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Special feature: A Day of Great Loss for Nepali Music Lovers

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A Tribute to Musician & Singer Ram Thapa

Paying tribute to Ram Thapa at Aryaghat, Kathmandu. Photos: Smita

Kathmandu, November 20, 2008- It was a gloomy day to start with. Then Thursday became a day of great loss for Nepali music lovers with the repeated news broadcast from local FM radio and television of the untimely death of prominent musician and singer Ram Thapa.

Paying tribute to his contribution in Nepali music field as musician and singer, Nepali media played his famous songs all day. ‘Rhituharuma timi…hariyali basanta hau’ by Arun Thapa, ‘Katar…Katarma; Timro suhaune jwai aayo motorma’ by himself with Tara Thapa, among many other famous songs.

Thapa passed away at four this morning while undergoing treatment for his liver problem in Nervic Hospital. He had entered hospital three days ago as his health had worsened.

Born the third son to Hasta Bahadur Thapa and Hira Kumari Thapa on Bhadra 2, 2015 in Kamalpokhari of Kathmandu, Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar had started his musical journey with the hit song “Hai…Hai Bankali Mai…” with Tara Thapa. It was recorded on Radio Nepal in 2031 B.S.

“Before he was a dancer in ‘Bhairav Nirtya Dal’ where I used to sing so I knew him from there,” famous singer Tara Thapa remembered.

Famous Nepalese Musician and folk singer Ram Thapa Magar. Photos: Smita

In peace at last. The dead body of Ram Thapa being cremated.

Ram Thapa joined ‘Bhairav Nirtya Dal’ in 2026 as a dancer. Later he played musical instruments and started singing as well.

A lover of music, Thapa is especially famous for his ‘jesting’ songs while he is equally loved and appreciated for folk and modern songs. He is well known as a singer, compiler of folk songs and musician of modern songs. He had sung on more than 300 songs and composed the music for more than .

Totally committed to music, he completed his B. Mus. in scriptural music. He had worked as the Guitar player on Radio Nepal since 2033, as a radio disc jockey from 2038 to 2054 and presented a program of folk songs ‘Aanchalik Suskera’ on Radio Nepal for about 2 years from 2047 which was enjoyed by a nation-wide audience.

“Rhituharuma Timi…Hariyali Basanta hau…” sung by Arun Thapa Magar for which Ram Thapa composed the music, ranked 7th among ‘10 Best Songs of the South Asia’ in the survey done by BBC World Service on the occasion of it’s 70th Anniversary in 2003.

A serious but jolly person with kind heart and friendly nature, Ram Thapa was loved by his friends and colleagues. “He was a kind of person who never says or thinks anything wrong about another; the best kind of human being,” recalls Tara Thapa who sang many songs with him.

Pradeep Bomjan, Board Director of Radio Nepal says Ram Thapa’s untimely death has caused a great loss and damage to the field of music. “With his unusual talent he was keeping Nepali folk music and culture alive, but now we have lost him, and that has brought great loss to our folk music and culture,” Bomjan remorse.

“He belongs to Janajati and we feel proud of that, but more than that he was the personality of our nation so our nation should be proud of him and we should have done something during his life to show gratitude for his contribution. But, as usual, he was never given enough honour and respect by his country, a very painful reality in the lives of Nepalese musicians and singers,” added Bomjan who is also a very famous singer.

The last rite. Photos: Smita

Thapa’s last rites took place in Pashupati Aryaghat in the afternoon surrounded by his relatives and many music lovers.

Many prominent singers and musicians were also present for the funeral ceremony. They came to pay their final respects to their colleague.

Related notes on Ram Thapa:

He is famous for publishing books the first books on playing guitar in Nepal. He published a total of 10 books on the subject, among them:
1. Guitar Chords Anthology (Guitar Guide), Part – 1, 2, 3 and 4
2. Song and Chords Anthology, Part- 1, 2 and 3
3. New Guitar Guide
4. Pop song and Chords Anthology
5. Staff Notation Gyan

Prizes and Medals:
1. Nationwide Folk Song Competition in 2036: Second Position
2. Nationwide Modern Song Competition in 2040: First Prize
3. Nationwide Modern Song Competition in 2043: First Prize
4. Narayan Gopal Youth Music Puraskar, (shared with Tara Thapa) in 2050 B.S
5. Shri 5 Birandra Gaddi Aarohan Rajat Padak, 2053
6. Shri 5 Birendra Aishworya Sewa Padak 2058
7. Chhinnalata Puraskar 2059 B.S

He received a letter of appreciation from the late King Birendra Bikram Shah for teaching music to the late Prince Dipendra (2044). He was felicitated by Gorkha Victoria Cross Reception Committee (2050), Rastriya Gaurab Yuva Samman (2054), Nai Kala Nidhi Yuva Samman (2056), Nepal Deshbhakta Kalakar Sangh Samman (2056), and Arun Memorial Music Award of 2065.
Ram Thapa has 42 albums to his credit, some of them are given below:

Dohori and Folk song’s albums:
1. Ram Thapa ka Lok Geet, Part -1 and 2
2. Sero phero Salaam chha Mero (Dohori)
3. Arya Bhanjyang (Dohori)
4. Lok Suseli
5. Chautari ma Bar
6. Chha Macchi Jalaima
7. Khola paari Bajyo Murali
8. Majhi ra Machhi (Dohari)
9. Sali Bhena (Dohari)
10. Kina Lajaki?
11. Pothi Banseko
12. Laali Rangle
13. Chaubandi Kalle Siyeko
14. Milau Dahine Haat

Modern Songs’ albums:
1. Ram Thapaka Sangeetka Aadhunik Geetharu, Part – 1 and 2
2. Maun Prem
3. Yek Mutu Anek Dhukdhuki
4. Sargam Saugat
5. Aaja Bholi

Jesting (Hasya Byenga) Songs Albums:
1. Sandheko Judhai Bachchhako Michai
2. Khichatani
3. Sriman Shrimati
4. Mattitelko Kyu
5. Dhatterika
6. Gai Jattrai Gai Jattra
7. Nepal Bandh
8. Nepalai Nepal
9. Bina Junge Sher
10. Gau Gaubata Utha
11. Katar katarma

Video:
1. Juni Junilaai
2. Ghayel Prem

Films/Movies:
1. Baadal
2. Gham Chhaya
3. Aakha Lobhi Mann Paapi

CD albums:
1. Hit Creation of Ram Thapa (Modern)
2. Thok na Maadal Thok (Folk)

-Smita Magar in Kathmandu

Photos: Smita

Read our related news:
» Special feature: A Day of Great Loss for Nepali Music Lovers
A Tribute to Musician & Singer Ram Thapa
» "थामेर किन छोड्यौ हातहरु..."
लोक गीतका प्रिय गायक तथा संगीतकार राम थापा अब रहेनन्‌ (3 photos)
» Nepalese Musician & Folk Singer Ram Thapa Is No More (3 photos)

Ram Thapa - Suka paisa rahena khaltima ...Cha Machhi Jalaima

Ritu haruma timi - Arun Thapa

तपाईंको भनाइ लेखी छाड्‍न र अरुको भनाइ पढ्न यहाँ क्लिक गर्नुहोस्
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