Despite losing his voice a year before I was born ,I know every words to his every song. I basically grew up listening to him, thanks to my father’s fandom. I witness so many of the people my age or younger, hum along, one can only ponder the impact he could have had on Nepali music realm be if he hadn’t lost his voice and and continued singing.
Sur Samrat, Bhakta Raj Acharya, whose songs I know by heart, has passed away. He was pronounced dead en route to Mediciti Hospital on February 26, 2024, at the age of 82. In ode to this musical legend I list the “10 facts about our Bhajan Siromani you may not know”.
- Early Life: Born in 1942 in Dhankuta and raised in Kalimpong, this singer and composer defied his mother’s wish for him to pursue studies and a successful career, opting instead for a life devoted to music.
- Musical Breakthrough: Bhakta Raj Acharya earned recognition in 1973 by winning a gold medal at the All-Nepal Singing Competition conducted by Radio Nepal. His association with the firm followed soon after.
- Esteemed Reverence: In addition to songs and compositions, Acharya sang numerous hymns, earning the title “Bhajan Siromani.” One of his most beloved hymns was “Sab Nidaye Prabhu.”
- Musical Legacy: Over his career, he contributed to the industry by singing 450 songs and composing 20-30 pieces.
- Targeted Attack: In 1990, a targeted attack caused a severe head injury, posing a significant threat to his singing career.
- Courageous Battle with Cancer: In 1994, facing tongue cancer, Acharya underwent surgery where a portion of his tongue was removed to halt its spread, resulting in the loss of his singing voice.
- Epiphany and Resilience: Spending his life immersed in singing, the realization that he could no longer sing led to a moment of despair, even attempting to take his own life in the hospital.
- Defying Predictions: Post-surgery, doctors and people predicted a short lifespan due to his ability to consume only liquids. Against all odds, Acharya defied predictions, surviving strongly for 30 years while only drinking milk.
- Unfulfilled Dreams: In an interview, Bhakta Raj’s eldest son, Satya Raj, revealed the unfulfilled dream of his father singing with renowned playback singers like Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar.
- Family Legacy: Despite numerous unfulfilled dreams, his two sons, Satya Raj Acharya (eldest) and Swaroop Raj Acharya (youngest), continued his musical legacy as the well-known dynamic duo “Satya-Swaroop.”
Hope I covered everything, and if you want the visual representations of the legends life, you can watch his biopic “Acharya”. Biopic was released in 2011 and his elder son portrayed his father’s character which adds a personal touch to the film.
Lastly, my deepest condolence to the legend. May his departed soul rest in peace and may his music continue to resonate in our hearts.
