GANDHARVAS: Rich tradition on the brink of extinction

 

GANDHARVAS

Rich tradition on the brink of extinction

By LB Thapa

Gandharvas, also referred to as Gaine or Gayak, prefer to be called by the name “Gandharva,” as it carries connotations of respect and dignity. Historically regarded as the traditional musician caste in Nepalese society, they played a vital role in an era before modern entertainment. In those times, Gandharvas would travel from village to village, sharing news, history, and stories through their rich musical and storytelling traditions. 

Historical evidence suggests that the Gandharvas migrated from Chittorgarh, India, to Pokhara, Nepal, during the reign of Kulmandan Shah, the first ruler of the Shah dynasty, who governed his kingdom from Kaskikot. The king granted them land in Batulechaur for settlement, where they have resided ever since. Today, Batulechaur remains the largest Gandharva settlement in Nepal. 

In the past, the most accomplished Gandharvas were summoned to the royal court to entertain the king, performing a wide range of melodious songs from their repertoires. They would compose and sing praises of the king, celebrating his courage and heroic deeds. High-ranking army officers and other influential figures also invited renowned Gandharvas to perform at their gatherings. 

For centuries, the Gandharvas—an occupational caste of traditional musicians—traveled across the mountains of Nepal, narrating both joyful and tragic events with the haunting melodies of their sarangi. Renowned for their captivating storytelling, they often left audiences spellbound. Over time, their community spread from east to west across the country, though they remained predominantly concentrated in the Western Development Region, their ancestral homeland. 

Gayak Tole in Batulechaur is one of the largest and oldest Gandharva settlements in the country. Today, though their numbers have dwindled, a small community of Gandharvas continues to draw the bow across the sarangi, striving to keep their rich musical heritage alive against the odds. 

Once the Gandharva community was in the limelight for their extraordinary skill of entertaining the people with their sensational songs; now they are relegated to live in oblivion. Owing to rapid development of transportation and communication in the country, the traditional job of Gandharvas has lost its relevance more rapidly in the rural areas.    

The widespread availability of radios and FM stations in rural areas has virtually rendered the Gandharvas jobless. Villagers no longer seek out their songs, instead relying on radio and FM broadcasts for information and entertainment. As a result, the Gandharvas' once-respected profession has declined and no longer enjoys the esteem it once did. 

Gandharvas find themselves unable to eke out a living with their traditional profession. This is the reason why many Gandharvas seek other options of livelihood. 

"I learned the craft from my father, Hiraman Gayak. I was then merely a 9-year-old boy. I made my father satisfied by learning the art with all my devotion and sincerity. My father did also teach me how to select a proper piece of wood and how to make a sarangi. In later years when my father turned into an old man, I took the responsibility of the family onto my shoulders. 

“In the past years, I could earn enough by singing and selling sarangi. But now I am alone in the family to carry on the tradition. My sons do not want to play the sarangi for audiences and ask money from them. They say it is not an art to display but a form of begging," lamented Harkaman Gayak, a local resident of Batulechaur. 

Some elderly Gandharvas look anxious at the rapid downfall of their tradition. They want to revive it but it seems that they are fighting a losing battle. The young generation of Gandharva does not want to carry on the Gandharva tradition as a means of livelihood. 

"I don't mind playing the sarangi and singing songs to entertain my friends, but I can't do it for a living. A Gandharva’s Sarangi performance does not receive the respect like that of a guitarist. People always treat Gandharvas like beggars. My self-respect does not permit me to do all this for a living…there are hundreds of other ways to survive," opined Ramesh Bogete, a trekking guide in Pokhara, but originally from the Gandharva family of Batulechaur. 

In recent years, an increasing number of young people from Gandharva families have sought employment in Gulf countries. Many have achieved financial success, building homes in Pokhara or relocating to other cities across the country. 

People always remember Jhalakman Gandharva and Prakash Gandharva for their invaluable contributions to promoting and popularizing the Gandharva tradition.  Jhalakman Gandharva, a popular Nepali folk singer who died at 68, had made a tall stature for himself. Born in Batulechaur, Pokhara, Jhalakman Gandharva had recorded more than 250 songs at Radio Nepal. Today Jhalakman Gandharva is treated as a legend. 

Prakash Gandharva gained prominence with his Katha Mitho Sarangiko presentation, which the BBC Nepali service broadcast on over 100 FM stations. He was a very poor boy who rose to the limelight only by dint of hard work and perseverance. His solo album, 'Ringdai Ghumdai and Katha Mitho Sarangiko' made him extremely popular in the country. He went through an awful time but never lost hope and continued playing the sarangi. Today Prakash has succeeded in making a name, fame, and money with his sarangi. 

Without doubt, the Gandharva tradition is now at its lowest ebb; if necessary steps are not taken for its preservation and promotion, then possibly in a decade or two, the Gandharva tradition might be extinct forever. Senior Gandharvas who have been pulling the strings of the sarangi must be patronized with funds and technical support. 

At the same time young Gandharvas must be encouraged to learn the art of their ancestors. The young generation need not make a living playing the sarangi, but they can practice it to keep their culture alive. 

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