Hira Devi Waiba
Encyclopedia
Hira Devi Waiba was a Nepali
folk singer from Darjeeling
, India
. She came from a family of musicians from Ambotia near Kurseong
and is hailed as the pioneer of Nepali folk songs in India.
She has sung nearly 300 folk songs during her musical career spanning 40 years. Her singing career began when she recorded three songs in Kurseong for Radio Nepal
in 1966. She worked as an announcer at the All India Radio
station in Kurseong from 1963 to 1965. She was also a Nepali folk singer with All India Radio. She is the only Nepali folk singer to have cut albums (in 1974 and 1978) with HMV
, Kolkata
. Her popular songs include Phariya Lyayidiyechhan and Ora daudi jaanda. As a tribute to her father, Waiba had opened the SM Waiba International Music and Dance Academy at her home in Kadamtala, near Siliguri
in 2008.
She was awarded the Mitrasen Purashkar by the Nepali Akademi of Darjeeling in 1986, the Mitrasen Smriti Puraskar by the Sikkim
government in 1996, the Agam Singh Giri Puraskar in 2001 and the Gorkha Saheed Sewa Samiti’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The Nepal
government had awarded her the Gorkha Dakshina Bahu
, Sadhana Samman and the Madhurima Phul Kumari Mahato Award. Hira Waiba died on 19 January 2011 at the age of 71 years after suffering burn injuries in a fire accident at her home.
Nepali language
Nepali or Nepalese is a language in the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family.It is the official language and de facto lingua franca of Nepal and is also spoken in Bhutan, parts of India and parts of Myanmar...
folk singer from Darjeeling
Darjeeling district
Darjeeling District is the northernmost district of the state of West Bengal in eastern India in the foothills of the Himalayas. The district is famous for its beautiful hill stations and Darjeeling tea. Darjeeling is the district headquarters...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. She came from a family of musicians from Ambotia near Kurseong
Kurseong
Kurseong is a hill station situated in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India.Located at an altitude of 1458 metres , Kurseong is just 30 km from Darjeeling...
and is hailed as the pioneer of Nepali folk songs in India.
She has sung nearly 300 folk songs during her musical career spanning 40 years. Her singing career began when she recorded three songs in Kurseong for Radio Nepal
Radio Nepal
Radio Nepal was established on 1 April 1951. Initially, the transmission lasted for 4 hours and 30 minutes through a 250 Watt short-wave transmitter. Over the years, Radio Nepal has strengthened its institutional capacity considerably and diversified itself in terms of programme format, technical...
in 1966. She worked as an announcer at the All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
station in Kurseong from 1963 to 1965. She was also a Nepali folk singer with All India Radio. She is the only Nepali folk singer to have cut albums (in 1974 and 1978) with HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
, Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. Her popular songs include Phariya Lyayidiyechhan and Ora daudi jaanda. As a tribute to her father, Waiba had opened the SM Waiba International Music and Dance Academy at her home in Kadamtala, near Siliguri
Siliguri
Siliguri is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located in the Siliguri Corridor or Chicken's Neck - a very narrow strip of land linking mainland India to its north-eastern states. It is also the transit point for air, road and rail traffic to the neighbouring countries of Nepal,...
in 2008.
She was awarded the Mitrasen Purashkar by the Nepali Akademi of Darjeeling in 1986, the Mitrasen Smriti Puraskar by the Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
government in 1996, the Agam Singh Giri Puraskar in 2001 and the Gorkha Saheed Sewa Samiti’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
government had awarded her the Gorkha Dakshina Bahu
Gorkha Dakshina Bahu
Gorkha Dakshin Bahu is one of the highest honors given traditionally by the King and now the President of Nepal. It can be awarded to both the military and civilians including foreign nationals for the distinguished contribution to the country in the field of arts, literature, sports, science, and...
, Sadhana Samman and the Madhurima Phul Kumari Mahato Award. Hira Waiba died on 19 January 2011 at the age of 71 years after suffering burn injuries in a fire accident at her home.