Chander Singh Rahi or Chander Singh Rahi

Chander Singh Negi

28 March 1942 – 10 January 2016

Chander Singh Rahi also known as Chander Singh Negi, was an extraordinary folk singer, musician, storyteller, poet, balladeer and cultural archivist from Uttarakhand.
In recognization of his deep loyalty to the music and culture of Uttarakhand people described him as the “Bhishma Pitamah” of Uttarakhand folk Music.

Personal Life Journey

Chander Singh was born on 28 March 1942, to Dilbar Singh Negi and Sundara Singh Negi in a Giwali Village in Maudaadsyun. Chander Singh Negi Belongs to Ghadiyal Family from the Nayar Valley of Pauri Garhwal Uttarakhand along with his Brother he learned the Tradition of Pahari Music from his Father, his father was also a singer of Jagar (Religious folk composition) music in Uttarakhand.

He learned the foundation of Pahari Music Instruments and the cultural practices associated with the Himalayas very early in his life as a kid he started to accompanied his father on traditional musical instruments including Damru, Thakuli, and Huruki as a part of living later he also learned classical music much later in his life with his Guru Bachan Singh and Keshav Anuragi.

During his early days he used to sell flutes for a living in Delhi. Later, he got a government job in the telecom Department. Because of that job, he lived in Delhi in a rental for 40 years in Shakarpur. He used to save money from his salary and used that money to record folk music in his voice rather than invest in a house.

Negi was married to Sudha Negi. They had four sons and a daughter; his entire family is involved in the field of folk music including Singing. Playing musical instruments, composing, production, and direction of music. His youngest son Rakesh Bhardwaj is a rhythmist in the Indian Rock pop band Euphoria.

Chander Singh Negi started his Singing Career on March 13, 1963, on the All India Radio (AIR) Delhi Station, on a program for Army Personnel the song was “Par Veena Ki” in 1966 he composed his famous Geet “Dil ko Umaal” for his Mentor Kanhaiyala Dandiyal (The Garhwali Poet) who gave him the nickname “Rahi” later he started to sing for AIR Lucknow in 1972, he started to gain popularity in Uttarakhand during the 1970s.

He made history when his songs were broadcast on Doordarshan and he was the first Garhwali Voice to be heard on the radio in the 1980s.

Rahi has sung more than five hundred songs in the Garhwali and Kumaoni languages and released more than 140 audio cassettes. He performed more than 1500 live shows all over India. He was also a poet and songwriter; his poetry collections include Dil ko Umaal, Dhaai, Ramchhol, and Geet Ganga; he also wrote monographs for ballets. He was and still is considered to be the only person who could play all the folk music instruments of Uttarakhand which include Dhol, Shehnai, Daur, Huruki, Thaali, etc.

He was also a collector of folk musical instruments of Uttarakhand. He curated and collected more than 2,500 age-old traditional songs which cover various forms of Uttarakhand including Sanskar Geet, Khuder Geet, Barhai, Mela Geet, Panwara, Thadiya, and Jaagar. He also wrote a book about folk music titled “A Comprehensive Study of the Songs, Musical Instruments, and Dances of the Central Himalayas”, Many of his family members followed his legacy and they are also in the field of music.

Awards/Achievements

Mohan Upreti Lok Sanskriti Kala Samman.

Garh Bharati, Garhwal Sabha Samman Patra in 1995.Dr. Shivanand Nautiyal Smriti Puraskar.

Mohan Sanstha, Lucknow Samman Patra.

Chander Singh’s songs are still popular among the people of Uttarakhand. The new version of Chaita ki Chaitwali became the first Utttarakhandi song to cross five million views on Youtube.

In 2015, The National Academy of Music dance, and Drama presented a screening of the folk music of Garhwal by Chander Singh and a party.

Every year on his death anniversary, his family members organize a remembrance event in Delhi Female writer Charu Tiwari has written a book called “Lok ka Chitera” to mark 50 years of Chander Singh’s musical journey.
Chander Singh’s legacy continues to be an inspiration to Uttarakhandi artists of later generations.

Famous Work

Chander Singh sang more than 500 songs in Kumaoni and Gaehwali languages, some of his most celebrated songs are Fwa Bagha re, Sarg Tara junyali rata ko sunalo, Dekh Hilma Chandi Ku Batana, Chaita ki Chaitwali, fyonladiya, Satpuli ka senna meri bau, Bhana to Rangeela Bhana, Sauli Ghura Ghur, Tyere Chadri Chuttgye pichhe, and Tile Dharu bola Madhuli. His first recorded album, Sauli Ghura Ghur was a commercial big hit at that time. And his poetry collection includes Dil ko Umaal in 1966, Dhai in 1980, Ramchhol in 1981, and Geet Ganga in 2010, he has sung in every form of folk music of Uttarakhand.

Death

On 10 January 2016, Chander Singh Negi passed away in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi at the age of 73. He left a great legacy behind and he was loved and respected by everyone in his family and friends, his family is still continuing his legacy in this field his eldest son Virendra Negi he had worked with his father since childhood as a musician and his youngest son who is a part of the Indian Rock pop Band Euphoria paid tribute to his late father’s legacy by remaking and releasing Rahi’s popular Uttarakhandi songs online through his Music Compony Pahadi Soul.

Chander Singh Negi is remembered for having lived for his love for art and community work at large scale.