With the death of celebrated folk singer, Chandra Singh Rahi the State has lost a great champion of folk music. The singer breathed his last at Sir Gangaram Hospital of New Delhi on Sunday. The death of the singer who has given his voice to more than 500 songs of Garhwali and Kumaoni language jolted the music lovers of the State. A pall of gloom struck in Nayar valley of Pauri district from where the singer belonged to.
Born in a small village Giwali located in Ekeshwar block of Pauri district in the year 1942, Rahi learned the early lessons in singing from his father who was a Jagar (religious folk compositions) singer. The old timers fondly remember the days when his melodious voice from Najibabad station of All India Radio (AIR) use to break the silence of mountain helmets and enthused the tired hill folks. ‘ Dekh hilma chandi ku batana, mere manma tumahri ratna; Soli Ghura Ghur; Satpuli ka Senna Meri bahu surila are some of his celebrated numbers which are still popular among masses.
Rahi to his credit has collected more than 2500 folk songs. He was a avid collector and preserved many folk musical instruments of Uttarakhand. The singer was living in a rented house in Shakarpur locality of Delhi from last 40 years and is survived by his wife, four sons and a daughter.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat expressed his grief over the demise of the great singer. Famous Garhwali singer Narendra Singh Negi termed Rahi as his inspiration. He said that the way Rahi worshiped music and instruments should be an inspiration for others. Another famous singer Pritam Bhartwan said that death of Rahi is a great loss. He said that the Rahi was bestowed with a unique ringing melodious voice which used to create a special magic over the listeners.
