Nepathya's New Album

Kathmandu. November 19, 2009
Nepathya, the premier folk-rock band of Nepal is set to release its new album.This release is believed to end a more than three-year long wait for Nepathya fans.
"As our society heads to a peaceful and prosperous future with the new constitution being written, we wanted to come up with a fun filled romantic album, but the current situation inspired us otherwise. This album has ended up being patriotic and peace longing" says Amrit Gurung - the front man of Nepathya highlighting the content of the album.
The album contains 8 tracks, which includes new as well as few songs from its back catalogue to suite the theme of the Album.
Title of the album - Mero Desh comes from the track penned by poet Vikram Subba, and the cover design simply holds the National Flag made with some brush strokes by designer Navin Joshi. The design compliments Nepathya edition of the extremely popular patriotic number Rato ra Chandra Surya, also included in the album.
"We love this song and have been performing Rato ra Chandra Surya during concerts since 2001. I am glad and grateful to respected Ambar dai (Ambar Gurung) for allowing us to record this number." clarifies Amrit. "This song also portrays our love to our National emblem."
Other songs included in the album are Norden Rumba's Kasaile Sodhe, new edition of Pravin Gurung's Ukali Orali, Basanta Thapa's Sundar Shnata Nepal, Aavaas' Rangeen Chara, and Tirtha Shrestha's Aama.
nepa~laya, the producer of the album is releasing it on the 21st of November without much fanfare.
"The reason why we have dated the release for the 21st, is to express a musical commemoration to the 3rd Anniversary of Nepal's Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Though Amrit will not be here on that day - he suggested the connection and we agreed," says Kiran Krishna Shrestha of nepa~laya.
"It has been 3 long years since the CPA and we want to use this occasion to remind all concerned of the achievement Nepal had made. We hope it comes to a logical conclusion with the new constitution we all have been waiting for," adds Amrit before departing for Malaysia to attend the Asia Society - Asia 21 Young Leader's Summit.
Asia 21 Summit brings together 200 selected young leaders with diverse background from Asia and the United States to deliberate on wide-ranging agenda.
"We have recorded all the songs in the album from our heart. We hope our audience will accept this as they have in the past," says the humble pony tailed singer. "Hope we can come back with a more fun filled album soon. It is said art is the mirror of the society, so I believe this is the image that has been reflected through us for now" he concludes.
Mero Desh, has been produced and released by nepa~laya and will be available in the market through the distribution network of Ranjana Cassettes.
People After War - the third book in A People War Trilogy releasing soon
Kathmandu, 18th Nov 2009.
nepa~laya is launching the third part of its A People War trilogy and opening a permanent exhibit of images of the Nepal conflict on 21st November 2009, which also coincides the signing of the third anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. (CPA).
The third book is called People After War and follows A People War (2006) and Never Again (2008) books. All three books were edited by Kunda Dixit and focus on the civilian victims of the ten-year conflict that killed more than 15,000 Nepalis.
A People War was a picture book and nepa~laya took the photographs in it on a travelling exhibition to 32 districts in 2007-8. It was visited by 350,000 people, some of whose testimonies about the war are published in the second book, Never Again.
The third volume in the trilogy, People After War, goes back to some of the characters in the pictures in the first book to find out how their lives have been in the intervening years since their photographs were taken.
Says Kunda Dixit: “We have found ordinary people with extraordinary stories, and they are all uplifting because they prove just how resilient and hopeful the Nepali people are about the future despite the sorrows of war that they lived through.”
People After War features photographs and profiles of a brother and sister who fought on opposite sides during the war and are finally reunited with their father, a vigilante who turned into a sadhu after the ceasefire, and the daily struggle of survival of the relatives of those who were killed or disappeared during the war.
“The books serve to remind us of the horrors of what we Nepalis experienced and how long it takes for the wounds to heal,” adds Dixit. “It is important to remember so that society can resolve its differences peacefully without having to suffer an even more devastating conflicts in future.”
nepa~laya and Madan Puraskar are collaborating to put the images from A People War trilogy in a permanent exhibition at Madan Puraskar in Patan Dhoka. The exhibition will also have additional photographs from the conflict and be a repository for people’s testimonies about the war.
“We hope that the exhibition will become the nucleus of a peace museum that can have an archival as well as educational function,” explains nepa~laya’s Kiran Krishna Shrestha.
Exhibits of the stories from People After War are also being taken on a travelling show to seven places beyond Kathmandu from 23 November – 12 December.
It will visit Itahari, Ilam, Damak, Hetauda, Kawasoti, Nepalganj and Tansen.
Amrit represents Nepal in ASIA 21 YOUNG LEADERS SUMMIT, MALAYSIA
(Kuala Lumpur, November 17, 2009)Amrit Gurung of Nepal's Musical Band Nepathya has been chosen among more than 150 emerging leaders from some 30 countries in the Asia-Pacific region who will participate in the Asia Society’s fourth annual Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit, to be held in Kuala Lumpur from November 20-22, 2009.
Gurung joins other young leaders from various sectors, all under and around age 40, who will explore “The Changing Face of Leadership: Crisis and Opportunity” at the Summit.
The Asia Society’s Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit is part of a larger initiative designed to help emerging leaders from across the region to develop common approaches to meet its shared challenges. “Asia 21 seeks to build networks of trust across geographic boundaries and help next generation leaders to educate one another in the highest ideals of values-based leadership,” said Asia Society Executive Vice President Jamie Metzl, who spearheads the program. “We need new types of leaders from every country who can both understand the transnational nature of the challenges we face and work together to address them, and are thrilled that Mr. Amrit Gurung will be joining our network.”
A poet, musician, singer, photographer, filmmaker and traveler, AmritGurung is one of Nepal's most recognized faces. His art reflects hisstrong beliefs about protecting peace, justice and nature. Amrit is the man behind Nepal's foremost folk rock band, Nepathya, and isa role model by Nepal's young adults. He uses the medium of music and photography to spread his message of peace directly to the people. He is a compulsive traveler and has trekked across 70 of Nepal's 75 districts, collecting folk lyrics and music.
Amrit took his peace concerts around Nepal, while the country was at war.
"I have found the arts, especially music, to be the most important way to create a more just and tolerant society. It really works, and it would bevery enriching for me to discuss this theme with Asia's future politicians, business leaders, activists, media and fellow-artists." said Amrit GurungEstablished by the Asia Society with support from Founding International Sponsor, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the Asia 21 Summit is the pre-eminent gathering of Asia’s most dynamic and accomplished young leaders from the Asia-Pacific region. To date, the network counts more than 500 alumni, including businessmen, documentary filmmakers, environmental activists, human rights advocates, members of parliament, military personnel, performance artists, and social entrepreneurs.
“We’re proud to support the Asia Society’s Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit,” said Tom Montag, president of Global Banking and Markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “As a global organization committed to deepening and strengthening our public and private sector relationships in the Asia-Pacific region, we’re honored to be part of an initiative that encourages prominent young leaders to collectively confront Asia’s challenges and opportunities.”
Ambar Gurung Mesmerizes Pokhara
Normally it is Pokhara which mesmerizes those who go there with its serene beauty. But it was an otherway round experience and a nice change to witness Ambar Gurung mesmerizing Pokhara. The music maestro performed for Paleti series in Pokhara and the audience was spell bound. It was a well attended event by all the who-is-who from music art and literature field of Pokhara. Teertha Shrestha, Jas Kaji Gurung, Amar Pokhareli, Saru Bhakta and Durga Baral were some of the eager attendants. Noted music composer Karma Yonjan had arrived from Darjeeling to attend the show.
Ambar Gurung captivated the audience with his feelings while he presented "Ma Ambar Hoon", "Bataas Le Jhaareka", "Timi Bhool Ma Paryou", "Yo Jindagi Ko Ke Kura" and "Nau Lakh Taara Udae". He also shared some nostalgic memories related to his compositions. Gurung's 'dear deciple' (in his own words) Aavaas presented some of the unheard compositions which were treat to the ears. Ambar Gurung was moved to tears when he rendered "Jaba Duniyale" and patted him on the shoulders. Aavaas also excelled in "Jasai Kesh Timile Phinjayou" and "Chamkirako Timi Hera." Budding talent Meena Niraula presented somegolden oldies by Aruna Lama like "Pohor Saal Khusi Phatda", and "Sabaile Bhanthe". She also accompanied the maestro for a duet "Tipa Yo Jowan", and Aavaas for "E Kanchha Mlaai Sun Ko Tara".
Noted film maker Binod Serchan said,"I could not miss this once in a life time opportunity to witness the great artiste perform.Where are such music now days?"