Days after Arijit Singh surprised fans by announcing his retirement from singing on January 27, 2026, a deeply personal story about his roots has come to light. In a recent interaction, his father Surinder Singh spoke about the family’s journey from pre-Partition Lahore to West Bengal – and Arijit’s early musical beginnings at the local gurdwara.
Days after Arijit Singh surprised fans by announcing his retirement from singing on January 27, 2026, a deeply personal story about his roots has come to light. In a recent interaction, his father Surinder Singh spoke about the family’s journey from pre-Partition Lahore to West Bengal – and Arijit’s early musical beginnings at the local gurdwara.
“Our ancestral home was near Lahore.”
“Our ancestral home was near Lahore. After Partition, my father and his three brothers migrated to Lalgola,” Surinder Singh told The Indian Telegraph, recalling the family’s migration.
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As with countless families displaced during that period, they had to leave everything behind. “They were textile merchants who somehow ended up in Jiagang and found their house by the river,” he added, explaining how the family gradually rebuilt their lives from scratch.Some relatives later settled in what is now known as Panjabipara, where they established a Sikh community gurdwara that became central to prayer and community life.
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Jiagang eventually became more than just a place of refuge – it became home. This is where Arijit originated the name “Shomo”, long before he became a household name in 2013.Recalling his son’s early musical days, Surender Singh said Arijit would accompany his mother to the gurdwara to sing kirtan during special occasions.
It’s clear that music has always been a part of his upbringing.Talking about what it feels like to be the father of one of India’s most famous singers, he said with a smile: “Moja Lajji. I feel amused. People ask me ‘what is your son doing’, ‘what is his next project’.”
“E mater emone tan”
Despite his successful career in Mumbai, Jeagang would always pull Arijit back. “This is a quiet place. Even my son could not live in Mumbai and had to return.
“Ei maatir emoni taan,” his father said, describing the emotional bond the family shared with their hometown.Even today, Arijit is still closely associated with Jiagang. His children study there, and many of his charitable initiatives focus on developing local schools and facilities. Meanwhile, the singer recently released the song Raina, composed by Shekhar Ravjiani and written by Priya Saraya. The track is available on the Garuuda Music YouTube channel and has already started attracting attention.
