This Giant Ice Volcano on Pluto is All Wright – http://wp.me/pru7J-1YD
After 23 years, Nepal won a major football tournament. Could not watch the match. Haven’t been able to watch the highlights, but I am happy. The author of this article is happier than me. (Maybe because he had got a chance to watch the match!): http://wp.me/p44dwJ-MM
I am not someone who would take the first step in breaking rules. I am not the one who would like to be in a crazy situation. But one day, I was pulled- by fate or friendship, whatever you may call- to this weirdest, craziest birthday party ever.
We were on the geological excursion- a once in a lifetime experience. The tour was becoming too mundane. Wake up at about five in the morning, have morning meal at eight run to the field at nine. Return back within five-thirty in the evening, dine at six and work until midnight before going to sleep. Most of us were following the same routine. There was a need for change.
Some boys had tried spicing up life already. In the room where I had stayed, a friend of mine had been awakened in the night by some of the boys on his birthday. It was fun then but the teachers scolded them, albeit indirectly. Two nights later, we had to celebrate a birthday. We had to make it special.
Girls took the initiation. They prepared everything- unknown to most of us. They decided to take permission from the Field-in-charge Deepak sir. Laxmi did the talking. I was there when sir said to celebrate the birthday in silence.
The wait was long. I had some work to do, however. Time passed on easy. Rabi dai and Pawan dai made faces and took selfies and clicked photos. Sanjeev was probably waiting for the midnight but he did not know what was in store. Anish was busy in his work and we had to remind him at the last moment.
We waited in the dark. The birthday-girl had been sent away by the other girls. They came out as well carrying slices of cakes with them. It was almost January 14. What were we doing at the time when ghosts move around for food? We were talking in excited whispers, eager to wish the birthday-girl.
She stepped up. We all hid ourselves behind the walls of the dark corridor. Within thirty seconds, as soon as she stepped up the last stair, we all jumped and wished, “Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday, Romi!” We wished the birthday-girl in whispers. We had done it. We had wished her in the midnight, with permission, in whispers! (Bajrangi Bhaijaan’s ‘permission leke, taar ke niche se’ was running on my mind!)
Romi was awed. She could not believe it. She wanted to jump and shout. “Ssh! Keep your voice low!” We demanded. The same warning used to come up whenever someone tried to speak up loudly. The party continued with cakes. Everyone wished in whispers again. Apart from the aforementioned people, excluding Deepak sir, Prasmita, Bhawana, Pratigya, Ravi (not to confuse with Rabi dai), Nirusha and Sarita had joined the party. We even took selfies to commemorate the moment. Within half an hour, Anish posted one of the photos on Facebook.
What else happened? The boys slept. The girls said they had had a silent dance party. Rules and ethics ruled us out from the silent dance party. Yet we had participated in the craziest midnight silent birthday party!
[From left to right]1st row: Pratigya, Romi, Bhawana; 2nd row: Prasmita, Sarita, Nirusha, Laxmi; 3rd row: Ravi, Rabi dai, Last row: Anish, Pawan dai, Ankit (aka Sandeept); Selfie click: Sanjeev
[Before the end of this article, Romi, I would like to wish you Happy Birthday again. I know it’s been more than a week already but I also can’t wait another year to wish you.
Along the road of life – miles,
Never let go off your smiles!
May happiness devour all your fears,
Never you be soaked with tears!
With Pure Heart, may you win the World,
Blessed with Friends as precious as Gold!
Happy Birthday!!]
वृद्ध बाजे आज्ञा गर्नु हुन्छ– हे नाति नातिना हो ! त्यहाँ उप्रान्त नेपालमा लोडसेडिङ्गको चकचकी बढ्न थाल्यो । कस्तो भने- छिनमै आउने अनि छिनमै जाने । त्यो कस्तो थियो भने- कालो, अन्धकारको वस्त्र भिर्ने अनि सबैका घरघरमा एकैचोटि पसेर एकैचोटि निस्कन सक्ने- कुनै दैवी वा अलौकिक शक्तिभन्दा कम थिएन । हिउँद बढ्दै जाँदा मानवगण उसको प्रतिक्षामा बसेका देखिन्थे । कोही बच्चाबच्ची भन्थे- “लोडसेडिङ्ग आएपछि होमवर्क गरौँला, अलिबेर टिभी हेर्छौँ ।” केही तरुण जोडीका लागि ऊ वरदान भएको थियो । काम गर्नाका अल्छीले पनि चैनको सास फेर्दै भन्थे- “वाह ! लोडसेडिङ्ग आएपछि क्या मजासँग सुत्न पाइन्छ । सुत्न छाडेर को काम गरोस्, आ ऽऽऽ!”
वृद्ध बाजे आज्ञा गर्नुहुन्छ- “हे नाति नातिना हो ! अब के सुन्ने इच्छा छ ? सो मलाई बताओ ।” तब उम्रिँदैमा तीनपाते फुच्चे नातिले हात जोड्दै बिन्ती गरे- “हे बाजे ! लोडसेडिङ्गले कस्ता समस्या ल्यायो अनि समाधानका प्रयास कस्ता थिए ? सो विषयमा कहनुहोस् ।” तब वृद्ध बाजे आज्ञा गर्नुहुन्छ- लोडसेडिङ्गले सानादेखि ठूलासम्म सबैलाई दुःख दिएको भए तापनि प्रायः कोही चिन्तित देखिदैनथे । लोडसेडिङ्गलाई दिनचर्यामा ढाल्न खप्पिस भइसकेका थिए उनीहरू । तैपनि लोडसेडिङ्ग कस्तो समयमा आउँथ्यो भने- कोही टिभीमा फिलिम र सिरियल हेरिरहेका, कोही कम्प्युटरमा च्याट गरिरहेका, कोही राइस कुकरमा भात पकाइरहेका, कोही अँध्यारा पाइखानामा र कोही सिँढीमा चढिरहेका- यस्ता समयमा ऊ आउँथ्यो । अझ कोही अर्जेन्ट काम गरिरहेका अनि उद्योग धन्दामा व्यस्त भइरहँदा समेत त्यो आउँथ्यो । लोडसेडिङ्गको कारण कसैको सिरियल छुटेको थियो भने कसैको खाना बिग्रेको थियो । च्याट गर्दागर्दै ऊ अचानक आउँदा कतिको सम्बन्ध पनि टुटेको थियो ।
यस्तै रीतले दिव्य दुई सय वर्ष * बिते । हिउँदमा लोडसेडिङ्ग नआओस् भनेर कलाकारहरू, साहित्यकारहरू व्यङ्ग्य गर्न थाले । ठाउँठाउँमा इन्जिनियर र उद्योगीहरू सभा बस्न थाले । लोडसेडिङ्ग हटाउन मद्दत गर्नुपर्यो भनेर नेताहरूलाई पनि गुहारे तर सहयोग नपाएपछि बिजुली देव हो कि देवीलाई भेट्न भनी कुलेखानीको हाइड्रोपावर ‘प्लान्टमा’ पुगे । त्यहाँ बिजुली देव (कि देवी ?) लाई भेट्न नसकी त्रिशुली, कालीगण्डकीजस्ता ठूला जलविद्युत् परियोजनामा समेत उहाँको उपस्थिति नगण्य भएर गफ गर्न नपाएपछि अचम्म मान्दै गुगलमार्फत ध्यानदृष्टिले हेर्दा एउटा लघु जलविद्युत् आयोजनामा हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने थाहा पाएर त्यतै गए ।
बल्लतल्ल बिजुली देव (कि देवी ?) को दर्शन पाएका थिए- उहाँ त तारमा पो दौडदै हनुहुँदो रहेछ । ती विद्वानवर्गले स्तुति गाउँदै भने- हे बिजुली देव वा देवी, जे भएपनि ! हाम्रो पुकार सुनेर हाम्रो सङ्कट निवारण गरिदिनुहोस् । हे देव (वा देवी ?) ! हजुर कस्ता भने- उज्यालोमा रही उज्यालोमै रम्ने, यस्ता हजुरलाई कोटिकोटि नमस्कार छ ! अन्धकारको साथी लोडसेडिङ्गलाई तह लगाउन सक्ने यस्ता हजुरलाई कोटिकोटि नमस्कार ! भक्तजनमाथि आशिष् दिएर कहिले खाना पकाउन त कहिले अर्काकी छोरी फकाउन मद्दत गर्ने यस्ता हजुरलाई कोटिकोटि नमस्कार ! हे भक्तवत्सल, हे निरञ्जन, निराकार ! हजुरको शक्ति असीमित छ । एकै ठाउँबाट तारमार्फत घरघरमा दौडन सक्ने हजुरलाई कोटिकोटि नमस्कार छ ! लोडसेढिङ्गको प्रहारले पटकपटक मृत्यु वरण गरेपनि अमर भइरहेका यस्ता हजुरलाई कोटिकोटि नमस्कार छ । ठूलाठूला घरमा चौबिसै घण्टा आएर तिनकै घर छेउका सोझा सिधा नेपालीका घरमा पाहुना बनेर झुल्कने यस्ता हजुरलाई कोटिकोटि नमस्कार ! हजुरको महिमाको वर्णन गर्न हजार जिब्रा भएका शेषनाग (विचरा, उनको त मान्छेको जस्तो बोली नै छैन, के गरून् !) र सरस्वती (तिनले कुन देउताको महिमा पूर्ण रूपले गरेकी छन् र हजुरको गरून् !) ले पनि नसकेका, हामी तुच्छ (नागभन्दा पनि ?) मनुष्यले कसरी सकौँला ? त्यसैले हाम्रो प्रार्थना सुनी कृपा गर्नुहोस्, प्रभु (कि माता जेसुकै होस्) !
विद्वानवर्गका यस्ता सुमधुर वचनले प्रशन्न भई बिजुली देव (कि देवी?) एकछिन वेग अलि कम गरेर भन्नुहुन्छ- हे नेपाली कलाकार, साहित्यकार, इन्जिनियर र उद्योगी हो ! तिमीहरूको प्रार्थनादेखि म खुसी भएँ तर अहिले नै लोडसेडिङ्गलाई हराउने तागत मसँग छैन । खास गरी अन्धकार बाले उसलाई आफ्नै सन्तान सरह रेखदेख गरेकाले पनि म भन्दा लोडसेडिङ्ग हृष्टपुष्ट छ । अन्धकार बाको यस्तो कामको विरोध पनि त म गर्न सक्दिनँ । (बिचरा बिजुली देव हो कि देवी हो!- नाति) फेरि लोडसेडिङ्ग म भन्दा धीर भएको छ । कतिसम्म भने- लगातार आठ दश घण्टा पनि एकै ठाउँ बस्न सक्ने । म चाहिँ चञ्चल हुनाले कहिले यता कहिले उता गरिरहन्छु । मेरा कुरालाई अन्यथा नलेओ भक्तजन ! तर अहिलेको मेरो अवस्था लोडसेडिङ्गलाई परास्त गर्न सक्षम छैन ।”
तब बाजेकी फुच्ची तर छुच्ची नातिनी बिन्ती गर्छिन्- “हे बाजे ! त्यसो भए उहाँ चिरकालका लागि शक्तिहीन रहनुहुन्छ ? के उहाँ आउनुहुन्न ?” नातिनीका प्रश्न सुनी बाजे भन्नुहुन्छ- बिजुलीले त्यही बेला ती विद्वानवर्ग सँग आउन त मान्नुभएन तर एउटा उपाय सुझाउनु भयो- “म अहिले सानो परियोजनामा मज्जाले कुदेको छु । अरू यस्तै ठाउँमा म हरपल दौडेको छु । ठूला परियोजनामा कहिलेकाहीँ कुद्दा भन्दा धेरै खुसी यहाँ छ । त्यसैले हे भक्तजन ! लघु जलविद्युतमा हात बढाओ, वैकल्पिक ऊर्जाको खोजी गर, गाउँशहरमा तिनलाई पुर्याओ । ठूला आयोजना राष्ट्रिय हित अनुसार सम्पन्न गराओ; कसैको स्वार्थका लागि तिनलाई बन्द नगर । विद्युत प्राधिकरणका भ्रष्ट कर्मचारीलाई डाँडामात्र होइन, देशै कटाओ । यति गर्नसके लोडसेडिङ्ग पराजित भइजाला ।”
यति भनीसकी उहाँ तारमार्फत वेगसँग गाउँका घरघरमा पुग्नुभयो । विद्वानवर्गले वाल्ल परेर एकछिन त्यो दृश्य हेर्दै उहाँको वाणी मनन गरी आआफ्ना आश्रममा फिर्दा भए ।
।।इति श्री नेपाल पुराणे हिउँद खण्डे विद्युत माहात्म्ये बाजे नातिनातिना संवादे श्री लोडसेडिङ्ग बढ्त कथायं बिजुली प्रार्थना वर्णनं नाम सङ्कटोध्याय ।।
* दिव्य दुई सय वर्ष = बीस वर्ष
यस्तो रहस्यमय जीवन बुझ्नलाई
जानु कहाँ ? पढ्नु के ? गुरु को बनाई ?
फुल्दो गुलाबबिच ज्ञान अनेक फुल्छन्
उद्यानमा बस गई सब तत्व खुल्छन् !
-लक्ष्मीप्रसाद देवकोटा
Where can we learn the secrets of our life? Laxmi Prasad Devkota asks and answers himself, “Go to the Garden and you will find all the answers.”
The Garden here means Nature. There is everything in Nature we can learn. Nature is an open museum. What we need the eyes that analyse the beauty of nature, and that explore the knowledge within Her womb.
One day, I had written, “You see what you want to see. And nothing else.” I have been aided on this by my Teacher’s words, “You see what you know.” There are many things that might have gone unnoticed around us, but other people from far off can be seeing the same thing from some other perspective. Interpretation of what you have seen is equally important.
Life runs in a weird way, and people act in even weirder ways. It’s life that can teach you about life. A closed room that supports internet might teach you many things but to have a firsthand experience, you have to step out. In the words of my friends, “A bird has wings so that it can fly, not confine itself to its nest.”
For the last fifteen days, I was close to the Nature. Call it a tour or an excursion or a camp, whatever it may be called, it was an experience of a lifetime. The Geological tour for B.Sc. 3rd year gave many unforgettable memories.
What could be better than the assemblage of people from all parts of the country at one place? So many cultures, traditions and ethnicities mixed up into one. There was no discrimination, only friendship and love. No one cared if you looked dirty. Everyone was the same. Nobody raised questions on the religion and the customs one followed. No one fought in the name of sex, caste and religion. There was one friendly existence of like-minded people- all devoted to learn the science of the Nature.
There were rows, there were quarrels, there was a fight- which we can never forget. But I am proud to say that it was not in the name of personal biases. The tension the fight caused was immeasurable but the peace that came up later was extraordinary. I personally thank both the boys who were expelled for fighting(sadly)- despite your untimely rage, you acted like men.
Life is not just about the flowering rose. Even with the rose, thorns show themselves up. The task we did was not easy. It was nothing but determination that made us walk almost ten kilometers a day, observing, learning and sweating. Some of us even risked our lives in the quest of knowledge. However the sleep that came up after the hardworking was the best ever. Congratulations to all who accepted the challenge! Keep it up and one day, you will all stand up as wonderful human beings.
The camp was frustrating at times. Hours of work and no approval! We spoke out the frustration to our friends. We worked together. No matter how many times our work was rejected, we worked on to make it better. When we finally came out at the end with the maps, graphs and the reports we had prepared, I remember the smiles we all had. We had finally shown the spirit that we never give up despite all the failures we might have had.
The tour was not only a chance to learn different cultures within the camp but also to know the lives of people around us. Shree Bageshowri H.S.S., where we stayed, showed an excellent example of hospitality. Little students gave up the comforts of their rooms so that we could take a rest in the evenings. The love the villagers showed us, wherever we went was incredible. Their selflessness moved me. Here in city, where people run for money, there they act as humans and believe in humanity.
What else did I learn? For the first time in my life, I studied my friends closely and found that they are not entirely perfect. They have flaws in one way or the other, but they are also the best as humans. And one important thing- teachers are just like us. They have had more experience than us, but they are students in their hearts. They too are not perfect. They too are learners paving paths for the new ones to come up and take up their places.
Finally, life is the only entity that can teach us lives. Thanks to Nature who has given me life and an opportunity to learn about it.
दूध-जेरी खान जाने आशमा
स्लीपिंग ब्यागबाट निस्केर एकै सासमा
आँखा मिच्दै यताउता हेर्छ अनिश
जुरुक्क उठेर कपडा फेर्छ अनिश
लुगा लगाइसकी यताउता फेरि हेर्छ
नजरले सबलाई केर्छ
एकछिन पछि मुख फोरेर भन्छ,
“कहाँ छ मेरो ज्याकेट?”
“त्यो मेरो सुन्तले रंगको ज्याकेट
मलाई नभई नहुने ज्याकेट;
मेरो नाम लेखिएको त्यो ज्याकेट!
केटा हो ! देख्यौ कि कतै त्यो ज्याकेट ?”
अलमल्ल पर्दै, टाउको कन्याउँदै
सुतिरहेको छिमेकीलाई उठाउँदै
कराउँछ, “अरे ओ बसन्ती, तिम्रो सिरानीमा छ कि मेरो ज्याकेट कतै;
झट्टै उठ त ओ बसन्ती !”
बसन्ती, उर्फ बसन्त भर्खर उठेको;
प्याकेट, ज्याकेट केही थाहा छैन पाएको
अनिशलाई हेर्छ, छक्क मान्छ;
“यतै होला, नत्र त्यत्रो ज्याकेट भन त कता जान्छ ?”
जुरुक्क उठेर ऊ पनि
भेट्याएरै छाड्छु ज्याकेट भनी
सिरानी हटाउँछ, स्लीपिंग ब्याग टक्टक्याउँछ
अनिशतिर हेरी चकित मुद्रामा ऊ भन्छ,
“हैन तिम्रो सामान कता चैँ जान्छ ?”
तनाव भइसक्यो अनिशलाई
टाउको कन्याउँदै, कराउँदै उठायो कोठाका सबै मानिसलाई
छिमेकीलाई उठाएर वल्लो गाउँमा आइ
भन्छ, “ज्याकेट खोजिदिनु पर्यो, ए पवन दाइ |”
म पनि आफ्नो ‘ओछ्यान’ हेर्छु
शुन्य हात लाएर पवन दाइलाई हेर्छु
पवन दाइ चाहिँ उठेर हेर्दै रमिता
भन्दै छन् यस्तै (यो कविता जस्तै) भाकामा एउटा कविता |
आधा घन्टा भइसक्यो
दूध-जेरी खान पाइने टाइम गइसक्यो
तर ज्याकेट हात परेन
त्यो सुन्तले रंगको ज्याकेट नभई
अनिशको पाइला बाहिर सरेन |
रन्थनिँदै, आँखा मिच्दै, कपाल कन्याउँदै
“खोजाओ न हो मेरो ज्याकेट,” भन्दै
पुर्पुरोमा हात लाउँछ अनिश
फिल्ड जानै नपाइने भो भन्ठान्छ अनिश !
“भुल्नेको नि हद हुन्छ,” म भन्दै छु
पहिले उसले हराएका सामानका बारेमा सम्झँदै छु
‘भुलक्कड’को उपमा दिइसके पवन दाइले !
भन्दै छन्, “कस्तो याद नगरेको हो अनिश भाइले ?”
‘यहीँ त राखेको थेँ,’ सोच्दै अझै वरिपरि हेर्छ;
ब्यागको पहाड मजैसँग फोर्छ !
त्यै पनि कतै छैन ज्याकेट |
अनिशको नाम भएको, त्यो पातलो, अतुल्य ज्याकेट !
थचक्क बसेर कपाल समाउँदै
महामू्र्ख नै बनाउँछन् कि भन्ठान्दै
हेर्दै गर्दा बाहिरबाट आइपुगे रवि दाइ
मुहारमा मधुर मुस्कान ल्याइ !
सोध्छन् पवन दाइ, “ए रवि, अनिशको ज्याकेट देख्यौ ?”
अनिशले हेर्यो रवि दाइलाई अनि भन्यो,
“पापी दाइ, मेरो ज्याकेट लायौ ? कताबाट आयौ ?”
अक्क न बक्क परेर, पकेटमा लेखेको नाम पढेर,
भने रवि दाइले, “ओहो अनिश, मैले लाएछु तिम्रो ज्याकेट झुक्के’र !”
हासो छर्दै भन्दै छन् पवन दाइ,
“डिपी सरको चप्पल*, अनिश भाइको ज्याकेट
कालिदास हुन्थ्यो अनिश
रवि नआ’को भए लाएर त्यो ज्याकेट !”
(माघ २, २०७२ बिहान ७ बजे श्री वागेश्वरी उ. मा. वि, रिचोकटार, मलेखुको रुम नं. ३ मा भएको घटनामा आधारित |)
*२०७२ पौष ३० मा रोशनराज भट्टराई सरले सुनाउनु भएको कविता | यो कविता त्यही रचनाबाट प्रेरित छ |
If you believe your stomach will be upset by eating something, will it be true? If you have a doubt over some food, will that affect your body? Does thinking something will make you ill really disturb your physical health?
I have been observing the answers of these questions at the geology camp at Malekhu. For the first few days, everyone was finding the food good and it’s not bad until now, but most folks here have lost their appetite. Many have been ill. What has actually happened? I present my analysis here.
For the first two to three days, the work load was not so heavy. Everyone was enjoying. As the work load increased, stress was visible. Fatigued faces with dark circles popped up, stooped shoulders were common amongst the most. Appetite did not seem to have been affected until then.
During the dehydrating field work, almost everyone were depending upon the junk foods for tiffin. Water consumption became low. They worked under cold breeze until midnight. Appetite of a few people decreased.
More people joined them. Some of them decreased the amount of food they ate, some stopped consuming the meal. Some of my friends say that they don’t feel like eating meal at all. They are now surviving on milk, confectionery, junk food and water.
I find myself on a state if transition right now. Neither have I completely lost my appetite, nor do I have an absolutely great desire for the meal. (Might be the effect of high amount of proteinous diet I had never ever consumed earlier.)
The psychology of good health is so extraordinarily visible to me in this camp. Don’t need to go much far. In my camp itself, one if my friends felt he would be sick because he ate potato chop at the Malekhu Bazaar. His stomach was upset the other day. One of the members of my group felt he would not be fine after eating hot and spicy food. He suffered the night from diarrhoea. On the other side, I too had eaten the same things they had eaten thinking nothing would happen. And nothing happened! It was nothing but the effect of psychology.
I also came across a villager who said she suffered from chronic gastritis but the medication had no effect on her. From what she said, it could be inferred that she would not believe medication could have any positive effect upon her. (I also remembered an aunt from my home at Kathmandu who suffered from similar illness but the doctors were unable to identify the disease.)
I have finally concluded that our health is affected by the way we think. The psychology of good health is true.
A Coincidence
I was writing a story on the last evening of 2015. It is my second story on horror/thriller genre. Sometime later, I thought, Had this happened earlier? I thought it had. I knew I had written something on Facebook about writing a horror story on New Year’s eve. I immediately searched on my ‘Activity Log’. There it was! I had posted on December 30, 2014:
Fear is a strange feeling. I had started writing a horror story after reading a fearful incident, the fear increased in my mind in such a way that I was filled with horror one day. Lo! It attacked my vivacity and I feel sick. Now all I want is to resume my writing overcoming the fear.
#writing_horror_story
Though I had posted on Dec. 30, I remember beginning on 31st because it had been planned. This year, although I had a concept already on my mind, I had not begun writing and I wanted to complete at least the first draft before I went on the field tour from my University to Malekhu, Dhading as a part of my Geology course.
Another strange coincidence which had occurred some hours before the aforementioned incident:
On the last day of 2014, I had clicked the photographs of clouds. Similar thing happened at the end of 2015. At around 2.15 p.m., dark clouds came up all of a sudden and my sister suggested that we click some photos as we had done last year. Disturbed by the sunlight to some extent, photos were clicked. Clouds were not as strange as that of last year, but they turned up good.
Cloud on 31 December, 2014
Clouds on 31 December, 2014.
Clouds on 31 December, 2015
Clouds on 31 December, 2015
A Question:
How do we define such mysterious coincidences? I have no answer. I don’t think the answer would amuse me either. So, here I am, happy to be ignorant on the mysterious ways life moves.
[Note: The first draft was ready on the first day of 2016 and it neither looks horrific nor thrilling. I know I need to add those elements. When? I am not sure.]
(Beginning from January 1, 2016, I am publishing a blog post every month on music, art or literature that have inspired or influenced me.)
The Band
Night is a folk musical group from Nepal. They have produced some extremely beautiful works based on Nepali folk music. Not only they have collected wonderful folk tunes, they have also been working on promoting and preserving instruments that are now on the verge of extinction.
1. Jason Kunwar
The male lead singer of the band. Setopati.com had mentioned him as a ‘guerrilla explorer’ of Nepali folk music. He is the composer of the band and its heart and soul. Along with singing, he also plays ‘bansuri‘ (flute) and ‘sarangi‘.
2. Sumnima (Mina) Singh
The female vocalist of the band. Her voice has been featured exclusively in the song ‘Kathor’ and the theme song for the epic historical movie ‘Jhola’. She has also sung for the band along with Jason Kunwar in most of the songs.
3. Shiva Kumar Khatri
An expert on ‘Paluwa’ or leaf used as a musical instrument. He has been recently interviewed on the BBC Nepali Service.
4. Niraj Shakya
The band manager and recordist who also plays guitar and Tungna.
Works
The band has produced various songs which are gaining popularity on YouTube. The band’s debut album ‘Ani Ukali, Sangai Orali’ has made them much popular. They have also composed music for the Nepali movies ‘Chhadke’, ‘Jhola’ and ‘Suntali’.
Almost all the independent songs they have produced are folk-based and represent the pains of the economically poor people. The band explores various parts of Nepal, collects folk tunes and instruments. It is also promoting rare musical instruments through short documentary series ‘Know your Instruments’ on their YouTube channel and Live Concerts.
They have also recently represented Nepal at Shambhala Music Festival in August of 2015.
Before the festival, they were featured on an episode of Kripa Unplugged, a musical show on Terai TV. It was on this channel that I had first heard the band’s ‘Basai Bagayo’.
They also collaborated with A.R. Rahman on the occasion of International Peace Day to produce a musical tribute ‘Ot’.
Songs that have touched my heart
Basai Bagayo (aka Koshi)
This song is based on the floods of Sapta Koshi (“Sapta” means seven. There are seven main tributaries of the river- Arun, Tamor, Dudh Koshi, Sun Koshi, Tama Koshi, Indrawati and Likhu all flowing on the Eastern Nepal.) river in the year 2063 B.S. (2006 A.D.). The eastern dam of the river broke up in the night drowning hundreds of people, and their properties. Night captured the emotions of a victim and presented a beautiful song. The song begins with the sound of water artistically produced from a half-filled bucket. Words ‘hajur’ (in a sense of respect and hope) and ‘bara’ (in sense of helplessness) have been used eloquently to convey pain in the song. These lines in the latter part of the song, represent the anger towards the government who agreed to let India control the Barrage at Koshi River:
‘Baarud kini lyam na hajur, Chabi chorna jaam na hajur’
Tuina ko chha hai bhara
Tuin(a) is a manually operated ropeway. You can see its structure and operation on the first part of this video:
It is one of my favourite songs of all times. The song by Night is an artistic presentation of the current situation of our country. With the catchy ‘Jaam Jaam Kanchhi Jaam Jaam, Jaam Jaam Kanchhi Jaam Jaam’, the song is an urge for change, not just political but economical as well. The change in political scenario is presented as ‘Sakiyechaa bana bhoja, aba sahar’aa mana moja’ after the Maoists who confronted the government remaining in the forest and underground for ten years Later, when they came up on the government, leaders enjoyed themselves while those who fought for their lives were forgotten. Politicians call for ‘Naya (New) Nepal’ but our problems are still the same. The song and the music video inspires to come together for economic development although the overall lyrics is about the troubles Nepalese have faced.
Sun ko jutta / Golden Boots
‘Chhaina topi siraima,
Bhokai Marlan DheraimaRaat lai Maya, Ujyalo Chhaya
Mutu tinko dhungako,
Dar chha tinalai bhokako
Sun ko jutta jo lagauchhan
Ragat ko Butta banauchhan.’
This short and powerful song with a meaningful music video brings tears on my eyes every time. The death of a youth who goes to the Gulf to earn money leaves his parents hungry. The rulers on the other hand are keen on using the situation to rule longer. They have stoned hearts and they fear hunger. They wear boots of gold but play with the lives of the poor.
The music video presents the real picture of the helpless people of our country.
Future
Within a short period of time, Night has gained popularity through it’s beautiful music combined with exceptionally powerful lyrics. These songs are not the ones that can be easily forgotten. That is the strength of Night and that can take our music from darkness to the light.
References
1. Night’s Official Facebook page, https://facebook.com/untothenight
3. Kripa Unplugged and its YouTube Channel.
4. Night’s official website: http://wearenight.com
[Note: The English translation of their songs are available on the blog of Night’s website.
Due to lack of ample data, I was unable to fetch the information on all the band members.]
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 820 times in 2015. If it were a cable car, it would take about 14 trips to carry that many people.