Remembering Him and the Music Award established in His Name
Folk singer/musician Ram Thapa accepts the 5th Arun Memorial Award from singer Tara Thapa Magar.Kathmandu, July 21, 2008- This year’s Arun Memorial Music Award was given to renowned musician and folk singer Ram Thapa Magar on Sunday to mark the 9th Memorial Day anniversary of the late famous singer Arun Thapa Magar.
The award is given annually to veteran Magar artists on Arun Memorial Day by Nepal Magar Students Association (NMSA) to appreciate their contribution in the music field.
Receiving the award, singer/musician Ram Thapa said, “Felicitation is never small or big, the only thing it needs is a big heart.”
Remembering Arun Thapa, he said, “We worked together and shared our happiness and sadness through our music. He was a wonderful man with heart-piercing voice.” “It is very painful not to find him beside me. Even more, the most painful moment for me was when I could not share the happiness with him when our song “Rhituharuma Timi…” reached the 7th position among ‘10 Best Songs of the World’ in the survey done by BBC World Service on the occasion of it’s 70th Anniversary in 2003,”he said with sadness in his voice.
Born in Kamal Pokhari, Kathmandu in 2nd Bhadra 2015 B.S. singer and musician Ram Thapa is especially famous for singing ‘jesting’ songs such as “Katar katarma…timro jwai aayo motorma”, “Relai ghumera baini ko gayo aadi umera…”. He is also appreciated for his music in very famous songs such as, “Rhituharuma timi…” sung by Arun Thapa, “Thamera kina Chhodeu haatharu…” sung by Sunita Subba, “Juni junilaai, meri oonilai…” by Rabin Sharma and many other songs.
Singers Kabita Ale, Tara Thapa and Ram Thapa with NMSA president Bhoj B.B. Magar pay respect to first martyr Lakhan Thapa Magar, singer Arun Thapa Magar and Mitra Sen.
Ram Thapa began his musical journey by joining “Bhairav Dance Group” in 2026 B.S as a dancer, instrumentalist and singer. He was noticed after recording his song “Hai hai…bankali mai” with singer Tara Thapa Magar in 2031 B.S.Until now, he has performed and composed music for more than 300 songs and has already released 42 albums to his credit. His first album was “Ram Thapa ka Lokgeetharu” which was released by Music Nepal in 2042 B.S. His latest album, “Katar katarma”, was released last year.
Singer/musician Thapa is the Senior Music Officer at Radio Nepal, once Nepal’s only electronic media for the Himalayan nation which is run by an independent body of the government of Nepal.Thapa has received many awards including ‘Chhinnalata Puraskar’ in 2059 B.S. and an award from Naraya Gopal Youth Music Trust in 2050 B.S. But the harsh reality is that until today, this veteran singer/musician has never been honoured or appreciated by the Nepalese government for his great contributions to the field of music.
After felicitating Ram Thapa, singer Tara Thapa expressed her happiness at being able to present the award to a brilliant artist. She said, “I congratulate him and hope that he will keep on producing his beautiful music for all of us to listen.”
The film director Kishor Rana Magar expressed his hope to work again with Ram Thapa in near future. Ram Thapa composed music for Rana’s hit movie “Gham Chhaya”.
Rana also remembered Arun Thapa this way: “Arun had that special quality in his voice that attracted everyone and made them feel his pain and suffering through his music.”He further added, “When I met him, we talked about working together but he left us soon so my dream of working with him remained unfulfilled.”
On the 9th Arun Memorial Day, artists from Nepal Magar Cultural Association sang famous songs of Arun Thapa Magar to pay tribute to him.Arun Thapa Magar who is well remembered for his sad and painful songs was born in 2009 B.S in Nepali Consul Embassy in Kolkota, India. He was talented and gifted with intense heart-touching voice. So his unique voice which spoke of pain and suffering became famous even after singing only few songs. He is appreciated for his song “Rhituharuma timi…” nationally and internationally. Apart from this he is also very much liked for evergreen songs such as “chot ke ho, byetha ke ho”, “bhulu bhulu lagyo malai”, “jati maya laye pani”, “karodau mutuharu ko yeutai dhukdhuki Nepala”. Including these songs he sang 46 songs in Nepali, Magar and Hindi language.Two albums namely ‘Arun’ and ‘The Best of Arun” have been released.He died untimely on 4th Shrawan 2056 B.S after suffering many chronic illnesses. He was just 46 years of age.
The award was established in 2060 B.S. after the fund-raising cultural program “Late Arun Thapa Cultural Night” organized in his memory with the fund of Rs.50,000. The award has an appreciation letter and the cash Rs.5,000.According to Jhakendra Gharti Magar, former NMSA president; during whose presidency the award was established said “The award was established to pay respect to Arun Thapa, and to appreciate and promote Magar artists who are fully involved in music sector.”
Before Ram Thapa, the famous lyricist Shiva Sankar Thapa Magar in 2061 B.S, singer Tara Thapa Magar in 2062 B.S, singer B.K. Rana Magar in 2063 B.S. and singer/actress Kabita Ale Magar in 2064 B.S. were honoured with this award.
At this event, “Laanghau Jhamrya”- an album in Magar language was released. The album contains 3 different types of songs: kauda, shalaiju and jhamre (also known as jhyaure) which are sung by Magar folk singers.Song writer and compiler of “Laanghau Jhamrya”, Bhim Bahadur Rana said the album was released in an attempt to promote and preserve Magar culture, songs and language.
Appreciating the Bhim Rana’s effort, Constituent Assembly (CA) Member Dalbahadur Rana said, “We need to promote and preserve songs in Magar language and as the country has moved for a federal system, when we have our Magarat Autonomous State we should be able to play songs of our language that speak of our culture and history.”
He also promised that he will do everything in his power to raise the capital amount (fund) of the Arun Memorial Trust and do more to promote Magar artists and Magar language.
NMSA president Bhoj Bikram Budha Magar paying tribute to Arun Thapa Magar said, “Though Arun Thapa is no more with us physically, he will be forever with us through his beautiful songs and music.”
He further said that NMSA will keep on promoting and preserving Magar culture and language while equally fighting for social transformation and Magar identity.
On the occasion, other prominent personalities from Magar community such as singer/actress Kabita Ale, General Secretary of Nepal Magar Association Basanta Gharti Magar, Lawyer Gaubahadur Ale, CA member Ram Bahadur Thapa and others also congratulated Ram Thapa and appreciated Bhim Bahadur Rana for his efforts to promote Magar language and culture.
(Source-Smita Magar in Kathmandu, http://www.usnepalonline.com/ )
Participants present in the convention pose for camera!
Newly elected members take oath!