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Jhalak Man Gandarbha, who passed away on November 23, 2003, at the age of 68, was an important figure in Nepali folk music. He gained recognition for promoting Gaine Geet or Gandarbha Sangeet, a type of traditional song that is sung exclusively by the Gaine or Gandarbha community in Nepal. He is credited with being the first Gaine singer to record a Gaine song and is highly regarded for giving a voice to the indigenous and common people through mass media. One of his most well-known songs is "Aamale Sodhlin Ni," which mourns the loss of a Nepali soldier on a foreign battlefield.
The musician had produced only one album, but it proved to be highly sought after. Music Nepal, the company that distributed the album on cassette, paid him a monthly royalty of Rs. 2000-3000. He expressed gratitude towards Keshari Dharmaraj Thapa, who had offered him a position at Radio Nepal Station back in 1965. As he traveled internationally to perform his music, he visited several countries, including Germany, Belgium, Yugoslavia, France, and India. He acknowledged the significant contributions of Kumar Basnet, Ram Thapa, Sambhu Rai, Jayananda Lama, Prem Raja Mahat, Bam Bahadur Karki, Chandra Shah, Mira Rana, Gyanu Rana, Dharmaraj Thapa, and Lochan Bhattarai in preserving the cultural value of folk songs. He urged responsible parties to establish a dependable research program to gather and promote folk songs in our rapidly modernizing country. Additionally, he warned of the crucial state that these songs have reached.
Allare Nani Kesi
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Gandarbha created Karkhas, a collection of around 20 Nepalese heroes who exhibited bravery during the Second World War. Despite producing only one album during his lifetime, his work propelled him to become one of the most influential and well-liked folk singers in Nepal. Gandarbha dedicated his life to gathering, composing, presenting, and encouraging Gaine Geet.
Radio Nepal, the sole broadcasting station in the country, used to frequently air the song, which eventually gained popularity. However, with the advent of new artists, genres, and media platforms like television in the 1990s, it became easy for people to forget about the classic songs of the 1080s. Nevertheless, social media, especially YouTube, has recently given new life and vigor to some of these old classics, including the timeless voice of Jhalakman Gandharva. This has enabled a new generation of music lovers to discover and appreciate his music.
Timro Nai Maya
The younger generation may not be aware of Gandharva's remarkable contribution to Nepali music, but the earlier generation still cherishes his memory for his exceptional musical talent. As an expert in both the violin and sarangi, he had the ability to seamlessly switch between these two instruments depending on the needs of the tunes in his compositions. His collection of over a hundred songs were all widely recognized hits during the 1080s.
Lastly, while Gandharva's musical legacy may not be as widely recognized among the younger generation, his exceptional talent and artistry have left a significant impact on those who were fortunate enough to experience his contributions to Nepali music during his time. He will always be remembered as a maestro who seamlessly blended the violin and sarangi and created a collection of unforgettable hits that defined Nepali music during the 1980s
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