Narendra Singh Negi, popularly known as “Gal Ratan” and “Hill Dilran”, is an Indian folk singer, composer and poet from the hill country of Uttarakhand. He is known for his unique style of singing Uttarakhand folk songs. In fact, Narendra Negi’s songs are believed to represent the social, cultural and economic structure of Uttarakhand.
Wiki/Biography
Narendra Singh Negi was born on Friday, August 12, 1949 (now 71 years old; 2021) in Pauri, Uttar Pradesh, India (now Uttarakhand, India). His star sign is Leo. As a child, his love for music attracted him to participate in various musical events of traditional folk singers of Uttarakhand. Mr. Negi graduated from Rampur, Uttarakhand, and obtained a PhD in literature in 2018.
Negi received his Ph.D. in Literature in 2018
appearance
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Black
family
parents
Mr. Negi’s father was a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army and his mother was a housewife.
Wife and children
Mr. Negi’s wife is Usha Negi. He has two children, a son named Kavilas and a daughter named Ritu. He has a daughter-in-law named Anjali and a granddaughter named Chubki.
Narendra Singh Negi with his wife Usha Negi, granddaughter Chubki and daughter-in-law Anjali
Profession
Amateur Artist
Narendra Singh Negi was inspired to compose songs by his mother and he wrote and composed his first song in 1974. Negi composed his first song while his father was undergoing eye surgery at the Lehman Hospital in Herbertpur, Uttarakhand. The lyrics of the song are:
Etley Park is a beautiful place'”
Keshav Sharma, the then show director of Akashvani, encouraged Narendra Singh Negi to sing in the Akashvani show. In 1976, Narendra Singh Negi started singing as an amateur singer, which provided an opportunity for him to start his singing career.
Narendra Singh Negi singing
Album
Kumaoni, Garhwali and Jainsali are the local dialects in which Nigi sings most of his songs. His first music release was Garhwali Jitmala and his first music album was Brons. Nigi has sung many influential songs in his career including Nachami Narayana which was released in 2007; the song was composed by Nigi to satirize the work done by the then ruling Congress Party in Uttarakhand and thus, the song became one of the factors in the downfall of the Congress government in the state. Similarly, his song Ab Kathaga Khailo which was released in 2012 shook the foundations of the then BJP government in Uttarakhand and became one of the factors in overthrowing the BJP government in the state. Narendra Singh Nagi wrote the poem Jyura ka haath batin in 2017 while recovering from a severe heart attack and through this poem he expressed his gratitude to his fans who prayed for his miraculous recovery.
Narendra Singh Negi was discharged from hospital after suffering a heart attack in 2017
He wrote the song वीｉ भडु कु देश, ब━वन गढ़ों कु देश.. about the 52 forts of Uttarakhand, India. During his time in Uttarakhand, Negi released two music albums in support of the Uttarakhand statehood movement that was prevalent in the state at the time. Mr. Negi composed a wide variety of songs, including love songs, wedding songs, lullabies, and songs related to environmental pollution and history. He also focused on songs that told the stories and status of local women in Uttarakhand. Most of the songs sung by Mr. Negi were related to the poverty of the local people of Uttarakhand, including the young migrant workers who left their hometowns in search of work.
Movie Songs
‘Meri Ganga Holi Ta Maima Aaliare’, ‘Chakrachal’ and ‘Gharjawai’ are some of the films in which Negi has dubbed.
YouTube Channel
Negi’s song “Hori Aygee” was used in the 1992 Garhwali film Batwaru. He also used the song on his YouTube channel launched in 2018. The song “Hori Aygee” was a huge success; however, the film did not achieve the desired results.
prize
In 2019, Narendra Singh Negi was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the Indian Government for his contributions to the field of Indian folk music.
dispute
- In 2005, Narendra Singh Nikki composed a song satirizing the then Indian National Congress government of ND Tiwari, and in 2011, he released another song criticizing the then BJP government of Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank; both songs put him on the blacklist of both parties.
- Mr. Negi filed a case at a police station in Pauri against a 17-year-old boy who demanded Rs 20,000 from him in 2021. The boy, a class 12 student, was released after Negi wrote a letter to the SSP and apologized to the boy.
- In 2012, a song sung by Gajender Rana, a rising amateur singer from Uttarakhand, indirectly criticised Mr Negi and his songs. He said:
Mr. Najib is jealous of my success. The lyrics are true. All the youths are supporting me. Narendra Singh Najib has written songs against me. He plagiarized my song Leela Gasyaari. He is plotting to ruin my career. My songs are not publicity stunts. Many people like my songs. My pain is also felt. My songs are not against Mr. Najib. Everyone should be recognized. Narendra Singh Najib has also written songs against politicians. He has a problem with everyone. It is not only my opinion, singers like me are also promoting the song.”
Facts/Trivia
- Negi studied in a girls’ school from grade one to grade four. Later, when Negi was very young, the principal of that school asked Negi’s father to transfer him to another school.
- Narendra Singh’s cousin Ajit Singh Negi taught him to play the tabla.
- According to Nigi, he became interested in singing while working as a government official in Uttarakhand.
- When Niki was a child, he aspired to join the Indian Army; however, he was unable to enlist.
According to reports, Narendra Singh Nagi has sung more than 1,000 songs.
- Narendra Singh Nagi revealed in an interview that he pursued perfection in his songs and released only one tape a year.
- Before the 2011 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, Negi released a video song exposing the widespread corruption in Uttarakhand.
- Once, Nigi was accompanying a government official to a political rally in a remote village in Uttarakhand. Instead of listening to the leader’s political speeches, the audience rushed to Mr. Nigi, asking for his autographs and photographs. Later, he somehow managed to ask the crowd to return to their respective seats.
Narendra Singh Nikki gives a political speech to local people in a village in Uttarakhand
- Once, during a Republic Day event in Uttarakhand’s Uttarakhand district, a group of people gathered there started singing Nigi’s songs. The Uttarakhand district governor warned Nigi not to compose anti-government songs.
- Negi admits that 60 is the best age to write romantic songs. He says,
To write the perfect love song, 60 is the best age, because at this age you can easily observe the mentality of young people. “
- In 2019, a liquor bottling plant in Trigarhwal was supported by Narendra Singh Negi. Speaking about this in an interview, he said,
I am not in favor of alcohol, but when people are drinking alcohol on a daily basis, there is no harm in opening a winery in the area. The factory will provide jobs and people will not migrate to find jobs. In fact, the wine will also become cheaper if it is produced here. People will consume overpriced foreign wine. People may have different opinions, but this is my personal opinion. ”
- In 2020, Mr. Negi supported the “Himalayan Bhajo, Poli Saini Hatao” mission along with Deputy Commandant Harinder Singh Belwal, who launched the mission on the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of the SSB in Uttarakhand, India. Negi made a public statement:
The Himalayas are not only our summit but also our base of life. Therefore, it is our responsibility to protect the environment.”
- Narendra Singh Negi participated in the environmental campaign “Saving Culture is Society’s Responsibility” launched by the Uttarakhand government in 2020. During the campaign, he said:
The new generation doesn’t know much about the language and culture.”
- Negi is a big fan of Gulzar (an Indian lyric poet).
- Narendra Singh Negi performs not only in India but also across the globe. He has entertained audiences in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Muscat, Oman, Bahrain, UAE and more.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education