Narayan Gopal Gurubacharya(Singer/Musician/Writer)

Born October 4, 1939(1939-10-04)
Kilagal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Died December 5, 1990 (aged 51), aged 51
Kathmandu, Nepal
Died of Diabetes
Narayan Gopal Gurubacharya (Nepali: नारायण गोपाल गुरुवाचार्य) is by far the most prominent and popular singer in Nepali music. When people think or talk about Nepali music, the name most associated is that of Narayan Gopal. For most people, he is the singer. He was also an accomplished music composer in his own right. Not only was he gifted with a great voice, he was very versatile. His voice range allowed him to sing songs of every genre. His songs are often richly orchestrated with the sitar, harmonium and the flute. Some of his most popular songs include "Euta Manche Ko Maya le Kati)"(trans. For the Love of One Person), "Jhareko Paat Jhai"(Like a Fallen Leaf), "Yo Samjhine Man Cha"(This Heart remembers) and "Saawan ko jhari bani"(Like the Autumn Rain), "Manche ko Maya"(Love of person). Narayan Gopal has been accorded with title "Swar Samrat" (literally, King of Voice) which affirms his position as the supreme virtuoso of Nepali music. His death was due to organ failures, said to have been caused by his notorious drinking. The cassettes and CDs of his music still make significant sales in Nepal.

He has sung over 500 songs, including in films, ballets and drama. Most of his songs are melodies. It is said that he was very selective about which songs he sang. Although 500 songs is not a lot for some of his caliber, they are outstanding in some ways--be it the lyrical depth or superb rendition. In recognition of his contribution in the field of Nepali music, he has received several national honors and awards, Trishakti Patta, Chinnalata Puraskar to name a few.

Continued sales of his albums attest to his immense popularity. Even more than a decade after his death, his songs are equally liked, loved and sung.His legacy lives on. Current sensation, Ram Krishna Dhakal, a very popular singer, sang Narayan Gopal's songs and modelled his singing style after him when starting his career.

In a brief introduction of Narayan Gopal on an album cover, Music Nepal, the largest music company in Nepal, writes:

"The late Narayan Gopal (1996-2046 BS) is regarded as the most popular in the entire domain of modern Nepali music. A still more appropriate introduction of the music maestro would be to call him the King of Vocals or Swar Samrat of contemporary Nepali music. Narayan Gopal, who has enchanted millions of listeners by his immortal melodies has been awarded several national honors among which, Indra Rajya Laxmi Award, Chhinalata Award for vocals, Jagadamba Shree, Trishakti Patta third (awarded post humously) Urvashi Rang and several other honors and decorations bear testimony to his widespread popularity and the eminence he has achieved as a favorite singer of millions.

During his career, Narayan Gopal rendered his voice to over 550 compositions including modern songs, ballets, dance dramas, movies and patriotic songs. These songs have contributed in enriching the store of Nepali Music and popularizing Nepali music even beyond political frontiers."
Credit: Music Nepal

Personal life

Narayan Gopal was born to a Newar family in Kathmandu in 1996 Bikram Sambat (BS). His father was a classical musician and wanted his son to follow his footsteps. Narayan Gopal was interested in music from an early age but not exactly into classical field. He studied music in India.

The late Gopal Yonjon and Narayan Gopal were good friends and "mits".(It's a nepali custom where good friends enter into a kind of a lasting friendship. This is generally seen as strengthening the friendship bond.) Narayan Gopal has sung many beautiful and soulful songs composed by Gopal Yonjon.

Narayan Gopal married his long time fan from Darjeeling, Pemala Lama. They do not have any children.

Below is a translation (in part) of one of his most famous songs, "Kehi mitho baata gara" (Say a few sweet words), used with permission of Suckypoetssociety:

"come, let us dance in this dark- like fireflies
float with the wind- like fibres of simal
leave your sorrows for tomorrow
for, "tomorrow" is to be suffered anyhow
whisper sweet words to me—
dusk fades away in vain
later tonight, to solitude—
we return, to weep again"

He always wanted to have violin in his songs. The trust he left behind for teaching music to underprivelaged kids now teaches violon as well.

Songs
Album:Geeti Yatra Vol 1 (Released on 2044-10-10)
-Yeuta manchheko
-Malai chhodi mero chhaya
-Saunko jhari bani
-Yetidherai maya diee
-Aajabholi harek sanjha
-Kehi mitho batagara
-Timilai maa ke bhanu
-Yo samjhine maan chha

Geeti Shradanjali (Released on 2049-03-02)
-Timile Pani
-Joon Phool Rojhen
-Yo Bhagyle Kasto
-Sandhai Nai Ma Hanse
-Nachhod Mera He
-Sero Phero
-Duita Phool Deuralima
-Ishwor Tainle Rachera
-Tyo Desh Bhitra Tyo Sano
-Bihan Bhai Batasle
-Aajai Yeuban
-Shrada Ko Phool

Preyashi Ka Yaadharu (Released on 2054-02-16)
-Euta Manchheko Maya
-Yo Samjhene Man Chha
-Yeti Dherai Maya Diee
-Pokhiyera Ghamko Ghulka
-Aankha Chhopi Narou
-Biratako Chino
-Preyasika Yaadharu
-Mandirma Chhaki
-Malai Chhodi Mero Chhayan
-Parkhi Basen Aaulabhani
-Saunko Jhari Bani
-Aajabholi Harek Sanjha

Narayan Gopal - Parkhe Banse Aula Bhani(with Lyric)

पर्खी बसे आउला भनि
मेरो उठने पालो
मेरो उठने पालो

कुर्दा कुर्दै जिन्दगी नै
भै गएछ कालो..कालो
भै गएछ कालो
मेरो उठने पालो

वारि पारि अँध्यारो छ आँखा खोली हेर्दा
अँध्यारो नै देखिन्छ नि आँखा चिम्ली हेर्दा

वारि पारि अँध्यारो छ आँखा खोली हेर्दा
अँध्यारो नै देखिन्छ नि आँखा चिम्ली हेर्दा

आफ्नै छाँया आफै सँग भागी हिँड्न ठाल्यो
भागी हिँड्न ठाल्यो
आफ्नै माँया आफैलाई बोझ लाग्न ठाल्यो ठाल्यो
बोझ लाग्न ठाल्यो
बोझ लाग्न ठाल्यो

तातो हाँवा बहिदिन्छ मुटु पोल्ने गरी
निराशाको दियो बल्छ तिनै जल्ने गरी
तातो हाँवा बहिदिन्छ मुटु पोल्ने गरी
निराशाको दियो बल्छ तिनै जल्ने गरी

वर्षौ भयो चलेकै छ मन भित्र यो आँधी
मन भित्र यो आँधी
बाँध्यतामा बाँच्नु पर्यो चाहनालाई बाँधी बाँधी
चाहनालाई बाँधी
चाहनालाई बाँधी

पर्खि बसे आउला भनि
मेरो उठने पालो
मेरो उठने पालो

Halloween scene in Washington DC,USA-2008

Halloween celebrates on the evening of October 31.

Enjoy virtual tour of Washington D.C.

Wish You Happy Dashain

Snaps from Seattle trip

The Space Needle Tower

Space Needle Tower is one of the well known architecture in USA. Your Seattle trip wouldn't complete, if you don't visit this.

View of Puget sound from Space Needle.

View of Seattle downtown from Space Needle.

Mt. Rainier and Seattle downtown .

One of the intersection where Saturday Pride parade has taken place.

Saturday Pride Parade

Saturday Pride parade

Seattle waterfront, one of the tourist attraction in Seattle. You can take ferries to Puget sound,Bainbridge Island and Bremerton Island from this Place. There are lots of other activities you could enjoy including para sailing, boating etc. Seattle Aquarium is also located in Waterfront. You would love this place.

Seattle Public Market. This is a traditional market place, where you can get fresh fruits, vegetables and fishes. Everyday lots of tourist visit this place.

Fresh fruits display in Public market.

Musician singing a song in front of first outlet of Starbucks coffee. This outlet is more museum than coffee shop.

Crowd watching fish display in public market. This fish shop is one of the tourist attraction in the public market due to their skill in throwing and catching fish.

Mind your Language...

Chennai , Tamilnadu, India

I went to India for my further education. I completed my undergraduate in commerce from chennai(It used to be Madras). I spent more than 3 yrs in Chennai, Tamilnadu (South India). That is the one of the hottest place I have ever been. Actually Chennai doesn’t have winter season at all. She does have three seasons and those are hot, hotter and hottest. However cool breeze from seashore sooth you some extent. You don’t have to spend too much for your clothing in Chennai. As you know winter dress is more expensive than summer clothing. Half pant and t-shirt is more than enough for whole year. However you might need a pair of jacket if you are a travel jockey.
People are very conservative and religious. They put bar to segregate male side and female side in public transportation and you are not suppose to be seated in female side, though the seat is empty. That is really bizarre. I have never seen that kind of bar culture anywhere other than Chennai. You should be familiar to run and catch the bus to board into, since buses don’t stop long enough to get in and get off. It doesn’t make a sense to a driver and conductor the number of passenger getting in and getting off. Quick stop and fast run as usual. This is oppose to the riding system of Nepal, where conductor would be waiting for you even if you have just started from your house, if he knew that you are coming to ride the bus. However public transportation is good in Chennai. That is owned and operated by the state government itself. Though Chennai is a part of India, they want to differentiate themselves from other India. That’s why they don’t speak Hindi, even though then can speak Hindi. I just want to remind you that Hindi is the national language of India. India has lots of ethnic languages and people from different places practice their own mother language. However they will speak Hindi with you if you initiate the conversation in Hindi language unlike in Chennai. They don’t mingle with other people easily if you are not Tamil. That’s why I have very handful Tamil friend compare to friend from other part of India. Normally people from northern part of India are friendlier than southern part of India. Nepalese cultures and Indian cultures are similar in various instances. Like food culture, religious culture, social culture etc. But that didn’t hold good for me in Chennai, especially in case of food. At the very beginning we had to have food from restaurant and it is very difficult to get the food of our taste. However after few days we did manage to cook food at our apartment itself that gave us some comfort. We wouldn’t have hard time if we had got north Indian cuisine, which is quite similar to our food. Famous dishes in Chennai are Shamber, Dosa, Idly, Rasam, and Uttapum.

I don’t want to put the whole list right here. At least it took more than 6 months to be use to those food. However I started missing those foods once l left Chennai. That’s why I frequently visit south Indian restaurant in USA as well. USA is the diversified country in the world, where you can get everything you need. If you are an Asian and missing Asian people and Asian food, no problem, just Google it, you will get the same. Even if you want to narrow it down and want to meet Nepali people and Nepali food, you will get it. However Indian restaurant is widely available compare to Nepali restaurant and they are cheap compare to Nepalese restaurant. If you are in big city like New York and Chicago, you will get everything you feel like to have. Oh… I am sorry, I went far away form Chennai, let me come back to Chennai again. Hmm…what I was telling is….yap! I got it. Ok I have talked enough about food mania in Chennai and want to go some other things. Chennai was my first foreign country far away from my country and of course from family. I used to miss my place very much at the beginning though I had some Nepalese friend along with me. I feel very happy when I see Nepalese over there. Once I meet Nepalese I break the ice and start asking their name and the place in Nepal they are from. In this way I had become familiar with lots of Nepalese within short span of time. But later on I got to meet lots of Nepalese almost every day and I got to know there are lots of Nepalese working in different field including students.
Let me tell you one very funny and critical incident took place in Chennai, which I would never forget in my life and I keep telling this to my friend and colleague whenever I get a chance. It goes like this: we were new to the place and had to go to our institute. One of a senior gave us a direction, bus route and the stop to get down. And he told us to look at the flyover (Anna flyover) coz the stop after that flyover is our destination. I and two of my friend left home for institute as per his direction. Everything was smooth till we find the flyover; once we saw the flyover we were so excited and happy since we were on track. As you know how curious and excited you would be when you have to find out a new place, moreover you would have kind of fear to lose. Due to that fear one of my friend suddenly shouted pointing at the flyover, “Pool ayo pool, sathi aba aune stop ma ta hami jharnu parcha”. That means flyover has come, so next stop is our destination. Suddenly people started looking at us like they have never seen people like us before. At the same time other friend supported his statement and repeated the same. The environment turned into hostile. Then I told them to keep quite. We got off the bus and went to the institute and get our job done. But we were thinking about situation and trying to figure out that, why people stared at us. Everything was fine before that. We went back home and told seniors about the incident. Even they didn’t get any clue.The day passed with curiosity being unsolved mystery. Tomorrow we asked a guy next door. He is from Bihar and Muslim, you could imagine what kind of guy he would be, I bet you are thinking something bad about him, and if so you are 100% wrong. He was very nice and helpful guy. He speaks Hindi, English and Tamil as well. He has been Chennai for 6 yrs. It had come to our knowledge that unknowingly we had spoke out very bad word in Tamil. Then he told;" Bach Gaye ho tum log”. That means thank god you guys are safe. The word pool means male sexual organ in Tamil. Now you could imagine the situation where some guys are calling out male organ in public bus. Heheheh…..One more secret, don’t tell anybody o.k., then after I learnt all bad words in Tamil language. I still remember some of them. “W…..t……” fill in the blanks and try to read it if you know Tamil, else just forget it…