Government of India- 1793 views
SONAM TSHERING LEPCHA
Rong Lapon
Sonam Tshering Lepcha, popularly known as the Rong Lapon (the Lepcha Master), was the man behind the revival and restoration of Lepcha folk music in Sikkim. Born on 3rd January 1928 in Bong Busty of Kalimpong (West Bengal), Tshering was instrumental in nurturing and revolutionising the indigenous art forms of Sikkim. Tshering continued his formal education till the fifth grade and in 1945, joined the 10th Gorkha Rifles under the British Army. Due to various reasons, he was unable to pursue his career for long and returned to his village Bong Busty. Back home, he began to cherish Lepcha folk music and spared no efforts to revive the Lepcha culture.
Sonam Tshering Lepcha
Sonam Tshering Lepcha in his museum
In the 1950s, Sonam Tshering travelled to various parts of Sikkim, collecting a variety of traditional Lepcha songs, musical instruments, artefacts, and manuscripts. He also taught himself to play traditional musical instruments and conducted competitions to promote the rich musical heritage of the Lepchas. In 1960, Sonam Tshering became the first ever artist from the Lepcha community to be heard on All India Radio. He compiled and composed more than two hundred folk songs and ten dance-dramas based on Lepcha folklore. In 1963, Tshering staged his first musical dance-drama ‘Teesta Rangeet.’
Sonam Tshering Lepcha’s efforts to develop and promote the Lepcha culture were acknowledged by the Government. He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995 and the Padma Shri in 2007 for his invaluable contribution to the Lepcha community and its culture. The Lepcha Museum in Kalimpong, built and curated by Sonam Tshering Lepcha, plays a monumental role in showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Lepcha people. It houses numerous elements of Lepcha musical tradition, including instruments and manuscripts collected by him throughout his life. In 2011, Sonam Tshering Lepcha also published a book titled ‘Von Jat Ling Chhyo’: a collection of Lepcha Folk Songs. This multifaceted person, often regarded as a cultural phenomenon, died in 2020 at the age of 95, leaving behind a priceless legacy of Lepcha folk music and culture.
Glimpse of the Lepcha Museum
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