Aruna Lama

Aruna Lama (9 September 1945 – 4 February 1998) was an Indian-born Nepali language singer from Darjeeling.

She is popularly known as 'Nightingale of the Hills'.

She sang hundreds of Nepali songs, including some for Nepali film, and left an indelible mark as one of the best singers in Nepali music.

Lama was born on 9 September 1945 at Ghoom Pahar, Darjeeling, British India to Nepali parents Surya Bahadur Lama and Sanmaya Lama.

Her uncle C.B. Lama inspired her to sing from the age of 7.

She won a music competition organized by the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan (GDNS) in 1956 at the age of 11 and then she never looked back.

Amber Gurung, one of the stalwarts of Nepali music, groomed her in singing from 1958.

Aruna Lama did her schooling at Mungpoo Primary School, Jalpahar, and St. Teresa's School, Darjeeling.

She completed her graduate degree in arts from Darjeeling Government College.

Her first song was composed by Amber Gurung and the lyrics was written by Bhupi Sherchan in 1961.

Some of her classic hits are Eh Kancha Malai Sunko Tara, Phool Lai Sodhey, Pohor Saal Khusi Phatda, Hera Na Hera Kancha, Laharey Bara Ghumauney Chautari, Eklai Basda and Nepali Gaurav Garchau Afnaipanma.

She also sang for a number of Nepali films, such as Maitighar, Paral Ko Aago and Kanchhi, these film songs are remembered even today.

In 1963, Aruna Lama married Saran Pradhan, another Nepali musician.

She worked hard to raise them, working as an assistant teacher in St. Alphonsus School (1965) and finally found work at the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Welfare Office in Darjeeling where she worked till 1998.

She continued to sing even with all her struggles till the end of her life.

Aruna Lama sang for numerous music composers, most notably Amber Gurung, Karma Yonzon, Gopal Yonzon, Shanti Thatal, Narayan Gopal, Mani Kamal Chettri and Dibya Khaling.

In 1974, her husband died and she was left with her two children, Sapna (Pradhan) Thapa and Supreet Raj Pradhan.

Some of her notable musical performances include Raag Rajat at Gorkha Rangamanch, Darjeeling 1981; Arunanjali at Pragya Bhawan, Kathmandu; and Aruna Lama Swarnim Saanjh at Pragya Bhawan, Kathmandu.

Aruna Lama received numerous awards both in Nepal and India for her singing and contribution to Nepali music.

Some of these awards include:

Lama has also bee honoured with various titles such as 'Nightingale of the Hills' (Hindustan Recording Sangsthan, Kolkata), ' Swar Kinnari ' (Sitaram Sahitya Pratisthan, Kathmandu) and 'Swar Samagri ' (Arunanjali Programme, Kathmandu).