Sonam Lama: Some Memories Never Fade

[Sonam Lama, a multifaceted talent, and a teacher by profession, passed away on 14 June, 2011. His Anthyesti Kriya falls on 04 July, 2011]

By SHITAL PRADHAN

Sonam Sir, as he was fondly called, was a house of talent who can never be replaced. His passing away is a great loss for Singtam… a person of such brilliance will never be seen again. He was a year short of 40, and yet he has given us enough memories to remember him for a long, long time. Sonam ‘Bhena’, to me, was a dear friend with whom I shared many close moments over the last few years.

Memories of his ready wit return to my thoughts often and I find it hard to convince myself that he is now no more among us. I was with Sonam Bhena at the 42-day Teachers Training over the past two winters and a summer at PNGSS. It was during these training sessions that I came to know him better, being his bench mate; I got a chance to get closer to his character and notice his enthusiasm to give something to humanity.
It is hard to sum up the works of Sonam Bhena into a single cup of life; he was a musician, singer, lyricists, poet, painter, designer, artist and more. Despite his interests and his creative nature, he was more contented in his profession as a primary school teacher at Sakyong Chisopani. Just the other day, at his funeral, I was talking to Mahesh Dahal, Head Master of Sakyong Chisopani Primary School, who was in shock over Sonam Bhena’s demise.
I got to know from Mahesh Dahal about his involvement in the school, be it designing the school badge, sharing music lessons with his students and above all his involvement with the students in encouraging arts and culture among them. Equally interested in sports, Sonam Sir’s contribution towards Sakyong Chisopani PS continues to live on among his fellow staff members and his students whom he would fondly called “chora-chori”.
I still remember him saying that these students gave us our bread and butter and how we should never take them for granted. We are teachers and it is not our duty alone but our responsibility to build a better tomorrow for them.
Last year, two articles by him, “Yuva ko Arth” and “Waad”, published in popular Nepali daily Hamro Prajashakti were well appreciated and he was preparing his third article, “Traaashh”, when he had passed away suddenly. In between, he published numerous Nepali poems.
Sonam Lama was born to Late RB Tamang and Palsang Tamang and had been actively participating in cultural activities in and around Singtam since the late 80s. With more than two dozen compositions and 45-plus lyrics to his name, he came up with his only Nepali music album “Sizal”, named after his daughter in 2007. From keyboards and guitar-player, to a singer, Sonam Lama is among the few who had have seen the highs and lows of musical development in Singtam. He belonged to the time when stage shows were performed from the back of trucks. He was the founder-member and the president of Aroma Musical Group which lasted till the late 90s. He was part of a Cultural Exchange Tour in 1997 which performed in different parts of India, including Allahabad, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Amritsar and Guwahati.
Sonam Lama’s last public appearance was at Singtam Basibiyalo last year.