In 2006, Rubin Gandharva attacked the dynastic rule of the Shahs by singing anti-monarchy songs to the tune of his Sarangi on Kathmandu streets, thereby ending the Gandharvas´ centuries-old loyalty to the palace. [break]
Rubin who jumped on the republican bandwagon at the age of 13 ended the Gandharvas´ centuries-old loyalty to monarchy.
This crumbling regime tricked people
It gave rich the riches
And poor the debts
Rubin was 13 when he sang the song. He was arrested, but released on grounds that he was too young to be of any threat to the regime. After his release, he went to the streets and sang:
Praveen Gurung was a star of our country
Inside the palace hides his killer
Rubin, now 17, was arrested four times, and police broke three of his Sarangis to pieces in April 2006. But he always got a new one as people competed to pay for the musical instrument that is the life of his and any Gandharva´s songs.But the world wasn´t always as generous.
A wandering singer from Gorkha
Born to a singing family at Aanppipal in Gorkha, Rubin came to Kathmandu with his father in 1997, when he was five, after his father realized that it was impossible to feed the family singing songs in the villages.
The Gaines who had for centuries earned a decent living out of their art of taking juicy stories from one village to another in the form of songs had finally been made redundant by radio and television.
Thus started Rubin´s career on Kathmandu streets. The father-son duo sang together for years. They found audiences at Ratnapark, inside passenger buses and at Thamel where they were sometimes lucky to get generous tips from foreigners.
Rubin´s songs acquired political color after the palace massacre in 2001. He first sang for the dead king.
The Sarangi´s string broke
Madal lost its beat
And harmonium its tune
In mourning
He was noticed for the song and was invited to perform at the Yala Maya Kendra.
"Thereafter, people started inviting me to programs," Rubin said under a Pipal (Ficus religiosa) tree at Pako, New Road, on Wednesday, while a technician was sweating to repair his cell phone in a nearby shop.
By 2006, his songs had taken a clear anti-monarchy twist.
During Janaandolan II, Rubin rose to popularity for his bold lyrics. His rustic appearance, age, instrument, rural accent and style of singing in keeping with the Gaine tradition won the hearts of the crowds.
Since 2006, Rubin has performed in most of the major towns and cities across the country, and villages in 54 districts.
A tradition under pressure
Rubin says singing in the villages is no longer a viable profession."Half of the Gandharva families today depend on earning from family members who sell songs and Sarangis at Thamel," he said. According to 2001 census, there are approximately 16,000 Gandharvas in the country.
"I am lucky that I am invited to perform in formal programs. And the Girija Prasad Koirala cabinet was generous to arrange a monthly education allowance of Rs 5,000 for me," said Rubin, who is preparing to appear in SLC examination as a private candidate next year.
Rubin is thankful to Koirala, who occasionally invites the boy to his residence.
"Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is also sympathetic to me and the Gandharva community," said Rubin who met Nepal in his office on Tuesday to demand representation of Gandharva´s in civil service.
But he has complaints about Maoist supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
"Dahal, who says he champions the cause of the marginalized communities, wasn´t interested to meet me when he was prime minister," he said. "I had high hopes on the Prachanda government. I was mistaken."
Rubin no longer needs to perform on the streets. He has good memories of making as much as Rs 26,000 from a single performance. But there are also times when he performs for free. And since the source of income is irregular, life in Kathmandu remains tough. Rubin lives with his parents and elder brother at Sitapaila.
"The Gandharva´s art is coming up with songs extempore according to the audience and the social and political climate," he said, explaining his specialty. "Words have to come automatically and in the form of songs."
Rubin prides that the Gandharvas see him as their representative and voice. "In my community, the name Maniram Gaine comes first and then comes Rubin Gandharva. But Mani Ram Gaine was for the monarchy while Rubin is for the republic," he said.
(Photos by Bhaswor Ojha.)
bikash@myrepublica.com
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