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.
