the top performers of the week which was definitely a blessing for me.”
He said that making it to the semifinal was a lot of hard work and, “I also surprised myself making it so far into the competition. At that moment I thought that this was the end for me because my performance wasn’t one of my best.” Nevertheless, upon hearing his name called on stage, “tears came to my eyes immediately and my heart was so filled with joy to be among the top three in the finals. I had to step my game up with two popular songs.
“I remember singing my heart out on stage and when the results were announced I was placed as the second runner-up of the competition and it was something that I didn’t mind at all because I was young and I knew that I had a far way more to go. That experience will be one that I will cherish forever.”
Kishan is also very grateful for the networking opportunities and exposure that the competition gave him as it was broadcast throughout the country. “It was definitely a blessing for me being part of that great experience on Emerging Voices and I have strived to do better because the learning process is something that never ends.”
Meanwhile, after completing the competition, Kishan started to host singing classes for the Golden Om Dharmic Youth Organization to share all that he had learned. These classes attracted lots of young people from the East Canje and New Amsterdam areas. “This continued for over one year during which I had also started my working life at Dr Ramesh Sugrim Medical Clinic on the Corentyne as a nurse assistant,” he noted.
Studying in India
Kishan said India was a country he had always wanted to visit because of all of “its beautiful historic stories and places which I’ve seen on television and social media and also from our holy Hindu texts and my favourite the Indian classical and Bollywood music.”
At 18, he found another once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which was an Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarship program to study Hindustani Classical Vocal Music in India. “This was a Facebook post by the India High Commissioner of Guyana. I was so excited to see this and wanted to apply and with the permission from my parents without hesitating I applied for this amazing opportunity with the help of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha which recommended me fully for the scholarship.”
He spoke highly of Dr Vindhya Persaud, who heads the Dharmic Sabha, and supported him throughout his journey.
“After a few months, I received an email from the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, New Delhi, India that I had been accepted to study at their college for the next 3 years,” he said. “That moment for me was like overwhelming because I was surprised because I didn’t expect I would have ventured on such a journey at such a young age.”
He said that while traveling to India was a dream come true for him, leaving his family behind was the most difficult part. “I know that this journey of mine would be a life-changing one for me, so I had to keep my head on and focus on what was best for me. I arrived in India in August 2018 and I immediately started my vocal training under the guidance of Shri Sankumay Debnauth who is a well-known Hindustani Classical Singer from Kolkata, India. It was my first time in my life getting to know about the Hindustani Classical Music and being trained in such. It is something that I enjoy very well up to present.”
Furthermore, he said, his experience at the college in India has developed him as an individual so far. “Not only was I attending my classes, they were other activities that I was a part of in my college, Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra such as ‘Ankur Series’ which was a programme for students of the Kendra to showcase their talents, and also, being part of the oldest production in India, Ramlila, which is being performed for over 60 years at my college. This production goes on every year for one month during the period of Diwali. It was one of the best I have experienced being able to learn about the Ramayana through music, dancing, acting and the makeup which was my most favoured part.”
He has also met “so many amazing friends from around the world such as Venezuela, Russia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Azerbaijan just to name a few. We have all start off as just friends and now into this big family, living like brothers and sisters.
“Being here alone in India is taught me a lot on how to be an independent person, not only because I am here to study but I also saw this opportunity to be a responsible young adult by managing so many things by myself and It’s really a good feeling doing that so that my parents wouldn’t have to worry.
“Travelling in India was on the top of my wish list. It warms my heart to see so many ancient historical sites, places of worship and amazing epics of this great land. While travelling also, it’s given me the opportunity to have so many Indian food which most of are very, very spicy but so delicious not forgetting all the sweetmeats which is the best in the world,” he added.
After he completes his studies Kishan hopes to return to Guyana and “keep classes which I will definitely share all of my knowledge in music and training.” He also dreams of furthering his studies in classical music and “hope one day I can be able to participate in one of India’s top singing competitions.”
He advised young and upcoming Guyanese, “nothing ever comes easy even if it’s your dream. Keep pushing always for the best but keep in mind too that hiccups will be on the path but use those as motivation to develop more for what you want. I know sometimes you will feel like giving up but never do, that’s not a champion move. Do everything to the best of your ability and let the sun always be your limit. Yes, the sun.”
