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Nepal:
The History Ends
Tuesday, 23
November 2004, 5:13 pm
Article:
Indra Adhikari
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Nepal: The History Ends
By
Indra Adhikari
Nepalese mourned the
thirteenth day of the dead music veteran Shiva Shankar Manandhar on Sunday.
They promised to keep up his aspirations of music promotion in the country.
Bhuwan Chand, the co-star of Aama film gives final farewell to shiva
shankar. photo by Sagar Shrestha.
Shiva Shankar Manandhar, who
has influenced virtually every aspect of Nepalese music for 50 years, died
of lung cancer last week. He was 72.
During the past four decades,
his name has probably been mentioned more often in books, journals,
lectures and conversations about Nepalese music than any other musician.
His music was both patriotic and sentimental?among the most touching songs
of his generation?and spoke to people of all ages. If he is remembered by
posterity it will be for his contribution to the development of Nepalese
music while preserving its heritage and originality.
Shiv Shankar's co-workers
describe him as a man of destiny and remarkable generosity, someone who was
down-to-earth and deeply committed to his work. Premdhoj Pradhan recalls
the days when Shiv Shankar would work for a week to give a song one final
touch. He was even stubborn and demanding with words, forcing them to do as
he willed. He worked odd hours; he worked without food. He would refuse to
meet visitors without an appointment.
Those who have associated with
him closely say he was a man with an impeccable sense of timing, in his
music and his work. His habit of sticking firmly to a schedule helped him
to build Radio Nepal,
which had just been formed when he joined it in 2007 B.S. There was fierce
competition for positions there, as it was the only medium at the time that
reached the general public. Radio Nepal
attracted great talent but also needed an able person to coordinate and
manage it. Shiv Shankar proved to be the right person for the position.
Commercial music in Nepal
was in its infancy when Shiv Shankar started his career. Except for a few
performances on public stages, there was little opportunity for music to
grow. Indian music enjoyed a dominant position. Promoting Nepalese music to
new heights was the goal; Radio Nepal
became the medium, and Shiv Shankar became the model. He was an impresario,
producer, composer and arranger who did much to expand the popularity of
Nepalese music.
According to Pradhan, Shiv
Shankar was the father of the adhunik geet, the modern Nepalese song. The
trend he started led to the revolution in the music industry and eventually
to the rise of pop music that has won the hearts of youngsters. In his four
decades of service to Radio Nepal,
Nepalese music grew into full flower. In the beginning, when there were
only lok geet, folk songs. The introduction of modern styles drew
criticism, but Shiv Shankar eventually won listeners over. His fans, music
lovers and aspiring musicians sent him letters: He replied to all with
handwritten responses that were invariably positive and encouraging.
Shiv Shankar always favored
change. He encouraged emerging artists and promoted music, even pop songs,
always stressing originality and musical roots. He was fond of using the
newest technologies available to make the work easier and the music better.
He taught his prot駩s fairness and loyalty, concentration and dedication to
their work.
Shiv Shankar's career began in
his late teens; he joined Radio Nepal
at 19, along with Koili Devi, Natikaji, Pannakaji, Hari Prasad Rimal and
Bhairab Bahadur Thapa. His first song, "Yo Kholako Pani, Euta Rumal
Dhundaima Din Jane," was recorded in 2015 B.S. in Mumbai. In 2021 B.S.
Shiv Shankar played the lead role in "Aama," the first film made
in Nepal.
Although he did not act in any other film, the exposure advanced his
career, and he, in turn, worked to advance the Nepalese film industry. Shiv
Shankar wrote the music for more than 1,200 songs, sang more than 300 of
those and composed music for more than a dozen films. For his contribution
he was showered with many laurels, the most recent of those was the
Natikaji Memorial award, which was presented to him just days before his
death.
Shiv Shankar was not motivated
by personal success and cared little for money. He was simple, quiet and
shy. He liked to dress in simple clothes; his favorite dress was a brown
safari suit. He was known to enjoy a drink and was a heavy smoker. The lung
cancer that killed him was probably a result of smoking, even though he
quit the habit three years ago at the request of his friends.
He was very devout, passing
most mornings in his prayer room. Until recent years a walk in the mornings
was a part of his daily schedule, and he was active in his neighborhood in
Kalimati.
Shiv Shankar was born to Man
Bahadur and Ram Maya on Falgun 12, 1989 B.S. on the day of Shivaratri, at New
Road in Kathmandu. He
attained his bachelor's degree in music from Kalanidhi Indira Sangeet
Mahavidhyalaya and then devoted himself to his chosen career. In his 41
years of service at Radio Nepal,
Nepalese music grew into full bloom. Hundreds of his students followed his
lead: The strength and variety of Nepalese music today will give peace to
his departed soul.
On the last day of Tihar, at
around six in the evening, Shiv Shankar passed away at the Bhaktapur
Cancer Hospital.
His three sons, Gauri, Ravi and Shashi, performed
his last rites at Aryaghat on Monday evening, the day following his death.
Shiv Shankar's demise has brought to a close an important chapter in the
history of Nepalese music. But his life's work has opened many more.
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