A Living Heritage
Sexagenarian Shah has an unmatched expertise in the ancient Nepali dances and music that are on the verge of extinction.
By THAKUR AMGAI
At the age of 78, when people leisurely spend a retired life, Surendra Bikram Shah, popularly known as SuBi Shah is actively involved in investigating, teaching and preserving traditional Nepali dances and folk music.
“These days, I am involved in the research of folk music, and dances. I teach ancient dances to students in Galaxy Public School , Kathmandu Dance Center , Madhurima cultural center, and oversee the folk melodies in Rima recording studio. I also train dances and music at the Army headquarters and the battalions at the Royal Palace ,” narrated Shah.
In addition to these regular activities, Shah is involved in recording songs and folk music with assistance of new generation artistes. He has prepared twenty different melodies playing five different instruments ‘Murali’, ‘Madal’, ‘Khaijadi’, ‘Jhyali’ and ‘Murchunga’. Likewise, he has prepared more than 100 songs of ‘Sorathi’ with singer Narayan Rayamajhi. Shah informed that the cassettes and CDs with these creations will be released soon.
Shah was born in 1985 B.S. in Jyamrung village of Dhading district. Nepalese villages were rich in cultural heritage in those days. Shah showed avid interest in cultural rituals popular in the village, from dances like ‘Maruni’ to ‘Sorathi’ and folk songs of different genres. He used to actively participate in the village fairs and ritual gatherings and keenly learnt dances and tunes of the songs. “I used to carefully observe senior dancers or singers in the village and try to mimic them on my own,” said Shah.
When he was about five he followed his father Chandra Bikram Shah to Nuwakot, where the latter was deployed as a ‘Bada Hakim’. In Nuwakot, Shah was impressed by and learnt the famous ‘lakhe dance’. After two years they moved to Gorkha. There, Shah participated in theatres.
After he came back to his village, he started dancing as a ‘Maruni’ first and then a ‘Madale’. He was equally adept at playing ‘Basuri’ and ‘Madal’. After mastering all three arts of singing, playing music and dancing, he became a ‘guru’ in the village. He would teach singing, dancing and music to enthusiasts and lead his group in social cultural functions like ‘Rodhi’ and ‘Jatras.’
In 2011 B. S. Shah joined the armed forces as typist clerk. In the armed forces, too, Shah’s aptitude in singing, dancing and music was easily noticed. Initially, he would sing and dance with his friends during free time as a means of entertainment. Later, he began to be asked to teach singing and dancing to his peers and lead them during ceremonial functions of the Armed forces by senior officials, in addition to his main job of typing official documents and handling other clerical works.
In the meantime, Shah continued investigating, learning and enriching himself with improved knowledge and skills about folk dance and music. The words of his expertise and skills spread soon beyond his battalion in the Armed forces. Officials from the Army headquarter called him to teach folk dance and music for special ceremonies. Shah himself would participate in many of the functions dancing, singing or playing ‘basuri’, ‘madal’ or ‘sahnai’. He was equally active in playing games like football and volleyball.
After he got transferred to the Royal Palace in the ADC section, he stopped playing games, but continued singing and dancing. He used to teach dancing and singing in the Army functions within the palace and went to the Army Headquarter, when requested, to oversee the preparation of cultural programs for ceremonies.
Compiling his experiences and the findings of his research, Shah published a book ‘Madal’ in 2039 B. S., with all details of the typical Nepali folk musical instrument ‘Madal’. The second book ‘Balan’, written with details of ‘balan’ a typical religious genre followed in 2045.
Shah got to devote full time and effort in the field of his choice after he retired from the Army from the post of Colonel in 2048 B.S. He started researching further and focused on teaching ancient dances at different places.
Today, Shah has been established as a living heritage on folk melodies and dances. He has an unmatched expertise in the ancient dances and melodies that are on the verge of extinction. At the age of 78, Shah shows a passion for learning more and preserving the antique dances and music, as an enthusiast youth. Probably because of his immense passion in preserving the fading away Nepali culture, Shah is actively involved in teaching ancient dances and music even today.
Likewise, an articulate and easy going Shah, still sings and dances in cultural functions when requested.
