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Making music
by DAMBAR KRISHNA SHRESTHA, DOHA
| FROM ISSUE # 126 (June 2006) | IN THIS ISSUE | |||
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Where there's a will, there are many ways. The Nepali community in Qatar has formed groups to encourage creative talents. Among them is Prakash Poudel, who shot to fame in Nepal with his single Nai Malai Tyahi Keti Chahinchha. He is popular in the Nepali music programmes that are frequently organised here. 
Prakash has performed alongside Sangharsha band. Formed of seven Nepalis who met in Qatar, Sangharsha has earned quite a name among the 1,50,000 Nepali populace. The band consists of Butwal's Santosh Pariyar as vocalist, Pokhara's Santosh Gurung as lead guitarist, Palpa's Manoj Gautam as rhythm guitarist and from Kathmandu are bassist Suraj Pradhan, drummer Ganesh Lama, keyboardist Navaraj Roka, and guitarist Shiva Pandey.
Santosh came to Qatar in search of employment but says that forming the band has been the best thing that happened. He adds, "People really encouraged us." It isn't easy to manage time for music practice but the young band members compromise on sleep and leisure hours. In fact, the band name 'Sangharsha' itself means struggle. On 5 May, they released their self-titled debut album, which has pop, modern and nationalist songs, at Amir Cinema Hall in Doha. Every Friday, which is a holiday here, they perform live at concerts. Sangharsha band actively contributed to the fundraising programme organised by Syangja Support Committee for the families of three Syanjali youths who died in Qatar.
Another group of active artistes is Sandhya Group in Almisnad, Qatar. Made up of singers, musicians, dancers and actors, the group is prominent at all cultural programmes. Birendra Yakthumba, president of Sandhya Group, says they have been presenting traditional Nepali music and dances for some time now. Most programmes are organised during formal ceremonies, Nepali festivals, or the Muslim holidays for Eid al-fitr. Likewise Jyoti Ranabhat, Miteree Club's president says, "We used to fly in artistes from Nepal but now, Nepali artistes here are as famous."
Other popular Nepali musicians in Qatar are Prakash Darnal, Raj Rai, Prabhat Tripathi, Gyanendra Swarnakar Bandipurey and more. Raj Rai, 20, wears the Daura Suruwal whenever he performs. Talent here is not limited to singing. Om Bhattarai, Phurba Yonzon, Sundar Sinjali, Krishna, Suraj, Sheru, Dhaneshwar and Ram are dancers famed for their poise. There are no female dancers so the men dress up as women and perform. Rabi Bhatta is a famed MC as is Pragya Pant, model and RJ, who works as airhostess in Qatar Airways. With a ready audience and platform, Nepalis in Qatar have found ways to express their creativity.
Where is Prakash Poudel?
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Eight months ago, Prakash went to Doha, Qatar, where he works eight-hour shifts as an accountant at Taisar Petrol Station. Once work is over, Prakash spends his time composing music or performing. He has appeared in many music concerts in Qatar. Two days a week, he teaches music at the Indo Arabic Music Centre. "I came here to see a different perspective of life. Also, the money I was earning at home wasn't enough," says Prakash. "I'm working on a new album here, which has songs based on issues such as foreign employment, drugs, AIDS and trafficking. The music is a mix of Nepali and Arabian."
One of the songs in the new album is Dal Bahadur, about a Nepali agent who ill-treats Nepalis looking for work. Prakash hums the song for us, "Nepali lai marera, Nepali lai thokera, bidesh lanchu bhanera thulo sapna dekhayae, hiddai cha Dal Bahadur…" He plans to shoot some of the music videos for this album in Qatar. His Nepali film Nai Malai Kehi Chahindaina shot before he left Nepal was also screened in Doha. Says Prakash, "I don't want to be known just as the Crying Singer. I can do other things besides cry."