Singer Arun Thapa Magar Remembered on 27th Death Anniversary

Pokhara. Singer Arun Thapa Magar lived a short life. But he is always immortal in his songs. Thapa Magar, a prominent talent of Nepali light music, observed his 27th death anniversary on Tuesday. He was remembered in various ways. The Nepal Magar Students' Association, Baglung organized 'Arun Smriti Saanjh' (Arun Remembrance Evening). Where Arun's timeless songs echoed.

Artists started their performances with 'Crores of Hearts' One Beat Nepal' and concluded with 'What Trust Can This Heart Have'. The first song was sung by Surya Ghatane, Kishore Thapa, Meena Hamal Thakuri, among others. In the second round, a bhajan sung by singer Thapa Magar only once in his lifetime, 'You Live by Chanting Ram Ram', was presented. Which was sung by singer Surya Ghatane. He presented Arun's popular songs like 'What is Pain, What is Suffering', 'What Trust Can This Heart Have', 'Stealing the Sleep from My Eyes'.

Prem Pun sang 'Are you coming with the evening moon?', Kishore Thapa sang 'You are the seasons', 'I don't want to blame anyone' and 'If you look'. Prem Budhamagar presented 'No matter how much love is given' and 'Even if I cry, you smile'. Prakash Thapa Magar sang 'I feel like forgetting' and Manjul Shakya sang 'There has been a strange sorrow'.

More than a dozen popular songs of his were presented at the remembrance evening. Artists Surya Ghatane, Manjul Shakya, Gautam Naisa Magar, Abhay Chhantyal, among others, accompanied on instruments.

The audience was mesmerized listening to the songs of their beloved singer. They swayed to the music until late at night. As Arun's songs echoed, the audience sometimes fell into deep silence, and sometimes erupted in applause. His songs are very popular among the youth. In most of Arun's songs, expressions of human emotions, love, and separation are found.

After the tragic end of his love and marital relationship, singer Thapa sang popular songs like 'No matter how much love is given', 'What is Pain, What is Suffering'. Arun's song 'You are the greenery of spring among the seasons', sung in 2034 BS, ranked seventh among the top 10 songs in the world in a BBC survey. Singer Arun is also credited with making Nepali light music known to the world. Arun sang about 50 songs in his lifetime.

In the program, Sangam Gharti Magar, a district secretariat member of the Nepal Magar Association, discussed Arun's personality. He mentioned that although Arun Thapa was established as a popular singer among the masses, he was neglected by the state at that time. "Although the initial period was pleasant, Arun Thapa's life ended tragically," he said, "A singer like him should have been honored by the state, but today it is a tragic situation that only the Magar community has to remember him."

In the program, Member of Parliament Renuka Kaucha Magar said that Arun's songs will always remain immortal. "His songs are evergreen, even though he is not physically among us, Arun Thapa will always live in our memory," she said. Traditional songs and dances like Khyaali, Jhyaure, Sorathi, Thali, Salaijo, Kaura were also presented in the program. Artists were also honored on the occasion.

Born on January 25, 2009 (Magh 11, 2009 BS) in Kolkata, India, Arun passed away on July 21, 1999 (Saun 5, 2056 BS) in a hotel in Kathmandu. He had to die due to serious illness in the last phase of his life. He left behind a few but timeless songs for Nepali light music. After passing the Radio Nepal voice test in 2032 BS, Arun recorded the song 'Even if I go far away from you, don't cry thinking the world is big' with lyrics by Ashwain Gurung and music by Om Bikram Bist.

Arun's musical journey began with this song. His first song did not achieve the expected success. The songs 'Seasons' sung in late 2034 BS and 'No matter how much love is given' released in 2036 BS brought Arun Thapa to sudden fame. The Nepal Magar Students' Association President Krishna Athare Magar said that the remembrance evening was organized in honor of singer Thapa.