KATHMANDU, June 8: Singer and musician Basanta Sunar is battling with cancer in the USA. Skilled in playing musical instruments including sarangi, guitar, madal and piano, Sunar has recorded 12 songs and composed music for over a dozen songs.
Sunar had passed voice test at Radio Nepal in 1996 at the age of 18. Sunar, who was in the USA last year when India had imposed blockade on Nepal, was saddened by the hardship faced by his fellow countrymen, penned a patriotic song titled 'Utha utha Nepali'.
One of Sunar's popular songs is 'Timi bina jindagima bachnu kasari' (How shall I live my life without you). Born in Sunargaun of Baglung district, Sunar was engaged in the field of songs and music until he left the country four years ago. He composed music to songs like 'Timilai
bhetna aaudaichhu' and 'Ghumtima hawa sarara', among others. According to his sister Pabitra Sunar, he was planning to return to Nepal and dedicate the rest of his life to music. But fate had something else in store for him. His dream could not come true after being diagnosed with cancer.
“I want to breathe my last in my own homeland. I do not have much time now. I am worried,” Pabitra, who is attending her brother in a hospital in Texas City quoted him as saying.
“Doctors have stopped showing us hope. However, they have not yet given permission to take him away,” she said. “Doctors here are concerned about his condition. If the pain becomes unbearable, patients here have the right to opt for mercy killing. We are in dilemma,” she added.
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