In Praise of Raamesh

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Raamesh is a veteran singer, a musician who has long attracted my heart like no other singer has. The 59-year-old may be compared with Bob Marley or Bob Dylan, but I feel to compare him with anybody else would be to underestimate him. Raamesh, a member of Ralfa movement, has something in his voice that always makes me feel revolutionary.

I am listening to his newest album – Ye Indreni! – and what an album this is. From poems of some well-known poets, he has produced a brilliant album.

My fell into love with his music when I watched a teleserial in TV when I was just about 12 years old – Bina Chihan Ko Mritiu (Death Without a Crematory). The song – Raktakrantiko Jwalamukhima (into the volcano of bloody revolution) is one of my all-time favorite (I remember recording the title song in my cassette recorder and buying a poem collection by the writer).

Later, I got hold of a book by Manjul – Raamesh’s co-member of Ralfa, which described their Ralfa journey to the villages of Nepal singing the revolutionary songs. The fascinating travelogue bewildered me – how can three people roam around the remote village singing the songs that would have clearly angered the authorities.

Raamesh is truly a revolutionary man – with his music and voice all boiling your blood and considering the meanings in his songs, he would have been a great if he had been singing in English. However, his contribution to in spreading the message of freedom around the country is a great thing any Nepali could do.

My salute to Raamesh for his contribution to the country and music.


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Author: Ujjwal Acharya

The Radiant Star is a personal blog of Ujjwal Acharya, born 1978, who likes to call himself a professional journalist, hobbyist blogger, sport lover and social media enthusiastic. This blog features personal posts with opinions on media, citizen journalism and blogs of Nepal and tweets at @UjjwalAcharya

  • Deepak

    So, you are a revolutionary,eh? I didn’t know that a sport reporter is as good in art. Keep it up!

  • Ujjwal

    I thought about writing on that particular aspect Deepak pointed, but left intentionally. A para that I cut out after two minutes of thinking read something like:

    I never supported the ideology he has supported throughout his life. (But again, music has no bias, no ideology and nothing, it unites doesn’t divide.)

  • Visbas

    Great! Thanx for informing that a singer as good as Marley singing the song of revolution is here in our own country. A duty of journalist! I am also going to buy and listen to the album of this son of Ralpha.