Since they shot into fame with their hit song Chekyo Chekyo Deurali Danda nearly a decade ago, Nepathya, arguably Nepal's most popular band, continues to keep feet tapping, the youth rocking, and crowds humming with their innovative folksy pop, and lyrics that linger long after the music has faded.
Their concerts have always been popular with young and old, Nepali music fans and sceptics. But this time around, the musicians have a message. The five-member band-Amrit Gurung, Ratnaman Gurung, Naresh Thapa, Dhruba Lama and Mahesh Pun-has joined Nepali civil society, intelligentsia, political parties and the public in spreading the message of much-needed peace. Nepathya recently completed a three-week tour around major Nepali cities promoting its "Education for Peace Campaign". The band's message: schools and their thousands of students are the nation's future, leave them alone. On 10 March, the band took off from Basantapur Square and moved on to Pokhara, Narayanghat, Hetauda, and Biratnagar before completing the peace concert tour to a packed house in Kathmandu. Along the way, the group donated money raised from the concerts to local government schools.
"We shouldn't be playing the blame game during this crisis," says Amrit Gurung, lead vocalist of the band that has won the prestigious Music Nepal and Chhinalata awards. "We should all help by doing what we do best. Intellectuals should exercise thought, writers write, and singers should sing. If everyone contributes from their particular position, there's no need to despair."
Nepathya's most recent hit Resham, released six months ago, has already sold over 30,000 copies, the mark of a successful album in Nepal. The song, based on an indigenous folk tune from Khotang, is still playing all across the country. Nepathya's third album Minpachasma sold 133,000 cassettes, leaving sceptics open-mouthed. The band has moved Nepal, now it is looking to expand its horizons to Sikkim. All five band members are optimistic that wherever they go, their gentle thought-provoking music will convey their social message.
