Narayan Gopal :"SWOR SAMRAT" of Nepali music

Narayan Gopal Guruacharya (October 4, 1939 - December 5, 1990) is the most prominent and popular singer and composer in the history of Nepali music. He is popularly referred to as "Swar Samrat" meaning: Emperor of Voice) in Nepali music. He is also known as "Tragedy King." He is well known as a singer as well as a composer. His voice range allowed him to sing songs of every genre of Nepali music. His songs are often richly orchestrated with the sitar, harmonium and flute. He belongs to the first generation of Nepali singers who took singing as a profession. His songs have also been used in movies and dramas.

Narayan Gopal is by far the most prominent and popular singer in Nepali music. When people think or talk about Nepali music, the name most associated is that of Narayan Gopal. For most people, he is the singer. He was also an accomplished music composer in his own right. Not only was he gifted with a great voice, he was very versatile. His voice range allowed him to sing songs of every genre. His songs are often richly orchestrated with the sitar, harmonium and the flute. Some of his most popular songs include:

* Euta Manche Ko Maya le Kati
* Jhareko Paat Jhai
* Yo Samjhine Man Cha
* Saawan ko jhari bani
* Manche ko Maya
* Kehi mitho baata gara

Career
He has sung over 500 songs, including in films, ballets and drama. Most of his songs are melodies. It is said that he was very selective about which songs he sang. Although 500 songs is not a lot for some of his caliber, they are outstanding in some ways--be it the lyrical depth or superb rendition. In recognition of his contribution in the field of Nepali music, he has received several national honors and awards, Trishakti Patta, Chinnalata Puraskar to name a few.
Continued sales of his albums attest to his immense popularity. Even more than a decade after his death, his songs are equally liked, loved and sung.His legacy lives on. Current sensation, Ram Krishna Dhakal, a very popular singer, sang Narayan Gopal's songs and modelled his singing style after him when starting his career. In a brief introduction of Narayan Gopal on an album cover, Music Nepal, the largest music company in Nepal, writes:

"The late Narayan Gopal is regarded as the most popular in the entire domain of modern Nepali music. A still more appropriate introduction of the music maestro would be to call him the King of Vocals or Swar Samrat of contemporary Nepali music. Narayan Gopal, who has enchanted millions of listeners by his immortal melodies has been awarded several national honors among which, Indra Rajya Laxmi Award, Chhinalata Award for vocals, Jagadamba Shree, Trishakti Patta third (awarded post humously) Urvashi Rang and several other honors and decorations bear testimony to his widespread popularity and the eminence he has achieved as a favorite singer of millions. During his career, Narayan Gopal rendered his voice to over 550 compositions including modern songs, ballets, dance dramas, movies and patriotic songs. These songs have contributed in enriching the store of Nepali Music and popularizing Nepali music even beyond political frontiers."

Personal Life
Narayan Gopal was born to a Newar family in Kathmandu in 1996 Bikram Sambat (October 4, 1939). His father was a classical musician and wanted his son to follow his footsteps. Narayan Gopal was interested in music from an early age but not exactly into classical field. He studied music in India. The late Gopal Yonjon and Narayan Gopal were good friends and "mits".(It's a nepali custom where good friends enter into a kind of a lasting friendship. This is generally seen as strengthening the friendship bond.) Narayan Gopal has sung many beautiful and soulful songs composed by Gopal Yonjon.

Narayan Gopal married his long time fan from Darjeeling, Pemala Lama. They do not have any children.He completed his School Leaving Certificate (S.L.C) exams in 2016 B.S. and obtained Bachelor of Art degree in Humanities from Tri-Chandra College. Later he also went to Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda to study classical Indian music, but returned without completing his studies. He married Pemala Lama in 1971 (Falgun 2027 B.S.). Later he joined the Rastriya Naach Ghar (National Dance Theater) and rose to the post of manager (hakim). He also worked as the editor of a musical journal Bageena for its first three issues around 2028 B.S. He became the managing director of Sanskritik Sangsthan (Cultural Center) became adviser to the Ministry of Communication from 2046-04-16 on wards; and an associate professor in Lalit Kala Campus. He also wrote a musical drama titled Kanchi Masyang.

After his short stay in Hetauda, Narayan Gopal returned to Kathmandu and managed to find a job in Rastriya Naach Ghar (National Dance Theater) with the help of his friends Manik Ratna and Janardan Sama. He had entered Naach Ghar as a mere instrumentalist, but he slowly rose to the post of a hakim (rector). While he was in Naach Ghar, he lost many of his friends or abandoned many of his previous collaborators. After he became the hakim of Naach Ghar, he was no longer in speaking terms with his early mentor Manik Ratna. Similarly, the relationship with his childhood friend Prem Dhoj became distant. After the marriage of his mitjyu Gopal Yonjan, the relationship between the two also dampened. Among the reasons for this was his fame, success, and growing arrogance.

At this stage of his life, he found himself confronting a new generation of Nepali youths. Among the young musical talents of that time, his partnership with Dibya Khaling took off; and he started lending his voice to Khalings compositions, thus initiating an another phase of his singing career. Songs like सँधै नै म हाँसे तिमीलाई रुवाई, मायाको आधारमा सम्झौता नै हुन्छ, बिपना नभइ helped to revive his popularity. During this stage he started to collaborate with new breed of songwriters such as Khyetra Pratap Adhikari, Kali Prasad Rijal, Norden Rumba, Dinesh Adhikari, and Bishwambhar Pyaukurel, while his relationship with his old collaborators was neglected.
Among the composers of the new generation, he collaborated with the likes of Sambhujit Baskota, Bhupendra Rayamajhi, and Shubha Bahadur. In his late stage of career, he lent his considerable prestige to launch the career of many upcoming musicians. As such, he was willing to compromise his artistry and sing weak songs by new composers and songwriters. He also sang in film songs. In total his career spanned twenty-eight years, during which he sang in eighteen movies and recorded a hundred and fifty-seven songs.

Narayan Gopal suffered from diabetes, yet had a propensity for sweetmeats. This habit led to his demise in December 5, 1990 (19 Mangsir, 2049 B.S.) in Bir Hospital, at 9 p.m. in Kathmandu, at an age of fifty-one. He died childless. Four of his brothers and three of his sisters still survive him.

( Credits Deepak Rai & Wikipedia)