Aruna Lama

Aruna Lama
Born	September 9, 1945(1945-09-09) Ghoom Pahar, Darjeeling, India
Died	February 4, 1998(1998-02-04) Kathmandu, Nepal
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1952–1998

Aruna Lama (Nepali: अरुणा लामा) is one of the well-known singers of Nepali music. She is popularly known as "The Nightingale of the Hills". She sang hundreds of Nepali songs, including some for Nepali films, and left an indelible mark as one of the best singers in Nepali music.

Biography

Aruna Lama was born on September 9, 1945 at Ghoom Pahar, Darjeeling, India to Surya Bahadur Lama and Sanmaya Lama.^[1] Her uncle CB 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. 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 Yonjan, Shanti Thatal, Narayan Gopal, Mani Kamal Chettri and Dibya Khaling. Her first song was composed by Amber Gurung with lyrics of Bhupi Sherchan in 1961. Some of her classic hits include 'Eh Kanchha Malai Sunko Tara', 'Phool Lai Sodhey', 'Pohor Saal Khusi Phatyo', 'Hera Na Hera Kanchha', '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 Aagho' and 'Kanchhi', and these film songs are remembered even today. Some of her notable musical performances include Raag Rajat at Gorkha Rangamanch, Darjeeling 1981; Arunanjali at 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),^[2] Dishari Puraskar (Kolkata 1980), Bhanu Academy Puraskar (Darjeeling 1982), Nepali Chalchitra Puraskar (for Maiti Ghar 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).

Songs

Eh Kanchha 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 Kanchha
Aankhaharule
Laharey Bara Ghumauney Chautari
Udi Jaaun Bhane Panchi Hoina (Movie: Paral Ko Aagho)
Himalsari Ma (Movie: Kanchhi)
Yee Timra Muskan (Movie: Kanchhi)
Kala Kala Sala Sala (Movie: Kanchhi)

References

1. ^ [1], Aruna Lama - Nightingale of Nepali Music.
2. ^ [2], History of Literary Organizations of the Assamese-Nepali.

External links

• Nepalicollections.com - Aruna Lama's songs

Persondata
Name	Aruna Lama
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 9, 1945
Place of birth	Ghoom Pahar, Darjeeling, India
Date of death	February 4, 1998
Place of death	Kathmandu, Nepal