Chander Singh 'Rahi'

Chander Singh Rahi (born Chander Singh Negi; 28 March 1942 – 10 January 2016) was a prominent folk singer, songwriter, balladeer, musician, poet, storyteller, and cultural conservator from Uttarakhand, India.

In recognition of his deep devotion to the music and culture of Uttarakhand, he has been described as the "Bhishma Pitamah of Uttarakhand folk music".

Early life Rahi was born Chander Singh Negi to Dilbar Singh Negi and Sundara Devi in a Giwali village in Maudadsyun. He belonged to a modest Ghadiyal family from the Nayar Valley of Pauri in Garhwal, Uttarakhand. learned the tradition of Pahari (originating from the hills) music from their father, a singer of the jagar music of Uttarakhand.

Rahi learned the foundations of Pahari music, including age-old traditional songs, musical instruments, and the cultural practices associated with the music of the Himalayas. As a child, he accompanied his father on traditional musical instruments, including the thakuli, the damru, and the huruki. Later in his life, Rahi learned Indian classical music with Keshav Anuragi and his guru, Bachan Singh. He started singing for AIR Lucknow in 1972.

Rahi was also poet. His poetry collections include Dil ko Umaal (1966), Dhai (1980), Ramchhol (1981), and Geet Ganga (2010). Rahi also wrote monographs and composed music for ballets.

Rahi was considered to be the only person who could play all the folk instruments of Uttarakhand, including the dhol damau (drums), the shehnai, the daur, the thaali, and the huruki. He also had knowledge of the unknown tala sequences (beat patterns) unique to Pahari music and would seamlessly incorporate these elements in his musical presentations.

Rahi collected and curated more than 2,500 age-old traditional songs covering various folk forms of Uttarakhand including "Khuder Geet", "Sanskar Geet", "Barhai", "Panwara", "Mela Geet", "Jhaura, Pandavani", "Chaunfla", "Thadiya", and "Jaagar". His book, A Comprehensive Study of the Songs, Musical Instruments, and Dances of the Central Himalayas, was to be published by Uttaranchal Sahitya, Sanskriti evam Kala Parishad. He was also an avid collector of folk musical instruments of Uttarakhand.

Personal life Rahi sold flutes for a living during his early days in Delhi, to which he had moved from his native Garhwal in 1957. His search for a stable livelihood finally ended successfully when he got a government job with the telecom department. Rahi lived in a rented house in the Shakarpur locality of Delhi for 40 years. An anecdote told by his family is that Rahi chose to invest the little finances that he had on recording Uttarakhandi folk music, rather than an investing in a house.

Tributes, legacy, and influence Rahi is remembered for having lived for his art and for the community at large.

In his later years, he would openly express his frustration with the "Bollywoodisation" and "VCD culture" of Indian folk music. Rahi believed that conserving folk music would help in conservation of Uttarakhand's languages and culture.

It was reported that jagar singer and Padma Shri recipient Pritam Bhartwan said that Rahdi had been blessed with a unique ringing melodious voice that would cast a magical spell over his listeners, while remembering the legacy of Chandra Singh Rahi on his demise.

Rahi's songs are still popular amongst the people of Uttarakhand. Three of his celebrated songs – "Fyonladiya"(2016), the traditional anchari jaagar, "Chaita ki Chaitwali"(2018) and "Fwa Baga Re"(2019) – were covered by popular Garhwali/Kumaoni singers Kishan Mahipal, Amit Saagar and Pappu Karki respectively. The new version of "Chaita ki Chaitwali" became the first Uttarakhandi song to reach five million views on YouTube.

In 2015, Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama) presented a "Screening of Folk Music of Garhwal by Chandra Singh Rahi and Party" in its Sanchayan Series, an annual screening of the Academy's archival films and video recordings.

Writer Charu Tiwari has written a book called Lok ka Chitera to mark 50 years of Rahi's musical journey.

Every year on Rahi's death anniversary, his family and admirers organise a remembrance event in Delhi, in which his musical repertoire is presented by his family members and by popular singers from Uttarakhand. His children and grandchildren represent Rahi's musical and cultural lineage and style under the "Rahi Gharana"

Awards and recognition

Mohan Upreti Lok Sanskriti Kala Samman Dr. Shivanand Nautiyal Smriti Puraskar Garh Bharati, Garhwal Sabha Samman Patra (1995) Monal Sanstha, Lucknow Samman Patra