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Reinventing our folk music through Sarangi | Kiran Nepali | TEDxBirgunj


[Music]

[Music] namaste first of all I’d like to thank

namaste first of all I’d like to thank

namaste first of all I’d like to thank you as well as congratulate TEDx Biggins

you as well as congratulate TEDx Biggins

you as well as congratulate TEDx Biggins was such a wonderful platform so please

was such a wonderful platform so please

was such a wonderful platform so please give a round of applause for today’s

give a round of applause for today’s

give a round of applause for today’s speakers

speakers

speakers [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] my name is Kiran Nepali and I am from a

my name is Kiran Nepali and I am from a

my name is Kiran Nepali and I am from a kendama family they are the line of

kendama family they are the line of

kendama family they are the line of ganderville suddenly players in my

ganderville suddenly players in my

ganderville suddenly players in my family and I’m proud to say I’m the

family and I’m proud to say I’m the

family and I’m proud to say I’m the third generation sarangi player and also

third generation sarangi player and also

third generation sarangi player and also I’m so much fortunate to hold that

I’m so much fortunate to hold that

I’m so much fortunate to hold that dignity to continue as a

dignity to continue as a

dignity to continue as a sarangi player and I’m also a part of

sarangi player and I’m also a part of

sarangi player and I’m also a part of Kitumba I hope you all know the band and

Kitumba I hope you all know the band and

Kitumba I hope you all know the band and also I play with people cherry

let me tell you about this instrument

let me tell you about this instrument sarangi

sarangi

sarangi how many of you know about this

how many of you know about this

how many of you know about this instrument that’s very less so this is a

instrument that’s very less so this is a

instrument that’s very less so this is a Nepalese

Nepalese

Nepalese traditional folk instrument this is made

traditional folk instrument this is made

traditional folk instrument this is made out of a single piece of wood

out of a single piece of wood

out of a single piece of wood handcrafted there’s a two soundhole one

handcrafted there’s a two soundhole one

handcrafted there’s a two soundhole one is covered with skin I have a komodo

is covered with skin I have a komodo

is covered with skin I have a komodo dragon skin here the neck and the head

dragon skin here the neck and the head

dragon skin here the neck and the head it’s a bowing instrument but let me ask

it’s a bowing instrument but let me ask

it’s a bowing instrument but let me ask you how many of you knew know that how

you how many of you knew know that how

you how many of you knew know that how it is played any idea any idea so this

it is played any idea any idea so this

it is played any idea any idea so this is one of the very few instrument in the

is one of the very few instrument in the

is one of the very few instrument in the world that is play

world that is play

world that is play with nails we don’t press the string

with nails we don’t press the string

with nails we don’t press the string it’s played with the nails this

it’s played with the nails this

it’s played with the nails this instrument belonged to Gandharvas but

instrument belonged to Gandharvas but

instrument belonged to Gandharvas but I’m sorry to say that this is a folk

I’m sorry to say that this is a folk

I’m sorry to say that this is a folk instrument this belongs to all Nepalese

instrument this belongs to all Nepalese

instrument this belongs to all Nepalese isn’t it isn’t it the folk music and the

isn’t it isn’t it the folk music and the

isn’t it isn’t it the folk music and the folk culture doesn’t belong to any

folk culture doesn’t belong to any

folk culture doesn’t belong to any community or any person it belongs to

community or any person it belongs to

community or any person it belongs to the nation so once again this instrument

the nation so once again this instrument

the nation so once again this instrument was practiced by Gandhara Gandhara x’

was practiced by Gandhara Gandhara x’

was practiced by Gandhara Gandhara x’ are the musical community of nepal we

are the musical community of nepal we

are the musical community of nepal we traveled hills and plains telling

traveled hills and plains telling

traveled hills and plains telling stories delivering masses we were the

stories delivering masses we were the

stories delivering masses we were the main source of entertainment back then

main source of entertainment back then

main source of entertainment back then but as we all know video killed the

but as we all know video killed the

but as we all know video killed the radio stars isn’t it the development of

radio stars isn’t it the development of

radio stars isn’t it the development of the communication and the media slowed

the communication and the media slowed

the communication and the media slowed down the practice of this tradition so

down the practice of this tradition so

down the practice of this tradition so most of the Gandharvas have left this

most of the Gandharvas have left this

most of the Gandharvas have left this storytelling of forgot this heritage let

storytelling of forgot this heritage let

storytelling of forgot this heritage let me tell you my story as a sarangi player

me tell you my story as a sarangi player

me tell you my story as a sarangi player i told you earlier that i was so

i told you earlier that i was so

i told you earlier that i was so fortunate to play the instrument but i

fortunate to play the instrument but i

fortunate to play the instrument but i didn’t play the instrument when i was

didn’t play the instrument when i was

didn’t play the instrument when i was very young

very young

very young unlike other people I was more onto

unlike other people I was more onto

unlike other people I was more onto guitar I started playing sarangi only

guitar I started playing sarangi only

guitar I started playing sarangi only before 10 years and then I wanted to

before 10 years and then I wanted to

before 10 years and then I wanted to learn this instrument back then my

learn this instrument back then my

learn this instrument back then my father used to play he still plays the

father used to play he still plays the

father used to play he still plays the sarangi and i want to try that

sarangi and i want to try that

sarangi and i want to try that instrument I went and lift the

instrument I went and lift the

instrument I went and lift the instrument and I played but my father

instrument and I played but my father

instrument and I played but my father said he don’t play the instrument

said he don’t play the instrument

said he don’t play the instrument because he wanted me to study and get a

because he wanted me to study and get a

because he wanted me to study and get a job get a better life my father never

job get a better life my father never

job get a better life my father never had a better life

had a better life

had a better life with the music playing sarangi so we all

with the music playing sarangi so we all

with the music playing sarangi so we all have gone through this process of

have gone through this process of

have gone through this process of discrimination between the cost isn’t it

discrimination between the cost isn’t it

discrimination between the cost isn’t it so GaN Dava were taken as untouchable

so GaN Dava were taken as untouchable

so GaN Dava were taken as untouchable caste so my father wanted me to get a

caste so my father wanted me to get a

caste so my father wanted me to get a way of it and study and get a job even

way of it and study and get a job even

way of it and study and get a job even my mom wanted me to be a lawyer but as

my mom wanted me to be a lawyer but as

my mom wanted me to be a lawyer but as we all know that the fate is written one

we all know that the fate is written one

we all know that the fate is written one day I was watching my father playing

day I was watching my father playing

day I was watching my father playing sarangi and they were a couple of

sarangi and they were a couple of

sarangi and they were a couple of students playing it trying to play it

students playing it trying to play it

students playing it trying to play it and I was looking at them and thought I

and I was looking at them and thought I

and I was looking at them and thought I could do better I think so I went to my

could do better I think so I went to my

could do better I think so I went to my mom and asked if there was a sarangi

mom and asked if there was a sarangi

mom and asked if there was a sarangi lying somewhere the next morning my mom

lying somewhere the next morning my mom

lying somewhere the next morning my mom handed over me a sarong game that was

handed over me a sarong game that was

handed over me a sarong game that was lying under the bed

lying under the bed

lying under the bed don’t know wind waiting to be played

don’t know wind waiting to be played

don’t know wind waiting to be played maybe and then I silently started

maybe and then I silently started

maybe and then I silently started playing sarangi my late grandfather was

playing sarangi my late grandfather was

playing sarangi my late grandfather was still alive back then he saw me trying

still alive back then he saw me trying

still alive back then he saw me trying to play the instrument he was very old

to play the instrument he was very old

to play the instrument he was very old though who couldn’t play better but he

though who couldn’t play better but he

though who couldn’t play better but he was guiding me all the time and he was

was guiding me all the time and he was

was guiding me all the time and he was teaching me a lot of traditional songs

teaching me a lot of traditional songs

teaching me a lot of traditional songs folk songs and teaching me the practice

folk songs and teaching me the practice

folk songs and teaching me the practice even he taught me couple of other songs

even he taught me couple of other songs

even he taught me couple of other songs about God and got this so how I started

about God and got this so how I started

about God and got this so how I started playing the Sungi we want to listen a

playing the Sungi we want to listen a

playing the Sungi we want to listen a song that I first ever learned in

song that I first ever learned in

song that I first ever learned in sarangi

so that was the first song I ever

so that was the first song I ever learned in sarangi and then I started

learned in sarangi and then I started

learned in sarangi and then I started playing I was already a musician I used

playing I was already a musician I used

playing I was already a musician I used to play with lots of bands and I was

to play with lots of bands and I was

to play with lots of bands and I was looking for friends to jam with play

looking for friends to jam with play

looking for friends to jam with play with and one happened to be my dear

with and one happened to be my dear

with and one happened to be my dear friend mr. Reuben Kumar’s Resta is the

friend mr. Reuben Kumar’s Resta is the

friend mr. Reuben Kumar’s Resta is the flute player of Kitumba this is about 10

flute player of Kitumba this is about 10

flute player of Kitumba this is about 10 years back about 10 years back this was

years back about 10 years back this was

years back about 10 years back this was in 2008 so he told me if I wanted to jam

in 2008 so he told me if I wanted to jam

in 2008 so he told me if I wanted to jam with Kitumba they used to feature a new

with Kitumba they used to feature a new

with Kitumba they used to feature a new artist and then I said I really want to

artist and then I said I really want to

artist and then I said I really want to play and then I went to the band had a

play and then I went to the band had a

play and then I went to the band had a little bit of practice session and then

little bit of practice session and then

little bit of practice session and then I still remember that day the event was

I still remember that day the event was

I still remember that day the event was at Gurukul and it was called chains

at Gurukul and it was called chains

at Gurukul and it was called chains again so in that change concert I played

again so in that change concert I played

again so in that change concert I played for a lot of people that was my first

for a lot of people that was my first

for a lot of people that was my first public appearance at the sari players

public appearance at the sari players

public appearance at the sari players and then after about three months yeah

and then after about three months yeah

and then after about three months yeah about three months I got called from mr.

about three months I got called from mr.

about three months I got called from mr. Pavich Kumar so if mr. poet margin the

Pavich Kumar so if mr. poet margin the

Pavich Kumar so if mr. poet margin the spoke person of Kitumba and he said like

spoke person of Kitumba and he said like

spoke person of Kitumba and he said like do you want to go on a tour with us I

do you want to go on a tour with us I

do you want to go on a tour with us I said why not so I went to the practice

said why not so I went to the practice

said why not so I went to the practice room we had a practice session about a

room we had a practice session about a

room we had a practice session about a week then I went on a tour with the band

week then I went on a tour with the band

week then I went on a tour with the band pooja knock boof and this was my first

pooja knock boof and this was my first

pooja knock boof and this was my first ever public appearance outside in

ever public appearance outside in

ever public appearance outside in general to a temple in front of 7,000

general to a temple in front of 7,000

general to a temple in front of 7,000 people we kept on playing a lot of

people we kept on playing a lot of

people we kept on playing a lot of concerts and I was fortunate even to

concerts and I was fortunate even to

concerts and I was fortunate even to play in Man City Stadium in Manchester

play in Man City Stadium in Manchester

play in Man City Stadium in Manchester the Football Club

the Football Club

the Football Club I guess that’s was the first-ever

I guess that’s was the first-ever

I guess that’s was the first-ever sarangi being played in football stadium

sarangi being played in football stadium

sarangi being played in football stadium and got featured in Coke Studio and this

and got featured in Coke Studio and this

and got featured in Coke Studio and this is the video from playing for chains

is the video from playing for chains

is the video from playing for chains with the feature artists from all around

with the feature artists from all around

with the feature artists from all around the world so I feel myself very much

the world so I feel myself very much

the world so I feel myself very much lucky and fortunate to be playing this

lucky and fortunate to be playing this

lucky and fortunate to be playing this instrument our Nepali heritage we used

instrument our Nepali heritage we used

instrument our Nepali heritage we used to sit down on a chair or a ground eight

to sit down on a chair or a ground eight

to sit down on a chair or a ground eight the songs play the melodies and people

the songs play the melodies and people

the songs play the melodies and people have in mind that suddenly is for sad

have in mind that suddenly is for sad

have in mind that suddenly is for sad songs usually when I talk to people

songs usually when I talk to people

songs usually when I talk to people about sarangi especially the old

about sarangi especially the old

about sarangi especially the old generation they will say me that oh this

generation they will say me that oh this

generation they will say me that oh this is a very sad

is a very sad

is a very sad singing instrument I wanted to change

singing instrument I wanted to change

singing instrument I wanted to change that but how

that but how

that but how so I was thinking one day I want to play

so I was thinking one day I want to play

so I was thinking one day I want to play or present starring it differently so I

or present starring it differently so I

or present starring it differently so I came up with an idea of Sarang

came up with an idea of Sarang

came up with an idea of Sarang understand so this is the first ever

understand so this is the first ever

understand so this is the first ever things are only being played on a stand

okay let me ask you a question how many

okay let me ask you a question how many of you play guitar here how many of you

of you play guitar here how many of you

of you play guitar here how many of you play how many have of you have seen your

play how many have of you have seen your

play how many have of you have seen your friends or your circle people playing

friends or your circle people playing

friends or your circle people playing guitar okay why do you think we get

guitar okay why do you think we get

guitar okay why do you think we get guitarists in every nox and corners have

guitarists in every nox and corners have

guitarists in every nox and corners have an idea because this playing on a bigger

an idea because this playing on a bigger

an idea because this playing on a bigger stage bigger light

stage bigger light

stage bigger light biggest sound isn’t it so we thought of

biggest sound isn’t it so we thought of

biggest sound isn’t it so we thought of why not changing our old instrument into

why not changing our old instrument into

why not changing our old instrument into something like this playing on a bigger

something like this playing on a bigger

something like this playing on a bigger stage playing on a bigger sound playing

stage playing on a bigger sound playing

stage playing on a bigger sound playing on a bigger light to make it cool again

on a bigger light to make it cool again

on a bigger light to make it cool again isn’t it I was already a guitar player I

isn’t it I was already a guitar player I

isn’t it I was already a guitar player I played with so many bands and rock bands

played with so many bands and rock bands

played with so many bands and rock bands a lot of people so I wanted to add more

a lot of people so I wanted to add more

a lot of people so I wanted to add more feature on it

feature on it

feature on it so I started adding up my pedals to the

so I started adding up my pedals to the

so I started adding up my pedals to the sarangi to bring out the coolest back

sarangi to bring out the coolest back

sarangi to bring out the coolest back again in this journey I got a lot of

again in this journey I got a lot of

again in this journey I got a lot of queries lot of questions especially from

queries lot of questions especially from

queries lot of questions especially from the youth how we can continue playing

the youth how we can continue playing

the youth how we can continue playing the instrument and the problem even I

the instrument and the problem even I

the instrument and the problem even I faced when I was playing sarangi was to

faced when I was playing sarangi was to

faced when I was playing sarangi was to get a proper professional sarangi which

get a proper professional sarangi which

get a proper professional sarangi which was not there because the practice of

was not there because the practice of

was not there because the practice of suddenly playing was slowly disappearing

suddenly playing was slowly disappearing

suddenly playing was slowly disappearing so like with that thing the craftsmen

so like with that thing the craftsmen

so like with that thing the craftsmen were also leaving their profession

were also leaving their profession

were also leaving their profession because the people who are making the

because the people who are making the

because the people who are making the sarangi sift up themselves to mix them

sarangi sift up themselves to mix them

sarangi sift up themselves to mix them for niches but they’re making good money

for niches but they’re making good money

for niches but they’re making good money so we are having we had we were having a

so we are having we had we were having a

so we are having we had we were having a hard time getting the instrument and

hard time getting the instrument and

hard time getting the instrument and providing it to the professional

providing it to the professional

providing it to the professional starting players who want to continue

starting players who want to continue

starting players who want to continue playing sarangi so I was talking to my

playing sarangi so I was talking to my

playing sarangi so I was talking to my family my friends that how we can

family my friends that how we can

family my friends that how we can improve it and there was my cousin

improve it and there was my cousin

improve it and there was my cousin brother he came to me and said oh I used

brother he came to me and said oh I used

brother he came to me and said oh I used to make sarangi really when about 20

to make sarangi really when about 20

to make sarangi really when about 20 years back I was like really can you

years back I was like really can you

years back I was like really can you make it again he said like I can try so

make it again he said like I can try so

make it again he said like I can try so we brought a log of wood brought the

we brought a log of wood brought the

we brought a log of wood brought the equipment’s and then after

equipment’s and then after

equipment’s and then after three days he handed over me or raw

three days he handed over me or raw

three days he handed over me or raw sarangi so this is the beginning of our

sarangi so this is the beginning of our

sarangi so this is the beginning of our project sarangi

project sarangi

project sarangi so projects are only started off with a

so projects are only started off with a

so projects are only started off with a single piece of raw sarangi and then i

single piece of raw sarangi and then i

single piece of raw sarangi and then i would like to introduce mr. dill mother

would like to introduce mr. dill mother

would like to introduce mr. dill mother Gandhari started making the sarangi

Gandhari started making the sarangi

Gandhari started making the sarangi after 25 years he is continuously making

after 25 years he is continuously making

after 25 years he is continuously making the instrument as well as teaching the

the instrument as well as teaching the

the instrument as well as teaching the youth and inspiring other people to come

youth and inspiring other people to come

youth and inspiring other people to come and play come and make the instrument so

and play come and make the instrument so

and play come and make the instrument so in these three years we have provided

in these three years we have provided

in these three years we have provided selling it to so many new students i was

selling it to so many new students i was

selling it to so many new students i was thinking how can we bring this saree

thinking how can we bring this saree

thinking how can we bring this saree player together i knew only few we’re

player together i knew only few we’re

player together i knew only few we’re playing okay so i started sending

playing okay so i started sending

playing okay so i started sending message to them but the masses feel like

message to them but the masses feel like

message to them but the masses feel like wildfire so many people message me back

wildfire so many people message me back

wildfire so many people message me back that they want to be part of this again

that they want to be part of this again

that they want to be part of this again so i thought of why not creating an

so i thought of why not creating an

so i thought of why not creating an event not for all the people but at

event not for all the people but at

event not for all the people but at least for the sorry players who can

least for the sorry players who can

least for the sorry players who can showcase the talent when we can really

showcase the talent when we can really

showcase the talent when we can really enhance their playing support them bring

enhance their playing support them bring

enhance their playing support them bring on the stairs so we created this

on the stairs so we created this

on the stairs so we created this platform called demarco the thing that

platform called demarco the thing that

platform called demarco the thing that made us very happy was we had almost 30

made us very happy was we had almost 30

made us very happy was we had almost 30 sorry players on one stage and adding on

sorry players on one stage and adding on

sorry players on one stage and adding on that something that made us very happy

that something that made us very happy

that something that made us very happy and proud where these young girls coming

and proud where these young girls coming

and proud where these young girls coming up and playing sarangi we’re talking

up and playing sarangi we’re talking

up and playing sarangi we’re talking about women empowerment we’re talking

about women empowerment we’re talking

about women empowerment we’re talking about women participation but did you

about women participation but did you

about women participation but did you know that still the practice of music

know that still the practice of music

know that still the practice of music for the women is restricted in so many

for the women is restricted in so many

for the women is restricted in so many places

so we are very much happy to see the

so we are very much happy to see the women playing the sarangi and again we

women playing the sarangi and again we

women playing the sarangi and again we were very much proud to being the first

were very much proud to being the first

were very much proud to being the first ever woman folk band Vitara to be the

ever woman folk band Vitara to be the

ever woman folk band Vitara to be the part of tomorrow so Joe Morgan was not

part of tomorrow so Joe Morgan was not

part of tomorrow so Joe Morgan was not just about sarangi playing we wanted to

just about sarangi playing we wanted to

just about sarangi playing we wanted to show the sarangi players the hardship of

show the sarangi players the hardship of

show the sarangi players the hardship of making an instrument it takes a lot of

making an instrument it takes a lot of

making an instrument it takes a lot of hard work to carve this instrument from

hard work to carve this instrument from

hard work to carve this instrument from a single piece of wood so we coming up

a single piece of wood so we coming up

a single piece of wood so we coming up with project sarangi Center a common

with project sarangi Center a common

with project sarangi Center a common ground to share our knowledge share our

ground to share our knowledge share our

ground to share our knowledge share our experience and sarangi not just sharing

experience and sarangi not just sharing

experience and sarangi not just sharing but it’s a learning ground as well not

but it’s a learning ground as well not

but it’s a learning ground as well not only for suddenly playing but also

only for suddenly playing but also

only for suddenly playing but also sarangi making we’re talking about

sarangi making we’re talking about

sarangi making we’re talking about economic growth all the time aren’t we

economic growth all the time aren’t we

economic growth all the time aren’t we and be talking about the economic growth

and be talking about the economic growth

and be talking about the economic growth the sustainability isn’t it and the

the sustainability isn’t it and the

the sustainability isn’t it and the first thing I want to say is we need to

first thing I want to say is we need to

first thing I want to say is we need to promote the craftsmen of Nepal not the

promote the craftsmen of Nepal not the

promote the craftsmen of Nepal not the sarangi different thing we see a lot of

sarangi different thing we see a lot of

sarangi different thing we see a lot of people going abroad but the thing that

people going abroad but the thing that

people going abroad but the thing that we’re missing is our basic things like

we’re missing is our basic things like

we’re missing is our basic things like the craftsman’s like the carpenters we

the craftsman’s like the carpenters we

the craftsman’s like the carpenters we are very much reaching our heritage on

are very much reaching our heritage on

are very much reaching our heritage on the same ground in the same centre

the same ground in the same centre

the same ground in the same centre looking forward for the collaboration

looking forward for the collaboration

looking forward for the collaboration between the Nepalese folk instrument

between the Nepalese folk instrument

between the Nepalese folk instrument itself and then also if we can bring

itself and then also if we can bring

itself and then also if we can bring this music to a coarse cross-cultural

this music to a coarse cross-cultural

this music to a coarse cross-cultural collaboration then music can be known

collaboration then music can be known

collaboration then music can be known around the world is not just Nepal but

around the world is not just Nepal but

around the world is not just Nepal but we tell you the my experience travels a

we tell you the my experience travels a

we tell you the my experience travels a person around the world playing this

person around the world playing this

person around the world playing this instrument and then

instrument and then

instrument and then most of the time what I hear from people

most of the time what I hear from people

most of the time what I hear from people is you bring the sound of mountains you

is you bring the sound of mountains you

is you bring the sound of mountains you bring the sound of the hills and you

bring the sound of the hills and you

bring the sound of the hills and you bring the sound of the plains and so

bring the sound of the plains and so

bring the sound of the plains and so much fortunate to introduce my Nepal our

much fortunate to introduce my Nepal our

much fortunate to introduce my Nepal our Nepal to the world through sarangi we

Nepal to the world through sarangi we

Nepal to the world through sarangi we need to come forward to preserve our

need to come forward to preserve our

need to come forward to preserve our heritage not just preserve but also to

heritage not just preserve but also to

heritage not just preserve but also to hand over this tradition to your father

hand over this tradition to your father

hand over this tradition to your father generation isn’t it and thank you very

generation isn’t it and thank you very

generation isn’t it and thank you very much

”

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