Hasta Bahadur Thapa obituary: The man who added musicality to Nepal Police

Thapa is remembered for his contribution to modernizing the police band with the changing times, according to Senior Superintendent of Police Bishnu Kumar KC, who is also a Nepal Police spokesperson

Priyanjali Karn
Priyanjali Karn
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Birth: 1930

Death: 6 March 2022

Hasta Bahadur Thapa, who played an important role in the establishment of Nepal Police Band, passed away on 6 March at the age of 92.

Thapa was born in a small village in Syangja district. He entered the British Army in 1949 and was the band instructor to the British Gurkha Band. In 1972, he was the assistant music director in the British Gurkha Army when Khadgajeet Baral, the then Inspector General of Nepal Police (IGP), brought him to Kathmandu to train the Nepal Police Band.

Thapa played a crucial role to train and develop the Nepal Police Band. It was under his leadership that the band started the annual Beating Retreat ceremony in 1973. Thapa had also led the band to Scotland to perform at the Annual Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Thapa had served in the British Army for 28 years before joining Nepal Police. He was appointed a police inspector in 1977 at the order of the then King Birendra. He went on to serve in the police force for almost two decades before retiring as a superintendent in 1997. During his time in the force, Thapa also helped in the development of the National Police Academy School of Music.

Thapa is remembered for his contribution to modernizing the police band with the changing times, according to Senior Superintendent of Police Bishnu Kumar KC, who is also a Nepal Police spokesperson.

After retiring from the Nepal Police, Thapa was hired by the Armed Police Force (APF) to train its band. He worked as a musical instructor of the APF Band for seven years.

After working as a bandmaster and music instructor for the British Army, Nepal Police and the APF in a career spanning nearly six decades, Thapa dedicated his retired life to writing. He has written five books.

His most notable work is his autobiography ‘Mero Jiwanyatra’, where he has written about his musical journey in the security forces. In the book, he recollects his contributions to the three agencies, and about his experience traveling the world.

He passed away on the morning of 6 March from pneumonia-related complications.

Books:

*Mero Jiwanyatra (2019)

*Prathamik Sursamata Marga - part 1, 2, and 3 (2017)

*Aadharbhut Staff Notation Tatha Nepali Parva, Sanskar Ra Sanskritik Dhunharu (2017)

*Saral Sangeet Jhanmala

*Prampragat Bigul Dhun