Aruna Lama "Nightingale of the Hills"

12:04 PM

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music

Aruna Lama (Nepali: अरुणा लामा) 9 September 1945 – 4 February 1998) was one of the well-known singers of Nepali music. She is popularly known as "Nightingale of the Hills". She sang hundreds of Nepalisongs, including some for Nepali Film, and left an indelible mark as one of the best singers in Nepali music.

Biography

Aruna Lama was born on 9 September 1945 at Ghoom Pahar, Darjeeling, British India to Nepali parents Surya Bahadur Lama and Sanmaya Lama.[1] Her uncle C.B. Lama inspired her to sing from the age of 7. She won a music competition organized by the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan (GDNS) in 1956 at the age of 11 and then she never looked back. Amber Gurung, one of the stalwarts of Nepali music, groomed her in singing from 1958. Aruna Lama did her schooling at Mungpoo Primary School, Jalpahar, and St. Teresa's School, Darjeeling. She completed her graduate degree in arts from Darjeeling Government College. In 1963, Aruna Lama married Saran Pradhan, another Nepali musician. In 1974, her husband died and she was left with her two children, Sapna (Pradhan) Thapa and Supreet Raj Pradhan. She worked hard to raise them, working as an assistant teacher in St. Alphonsus School (1965) and finally found work at the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Welfare Office in Darjeeling where she worked till 1998. She continued to sing even with all her struggles till the end of her life.

Music

Aruna Lama sang for numerous music composers, most notably Amber Gurung, Karma Yonzon, Gopal Yonzon, Shanti Thatal, Narayan Gopal, Mani Kamal Chettri and Dibya Khaling. Her first song was composed by Amber Gurung lyrics written by Bhupi Sherchan in 1961. Some of her classic hits are Eh Kancha Malai Sunko Tara, Phool Lai Sodhey, Pohor Saal Khusi Phatda, Hera Na Hera Kancha, Laharey Bara Ghumauney Chautari, Eklai Basda and Nepali Gaurav Garchau Afnaipanma. She also sang for a number of Nepali films, such as Maitighar, Paral Ko Aago and Kanchhi, these film songs are remembered even today. Some of her notable musical performances include Raag Rajat at Gorkha Rangamanch, Darjeeling 1981; Arunanjaliat Pragya Bhawan, Kathmandu; and Aruna Lama Swarnim Saanjh at Pragya Bhawan, Kathmandu.

Awards

Aruna Lama received numerous awards both in Nepal and India for her singing and contribution to Nepali music. Some of these awards include Sangit Puraskar (1966), Sur Sringar Sammelan Puraskar (1966), Mitrasen Puraskar (Assam Nepali Sahitya /Sanskritik Parishad 1975), Dishari Puraskar (Kolkata 1980), Bhanu Academy Puraskar (Darjeeling 1982), Nepali Chalchitra Puraskar (for Maitighar 1983), Chinnlata Geet Puraskar (Kathmandu 1992), Urvashi Rang Puraskar (Kathmandu 1992), Mitrasen Sangeet Puraskar (Gangtok 1995), Gorkha Dakshina Bahu 4th (Kathmandu 1996), Sadhna Puraskar (Kathmandu), Nightingale of the Hills (Hindustan Recording Sangsthan, Kolkata), Swar Kinnari (Sitaram Sahitya Pratisthan, Kathmandu) and Swar Samagri (Arunanjali Programme, Kathmandu).

Selected songs

Kancha Malai Sunko Tara
Phool Lai Sodhey
Pohor Saal Khusi Phatyo
Nepali Gaurav Garchau Afnaipanma
Manma Timro
Hanga Hanga
Aankhama Mero
Udas Mero
Chautarima Basera
Eklai Basda
Sabaile Bhanthe
Hera Na Hera Kancha
Aankhaharule
Laharey Bara Ghumauney Chautari
Udi Jaaun Bhane Panchi Hoina (Movie: Paral Ko Aago)
Himal Sari Ma (Movie: Kanchhi)
Yee Timra Muskan (Movie: Kanchhi)
Kala Kala Sala Sala (Movie: Kanchhi)

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Biography of Bimal Gurung - Gorkha Leader

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Politics

Founder president of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). Bimal Gurung founded the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on 7th October 2007 with the sole objective to attain a separate state of Gorkhaland to be carved out of three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and also the Terai region in the plains of Darjeeling district and Dooars region in Jalpaguri district of West Bengal.

Biography of Bimal Gurung 

The demand for Gorkhaland has been raised by the GJM to ensure political identity of the Indian Gorkhas residing not just in the Darjeeling Hills but also for those Gorkhas who are facing an identity
problem across India.

Even though almost all the political parties based from Darjeeling have been raising the statehood demand, the mass demand gained national importance only after Bimal Gurung started a democratic
movement.

The demand for a separate administrative-unit had been raised by the hill people as early as in 1901 and was renewed on various occasions; including a bloody 28-month long agitation in 1986 – an agitation in
which Bimal Gurung had participated as a foot soldier, most of the hill leaders remained silent on the people’s aspiration after occupying some power in the Hills.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha too has agreed on the Centre’s proposal to set up an autonomous Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, which was formed in August 2012, but Bimal Gurung has clearly told the Centre and the state government that he would not be dropping the demand of Gorkhaland unlike settlements made by previous leaders from the Hills. This point finds a clear mention in the GTA Memorandum of Agreement that was signed by the Centre, State and the GJM on 18 July 2011.

GTA was a necessity to empower the hill youth, create job opportunities and develop infrastructure in the region so that the proposed Gorkhaland territory does not turn into a backward tract that
would destroy a generation in this period of strife and agitation.

While the GTA is preparing the region for statehood in terms of infrastructure development, Bimal Gurung is applying relentless political pressure on the Centre and the state government to create a
separate state of Gorkhaland.

The Leader

Bimal Gurung was born on 17th July 1964 into a family of tea garden workers. Bimal Gurung’s mother Late Chandramaya Gurung and father Late Bharat Gurung faced many financial constraints which forced Bimal Gurung to cut short his academic pursuit and spent his adolescent years doing odd jobs to support his family.

Bimal Gurung's life took a dramatic turn when Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) launched an armed struggle for a Gorkha homeland in 1986. He immediately joined the Gorkha Volunteers' Cell
(GVC), the youth wing of the GNLF and fought against the state government as a true solider espousing the cause of Gorkhaland.

A disillusioned Bimal Gurung left GVC soon after the GNLF signed the 1988 Darjeeling Accord with the Centre and the West Bengal government that led to the formation of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC).

Bimal Gurung once again came into public focus in 1992 when he floated an organization for unemployed youths from the Hills that focused on giving direction to a rudderless generation.

In 1999 Bimal Gurung won the DGHC bypoll elections from Tukvar constituency as an independent candidate. Given his popularity in the area, the GNLF immediately invited him to join the party and was
entrusted with the responsibilities of the DGHC sports and youth affairs department.

During his tenure as the councilor of the DGHC he brought about a revolution in sports and youth affairs in the Hills. He also managed to cleanse his constituency of drug peddlers and put a stop to
alcoholism in the area.

In 7th October, 2007 Bimal Gurung floated the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha to fight against the dictatorial rule of Subash Ghising. Bimal Gurung decided to open this party when he saw the people's opposition to
Ghisingh's proposal to include the Darjeeling Hills within the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. People opposed the Sixth Schedule as it was bound to create division in the various communities in the
hills.

Following Gurung’s movement, Subash Ghisingh had no option but to leave the Darjeeling Hills given the widespread anger and resentment against his rule.

Bimal Gurung also received tremendous support from the pro-Gorkhaland supporters from the Terai and Dooars, territories which had been left out of the DGHC’s purview by Subash Ghising even though the people of the plains had supported him during his agitation in the mid-1980s.

Gorkhaland on Record

In the official record of the agreement signed between the Gorkha Janmukti, Centre and the State government, it is clearly stated : “Now, therefore, the Government of India, the Government of West
Bengal and the GJM, keeping on record the demand of the GJM for a separate State of Gorkhaland, agree as follows:-
1)    An autonomous Body, which shall be called the GorkhalandTerritorial Administration (GTA), will be formed through direct election. A Bill for this purpose will be introduced in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly;

The West Bengal government issued a gazette notification for the GTA Act on 14 March 2012, signaling preparations for elections for the GTA.  In the elections of the GTA held on 29 July 2012, GJM candidates
won from all seats and today Bimal Gurung is the Chief Executive of GTA.

Bimal Gurung is still fighting for a separate state for Gorkhaland because he takes GTA not as a compromise on its demand for a separate State but, in fact, a step in the direction for Gorkhaland.

Favorite Quotations

" You must be the change you wish to see in the world.." – Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Interests

Politics, Social Service and Games

Source: bimalgurung.in

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Literary Harmony - A Profile of Hariprasad ‘Gorkha’ Rai

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northeast gorkhas

By Ashok Baral

Hariprasad ‘Gorkha’ Rai is a well-known name in Assamese and Nepali literature. The worthy son of the soil tied a number of regional as well as national languages into a single whole and thus made literary harmony possible.

Hariprasad ‘Gorkha’ Rai

Hariprasad ‘Gorkha’ Rai was born in Kohima (then a part of Asom) on July 15, 1914 to Dhanraj Rai and Yashoda Rai. He received primary education at home and then at the Kohima Lower Middle School. ‘Gorkha’ Rai was an MA in Assamese, English and Philosophy and studied in Delhi and then in Santiniketan for a first class graduate degree in Hindi.

Hariprasad ‘Gorkha’ Rai started his service career as a teacher at Kohima FT school in 1935. After 20 years of regular service in that school, ‘Gorkha’ Rai joined the Guwahati centre of All India Radio as an assistant director. He retired from service in 1978.

‘Gorkha’ Rai tried his hand in story, poem and article writing from the age of 18. His writings flourished in the contemporary magazines such as – Gorkha Sevak, Uday, Suman, Usha, Himalee, Ashtitwa, Himadri and Suskera published from India and even Nepal. Kavita Sangraha, Yahaan Badnam Huncha and Kavita Machariko Boli are ‘Gorkha’ Rai’s milestones in Nepali literature, in addition to his one-act plays Ek Tukra Roti, Krishna Janma and Janani Janmabhumi. His plays Puru and Sikandar and Satyavana are examples of his mastery as a playwright. ‘Gorkha’ Rai’s books Asomka Chheukuna and Udisyaka Hernuparne Thaunharu show his genius as a writer of travel experiences.

Hariprasad ‘Gorkha’ Rai served both Assamese and Nepali literature with equal sincerity and passion. His stories, poems and articles appeared in Assamese magazines like Abahan, Banhi, Soumar Jyoti, Udayachal, Ramdhenu and Monidwip. ‘Gorkha’ Rai was the co-author of Asomar Janajati. In addition to it, Doogaraki Mohan Bibhuti-Adikavi Bhanubhakta Aaru Sankardev, Chabilal Upadhyayar Jiwani and Swadhinata Sangrami Neta Dalbir Singh Lohar are ‘Gorkha’ Rai’s noteworthy contributions to Assamese literature as a biography writer. Eri Aha Dinbor, ‘Gorkha’ Rai’s autobiography, is enriched with his lucid writing style. Being well versed in Oriya, Bangla, Hindi, English, Manipuri, Nagamese, Mising and Japanese, in addition to his own languages Assamese and Nepali, ‘Gorkha’ Rai could travel in the realms of a number of regional literatures of India. His translation of Birendrakumar Bhattacharya’s Iyaruingam and the translation of Mising folk songs into Nepali enriched this language.

It was because of ‘Gorkha’ Rai’s contribution to Assamese and Nepali literature that Madhab Deka Bezbaruah, the editor of Banhi magazine, advised him to use the word ‘Gorkha’ as his middle name. It was in the year 1975 that the Asom Sahitya Sabha gave ‘Gorkha’ Rai a certificate of eulogy and started paying him Rs 700 per month as literary pension. This was followed by the announcement of a lifetime literary pension to this noted writer by the Asom government in 1975. It was for ‘Gorkha’ Rai’s contribution to Nepali literature that in 1996 he received the Jagadamba Award from the Madan Award Trust of Nepal and in the year 2000 he received the Parashmoni Award from the Kalimpong Nepali Sahitya Adhyayan Samiti. ‘Gorkha’ Rai’s works for literary harmony did not go unrewarded as he received the Phoolchand Khandel Sanghati Award from the Asom Sahitya Sabha in 1999.


- Courtesy: The Assam Tribune 

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Basanta Bahadur Rana first Indian race walker in Olympic

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sports

Basanta Bahadur Rana a 30-year-old , the  first Indian race-walker in Olympic, Gorkha Soldier in Gorkha Regiment of the Indian Army. Basanta is a natural athlete whose athletic skills came to the fore after he joined the army in 2000. A former football player with the Indian army, he came to race walking after an ankle injury forced him to quit football in 2006.

In his very first competition, he showed that he had a natural affinity for the sport and was soon spotted by former Indian champion and coach, Gurdev Singh who started training him for the 2012 Olympics. Coming from a very humble background in Nepal, Basanta has had to struggle to fulfil his Olympic dreams. Like Irfan, he also could not afford to buy proper shoes for the event on his meager sepoy salary and it was only after the media highlighted their plight that help came forward which enabled him to purchase the shoes. Basanta qualified for the Olympics at the 2012 IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Saransk, Russia. Though he finished 36th in the 50km race walk event in the Olympics, he beat the previous national record by his mentor and coach, Gurdev Singh, setting a new national record of 3:56:48.

Career Highlights:

Represented India in the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow
- National record in at the Olympic Games 2012, London
- National record in at the 25th World Race Walking Cup,Sarahanska, May 2012
- Silver Medal at the Dublin Grand Prix, Ireland, 2011
- Bronze Medal at the Indian Grand Prix, 2011
- Represented India at the Russian Invitation Meet, 2010
- Represented India at theEuropean Grand Prix Russia, 2008
- Represented India in the 23rd World Race Walking Cup 2008,Chebokrary, Russia
- Gold Medal at the Indian Grand Prix, 2008

2012 Summer Olympics 

Basanta qualified for the Olympics at the 2012 IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Saransk, Russia in May 2012, with a B qualifying standard. He was trained by the former national record holder Gurdev Singh. In the 1960 Olympics at Rome, Zora Singh was 8th clocking 4:37:44.6s. Basanta finished 36th in the event by setting a new national record of 3:56:48. By setting this record, Basanta broke the previous national record of 4:16:22 clocked by his mentor Gurdev Singh who had set it in Hyderabad in 2005.

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