"Rājamati" () is a traditional Nepalese ballad about an unsuccessful love quest, and is the best known song in

Newar Newar (; , endonym: Newa; , Pracalit script: ), or Nepami, are primarily inhabitants in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal and its surrounding areas, and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation. Page 15. Newars are a distinct linguisti ...

society of

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

. Written by Seturam, this song was composed in 1908. It was recorded in the studio in Calcutta (kolkata), it dates from the early 19th century and is based on a true story. The song in

Nepal Bhasa Newar (; , ) is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions in Nepal. The language is known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhas ...

also gained fame because it was played in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

during the state visit of Nepalese Prime Minister

Jung Bahadur Rana Jung Bahadur Rana, , was born Bir Narsingh Kunwar (1817-1877). His mother, Ganesh Kumari, was the daughter of Kaji Nain Singh Thapa, the brother of Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa from the prominent Thapa dynasty. During his lifetime, Jung Bahadur eli ...

to England in 1850.Lienhard, Siegfried (1992). ''Songs of Nepal: An Anthology of Nevar Folksongs and Hymns.'' New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas. . Page 42. It was first recorded on

gramophone A phonograph, later called a gramophone, and since the 1940s a record player, or more recently a turntable, is a device for the mechanical and analogue reproduction of sound. The sound vibration waveforms are recorded as corresponding physic ...

disc by maestro Seturam Shrestha in Kolkata in 1908. A

movie A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

of the same name and based on the story of the song was released in 1995.

Synopsis

Rajamati is the name of a girl from

Kathmandu Kathmandu () is the capital and largest city of Nepal, situated in the central part of the country within the Kathmandu Valley. As per the 2021 Nepal census, it has a population of 845,767 residing in 105,649 households, with approximately 4 mi ...

whose beauty attracted many suitors. However, a devious matchmaker gets her married off despite her protests, and she ends up in a poor family. Rajamati was born at Taha Nani in Itum Bahal, a historical neighborhood in central Kathmandu. In the song, an infatuated man expresses his love for Rajamati, and threatens to leave home and go to Kashi and become an ascetic if he doesn't get to marry her. Then he describes her hair, eyes, complexion and moles on the cheek. The song also mentions a celebrated episode connected with Rajamati, how she went to fetch water from the water spout at Maruhiti and tripped on a large stone and fell flat on her back.

Evidence of a real Rajamati

Artist Uday Charan Shrestha created a painting of Rajamati in 1995. His research started in 1993 and after two years he finished his oil canvas after working on it for almost 6 months. A poster of the work was published in 1996 in the Samdhyatimes on the occasion of

Nepal Sambat Nepal Sambat (, ''nepāla samvat'', meaning "Nepal Era") is the lunisolar calendar used by the Newar people of Nepal. It was the official calendar of Nepal since its inception on 20 October 879 till the end of the Malla dynasty in 1769. During ...

new year. During his research the artist found evidence from Archaeology Department of Nepal Government. Rajamati bada widow woman sold 64 moharu of her house of Taabaa, which is located at lagan in 1884 BS (1827 AD). Wilawati Bada (son) and Bhajumati Bada (uncle in law) witnessed the sale. Similarly

Guthi Guthi or Gosthi; Newar language, Newar: , romanized: ''guthi''; etymologically from is a social system of the Newar community in Nepal. With land trusts, Guthis support the socio-economic status of their communities.Title:नेपाली स� ...

land (dyaguthi) also sold in 1892 BS (1835 AD) of 60 moharu.

Movie

A movie of the same name and based on the song and directed by

Neer Shah Neer Bikram Shah, also known as Nir Shah, is a Nepalese film actor, director, producer, poet, songwriter, and businessman. He is considered one of the leading actors in Nepali cinema history and an actor with multiple identities. He is related ...

was released in 1995. It is the second big screen film to be made in Nepal Bhasa.

Prem Dhoj Pradhan Prem Dhoj Pradhan (6 June 1938 – 6 May 2021) was a Nepalese musician. He was a singer, composer, and regional playback singer. He sang in the two major languages of Nepal: Newari and Nepali. He was also known as the Golden Voice and King of R ...

composed and sang Rajamati song in his own style, and sang in various stages and functions for many many years, which made it very popular. He recorded ''Rajamati'' song in 1962 in Calcutta, India, on a

78 rpm A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English) or a vinyl record (for later varieties only) is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The g ...

disc. Since then, the song has been recorded by many artists.

Lyrics

:Rājamati kumati, jike wasā pirati :Hāya bābā Rājamati-chā :Rājamati mabila dhāsā Kāshi wane tela bubā :Hayā biu Rājamati-chā. :San dhāsā kuli kuli, mikhā dhāsā bālā bālā :Sakumi yā mhyāy machā lā :Khwā dhāsā tuyu khwā, khwālay niga tee du :Tāhā Nani yā Rājamati-chā. :Khen khwalā dhyākway dan, pasa baji dhu dan :Rājamati bhulu sulu dan :Rājamati gana du, Itum Bāhālay chhamha du :Hayā biu Rājamati-chā. :Nhāpā wamha Tarhi Thakun, lipā wamha Chirhi Thakun :Wayā lipā Rājamati-chā :Tarhi Thakun mayo jita, Chirhi Thakun mile maju :Rājamati byāhā yānā biu. :Tarhi Thakun yā tāyo du, Chirhi Thakun yā pāyo du :Rājamati yā bijakani du :Bijakani marumha, kalā jita mayo bubā :Hayā biu Rājamati-chā. :Thane yā Thahiti, kwane yā Kwahiti :Biche lāka Maruhiti :Maruhitii la kā wamha, tagwa lohantay luphin hānā :Rājamati thasa pāla nhā. :Tisā nan tiyakā, Gujerati puyakā :Rājamati bhyāhā yānā biu :Rājamati bila dhāsā Kāshi wane makhu bubā :Hayā biu Rājamati-chā.Lienhard, Siegfried (1992). ''Songs of Nepal: An Anthology of :Nevar Folksongs and Hymns.'' New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas. . Page 141.

Translation

:Rajamati kumati, if you come to me I will give you my love :Oh dear Rajamati. :If Rajamati is not given to me, I will go to Kashi, father :Bring me dear Rajamati. :The hair is curly, the eyes are beautiful :Is she the daughter of a man from Sankhu? :The face is fair, there are two moles on the face :Dear Rajamati of Taha Nani. :There are egg shells in the corner, rice flakes from the market have been ground to dust :Rajamati's hair is dishevelled. :Where is Rajamati, there is one in Itum Bahal :Bring me dear Rajamati. :The girl in front is Tarhi Thakun, the one following her is Chirhi Thakun :Dear Rajamati is behind her. :I don't like Tarhi Thakun, Chirhi Thakun is not suitable :Get me married to Rajamati. :Tarhi Thakun has a "tāyo" locket, Chirhi Thakun has anklets :Rajamati has ear ornaments. :I do not want a wife without ear ornaments :Bring me dear Rajamati. :Thahiti of uptown, Kwahiti of downtown :Between them lies Maruhiti. :She went to Maruhiti to fetch water and tripped on a large stone :Rajamati fell flat on her back. :Decorate her with jewellery, let flutes play :Marry me with Rajamati. :If Rajamati is given to me, I will not go to Kashi, father :Bring me dear Rajamati.

References

{{Reflist

External links

1908 recording of Rajamati Kumati by Seturam Shrestha

Clip from the 1995 film featuring the song
Traditional music Traditional ballads Nepalese songs Nepalese folklore Newar