"Rājamati" ( ne, राजमति) is a traditional Nepalese ballad about an unsuccessful love quest, and is the most well known song in Newar society of

Nepal Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...

. Written by an unnamed composer, it dates from the early 19th century and is based on a true story. The song in

Nepal Bhasa Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, 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 Nepa ...

also gained fame because it was played in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

during the state visit of Nepalese Prime Minister

Jung Bahadur Rana Maharaja Jung Bahadur Kunwar Ranaji, (born Bir Narsingh Kunwar ( ne, वीर नरसिंह कुँवर), 18 June 1817; popularly known as Jung Bahadur Rana (JBR, ne, जङ्गबहादुर राणा)) () belonging to the ...

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 disc by maestro Seturam Shrestha in Kolkata in 1908. A movie 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 , pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Prov ...

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. Art of Rajamati by Uday Charan Shrestha in 1995. His research started in 1993 and finally after two years, he finished his oil canvas art after almost 6 month of work on it. Poster was published in 1996 in the samdhyatimes on the occasion of nepal sambat new year. During research time 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) were evidence during her sold. Similarly Guthi land (dyaguthi) also sold in 1892 BS (1835 AD) of 60 moharu. 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.

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 senior 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 r ...

was released in 1995. It is the second big screen film to be made in Nepal Bhasa. Prem Dhoj Pradhan composed and sang Rajamti song in his own style, and sang in various stages and functions for many many years made it very popular .He recorded ''Rajamati'' song in 1962 in Calcutta Indian, on

78 rpm A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English), or simply a record, is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The groove usually starts near ...

gramophone 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

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External links