Birth: 11 December 1951

Death: 15 January 2022

Kumar Subba gave his voice to over 500 songs, including the most celebrated ones like ‘Hey Phool Chudera Laanu’ and ‘Sarangi Ko Taal Ma Mero Man Le Geet Gaucha’ that have left an indelible mark in the heart of listeners of Nepali music.

Born and raised in Darjeeling, West Bengal, Subba was a lover of music from a young age. While learning the fiddle and the harmonium, he used to spend whole days experimenting with the instruments. Although he grew up in India, Nepali rhythms had struck a chord with him.

 His singing career took off when a member of the audience at the Gangtok Auditorium, where he was singing, heard him and offered to fund the recording of ‘Kati Bujhaun’ and ‘Samahala Pachyari Tyo Latrisakyo Bhui Ma’. The songs were recorded in the HMV studio of Kolkata. Then, in 1968, he started working as a senior singer in Akashvani FM in Kurseong.

 He became better known among the people of Nepal and North-East India after lending his voice to Man Bahadur Mukhya’s famous drama ‘Ani Deurali Runcha’.

Also read: Prof. Dr. Chabi Lal Gajurel obituary: Catalyst of Nepal’s education system

 ‘Deurali Ko Thiti Haru Nakkal Parnu Pardaina’ and ‘Hey Phool Chudera Laane Ho’ made Kumar Subba a household name.

 The songs also impressed the chairman of the Ratna Recording Studio, whereupon he got an opportunity to record three songs including ‘Sarangi Ko Taal Ma Mero Man Le Geet Gaucha’.

 He also sang in Radio Nepal as well as in other radio stations in Kurseong, Gangtok, Guwahati, and Darjeeling.

 Subba was also invited to Nepal to perform in a program called ‘Paleti’. In 2012, Bengal government honored him with ‘Sangeet Samman’, which he later renounced during the 2017 Gorkhaland agitation.

 After returning to Darjeeling from Nepal in 2012, he had a stroke and he never fully recovered. The stroke paralyzed the left part of his body and he lost his voice. That’s when he had to stop singing and start living with his daughter in Siliguri. With timely treatment, his health started improving, and he slowly went back to singing.

 Unfortunately, he passed away after a heart attack on 15 January 2022, still in the course of his treatment. He was 70. Thousands of people lined up on the streets of Darjeeling to pay their last respects . He is survived by a wife, two daughters, and a son.