| Username |
Post |
| dautari |
Posted
on 14-Oct-03 02:37 PM
From Washingtonpost.com:
Nepal Music Legend Lives Quietly in Md.
By FOSTER KLUG
The Associated Press
Monday, October 13, 2003; 4:24 PM
BALTIMORE - For millions of Nepalese worldwide, Prem Raja Mahat's rich, mellow voice is an instant portal to an idyllic picture of life and love beneath the vistas of the highest mountain range in the world.
The Nepalese music superstar is currently crafting his 47th album - while working as a restaurant manager in Baltimore, where he makes about three times what he did as his country's version of Bruce Springsteen.
Mahat abandoned fame and his homeland seven years ago to protect his wife and four school-aged children from an insurgency that has killed more than 7,000 people. Guerrillas inspired by the late Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong have fought since 1996 to replace Nepal's constitutional monarchy with a communist state. The government calls them terrorists.
"I miss Nepal, because they love me there. I miss being famous," Mahat said recently, sipping a frothy yogurt lassi and watching the early dinner crowd stroll past the Mughal Garden restaurant, where he earns about $3,000 a month.
"But in my country there is fighting and death and poverty. That is why I left," he said. "Every parent in the world ... wants to do well for their children. I am no different."
There are approximately 50,000 Nepalese in the United States, according to Krishna Aryal, first secretary at the Embassy of Nepal in Washington.
Forty percent of Nepal's 23 million people live in grinding poverty, and tourism to Katmandu, the country's culturally rich capital, and Mt. Everest, which straddles the Nepal-China border, has dropped because of the violence. The Himalayan kingdom lies between China and India.
Todd Lewis, a professor of religion at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., who has lived in Nepal periodically over the past 23 years, said Nepalese from all parts of society have left the country in search of better lives.
"Having talent, even recording, doesn't necessarily get you anywhere financially in Nepal," Lewis said. "Even a modest, middle-class life here running a restaurant would still be vastly more lucrative than staying in Nepal and living off of one of the poorest communities in the world."
Mahat, 42, is one of the most famous people to have left Nepal. While fans at home feel the loss, Nepalese in the United States revel in the handful of concerts he gives every year.
When Mahat takes the stage, he usually carries a sarangi, a small stringed instrument that's played upright, like a miniature cello. He wears a high topi, the national cap of Nepal, and a brightly colored vest. His hit love song from 2002, "Hiunchulima Hiun," or "Snow in the Snowcapped Mountains," runs more than 20 minutes.
"We call him the 'King of Folk Songs,'" said Ram Kharel, who hosts an American public access television show on Nepalese news and culture. "At every Nepalese event in America, even if he's not there, people sing his songs. He is that popular."
Mahat originally came to the United States to visit friends. He decided to stay when he realized the opportunities his children would have here. Mahat plans to return once the violence subsides and his children are grown. In the meantime, he visits Nepal every year or so to record the songs he writes before his shift at the restaurant.
The important thing, he said, is that his children understand what he has given up - and why.
"They thank me for bringing them here and giving them this opportunity," he said, flashing a wide, album-cover smile. "They understand my sacrifice, that I am giving up my name and good job - for them."
For people who grew up idolizing Mahat, seeing their hero toiling in an everyday job can be jarring.
"We are a little sad because he is so famous in Nepal. It would be great for him to be singing rather than working in a restaurant," said Roshanee Shrestha, who recently watched him bus tables and greet guests. She first heard Mahat's voice as a little girl, curled up in her home in the shadow of the snowcapped Himalayas.
"In the villages of Nepal, I think he is like a Michael Jackson," said Shrestha, 30, who now runs a variety store outside Baltimore. "Even now, in America, where you have electricity 24 hours a day and water running in your house, his voice still reminds me of home."
© 2003 The Associated Press
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| bahadur |
Posted
on 14-Oct-03 03:36 PM
dhanyabad
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| bahadur |
Posted
on 14-Oct-03 03:37 PM
nepalko lagi ke garechhan prem rajale? Aafnai family ko bikash garechhan.
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| dautari |
Posted
on 14-Oct-03 03:48 PM
Well, Prem Raja Mahat goes back to Nepal once in a while and releases one or two albums. He recorded three nepali folk albums when he was back in Nepal last year - one yet unreleased. That is also a contribution of sorts in my opinion.
As for "aafnai family ko bikash", that is something everyone who has a family should do. Hoina ra?
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| Soleil |
Posted
on 14-Oct-03 04:30 PM
To begin with, let me quote from the above thread - "For people who grew up idolizing Mahat, seeing their hero toiling in an everyday job can be jarring. "
Indeed, it can be very jarring. But, how about those unsung heroes? I am pretty sure there are many, if not by thousands, unsung heroes in Nepal like Prem Raja Mahat, waiting for that little strand of opportunity. Atleast, Prem Raja had the fame, if not the fortune in finacial terms. True, he makes three times more than what he does for living here in the States, but he wasn't destitute backhome. Comparing the income between a country like USA and Nepal is totally irrelevant. As far as I know, he was living a decent life pertaining to the concurrent situation of Nepal.
Another fact, Prem Raja Mahat did not abandoned fame and his homeland to protect his wife and four children from an insurgency. I can agree more onto the fact that he wanted a better future for him and his family, which is more viable. But, blaming something irrelavant to the maoist insurgency is a topic of ridicule.
Mr Mahat did not originally came to the United States to visit his friends. He was here to attend and perform in a cultural program along with other artists from different fields, of which, to my knowledge, almost everybody stayed in the United States except one artist. However, it is true that he decided to stay when he realized the opportunities his children would have here.
Last but not least, to those folks who might think I am against Prem Raja Mahat, that I abhor him. I do not. We both know each other personally and we are in good terms. He is great guy to be with. I am not complaining about what he did right or what he did was wrong. I have no problem with that. I am happy that he was in the land of opportunity, saw the opportunity for his family and adhered to the plan to make the dream come true. Consequently, knowing Prem Raja Mahat personally, and reading someone else's wrong informations on him than what I have accounted through his acquaintance is really uncomfortable.
peace!!!
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| bahadur |
Posted
on 14-Oct-03 04:54 PM
Premjile Nepalko lagi dherai garechhan. Aru ke ke garechhan bhana na sathi ho.
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| golkhandi |
Posted
on 14-Oct-03 06:22 PM
Ahile nagare pani ek din ta pakkai garlaan ni . Tanna dolor ko kumlo bokera gayera Nepalma.
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| dautari |
Posted
on 14-Oct-03 06:46 PM
Prem Raja Mahat may not have intentions of going back to Nepal with dollar ko poko and emptying the poko in Nepal. But, let's face it, by coming to america he has done what many other Nepalese and many other immigrants from many other countries have done. So, maybe we shouldn't crucify him just because he is a wellknown singer.
Well, at least, that's my opinion.
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| as101 |
Posted
on 14-Oct-03 08:26 PM
Who gives Damn about Prem raja Mahat.............
He all cares about making $$$$ that is why he is In America.
I don't think he cares about Nepal or anything else..
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| Harris |
Posted
on 14-Oct-03 09:34 PM
Hadai bho yaar... sathi haru...so what? some khaire knew about him.... and generously wrote something in his honor... that's all folks!.... that damn folk song singer.....
jaba kasai ko praise gareko dui line katai padhyo bhane arko ko kansiri tatera aaunchha... "naya mulla pyaj dherai khanchha" bhanne ukhan chha... bharkhar bharkhar nepal bata aaunda nikai gaf dinchha... ma yeha padhera / dui char barsha kam garera paisa kamayera nepal janchhu... afna manchhe bhayeko tham basnu parchha... hyan garnu parchha.. tyan garnu parchha... eeeees ha! dui mahina pachhi tehi chain kurli kurli bhanchh "nepali haru khattam...." "nepal gayera ke garnu? khattam pare desh"
Bhutro kha! jo jahan baschha basos.... jaslai je man lagchha garos... sabai ko afno family hunchha... phosro adarsha chhantera matra hundaina... khan parchha.. ghar bhada tirna parchha.... je jaso garera hunchha sansar ma aaye pachhi jane miti napuge samma activities continue garnu parchha....
So what? a BIG SO WHAT? kasle nepal lai yeti garchhu utti garchhu bhanera aayeko chha yehan? sakne bhaye chup chap garam.... nasakne bhaye aru le ke garyo ke garena bhanera afno time khera naphyalum....
By the way, if I have to say something about PR Mahat, he has given to Nepal more than I have given (I don't know about you). If you have, you can brag fellow people (or keep quiet, altruistically). Mahat has devoted his 20 plus years for the preservation of our cultural heritage... that's all.... whether he made any money by selling cassettes or not, that's not my concern... I am fully satisfied for the price I paid to purchase a couple of his cassettes....
afno face mirror ma herera matra comment garam yaar sathi ho....aru ta ke bhanam ra.. afai bideshi bhaiya chha....
Just wondering
What have I given to Nepal?
Do I intend to go back?
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| KaleKrishna |
Posted
on 14-Oct-03 10:52 PM
Ho Harisje, ko po Desh ko lage ayeko cha ra, sabai afnai lage matra hun. Garnelai Sadubad cha Nagarnelai pane dhanyabad cha, akhir Desh ra samaya kasile garepane nagare pane afno gati ma bade rahancha, bage rahancha (ragat ko khola ma nai kina nahos).
Tesaile sathi ho, man ko kunai kuna ma desh ko lage kehi garnu parcha bhanne bhavana lai jogai rakham, sake garamla nasake arko janam (doubtful cha) ma kunai na kunai rup ma contribute garaula bhanne asha ka sath maraula.
Regarding Prem Mahatji, those residing near him can utilize his potential as a singer to spread the message of love through our heart touching culture. Hope he will not shy away from his responsibility as an unofficial ambasador of the nation, as we all are in our respective position.
Best of luck to his and all of your effort.
Kk
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| noname |
Posted
on 15-Oct-03 04:52 AM
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