Narayan Gopal Guruacharya, born on October 4, 1939, is the most prominent and popular singer in Nepali music history. His full name is Narayan Gopal Gurubacharya. He was born into a Newar family in Kilagal Tole, Kathmandu, to Asha Gopal Guruacharya and Ram Devi Guruacharya. His father was a classical musician, and he wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. Early on, Narayan Gopal had a passion for music, much to his father’s delight. So he went to India to study music.
Narayan Gopal Guruacharya नारायणगोपाल गुरबाचार्य  |
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| Born | 4 October 1939 Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Died | 5 December 1990 (aged 51) Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Nickname(s) | Swar Samrat (Emperor of Voice) |
| Father | Asha Gopal Guruacharya |
| Mother | Ram Devi Guruacharya |
| Wife | Pemala Lama |
| Education | BA |
| Occupation | Singer, Musician, Playwright, Editor |
He was married to Pamela Lama in Falgun 2027 at the age of thirty, but they did not have any children. He had five brothers and six sisters. In 2016, he completed his School Leaving Certificate (S.L.C.) exams and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities from Tri-Chandra College. Later, he also went to the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda to study classical Indian music, but returned without completing his studies.
Manik Ratna Sthapit and Prem Dhoj Pradhan were his friends who initially recognised his unlimited musical talents. Narayan Gopal is given the title “Swor Samrat.”. He was well known as a singer and an accomplished composer. He has sung over 500 songs, including in films, ballets, and dramas. Most of his songs are melodies. Some of his most popular songs include “Euta Manche Ko Maya le Kati,” “Jhareko Paat Jhai,” “Yo Samjhine Man Cha,” “Saawan ko jhari bani,” and “Manche ko Maya.”. He started singing with the first generation of Nepali music and sang his whole life. He also worked as the editor of the musical journal Bageena and was manager at Rastriya Naach Ghar.
The late Narayan Gopal (1996–2046, BS) is regarded as the most popular musician in the entire domain of modern Nepali music. Apart from singing, he liked to spend considerable effort organising various events. He also sang in popular dramas like Muna Madan (written by Laxmi Prasad Devkota). He was also an adviser to the Ministry of Communication from April 16, 2046, onward.
He used to love photography and to watch football. He was a good chess player too. Later on, his friends Prem Dhoj and Manik Sthapit started to sing their compositions, and he also composed about six original songs written by the contemporary poet Ratna Shumsher Thapa. The songs started becoming very popular in Nepal and India in a short time, which made Narayan Gopal recognised as a singer. He collaborated with established composers like Nati Kaji, Shiva Sankar, Amber Gurung, and Dharmaraj Thapa.
The cassettes and CDs of his music still make significant sales in Nepal. He has a large fan following in Nepal as well as in some foreign countries. He serves as an inspiration to many young singers.
He has received several national honours and awards. Narayan Gopal contributed twenty-eight years of his life to Nepali music and its development. Swornim Sandhya, which Narayan Gopal performed in the Royal Nepal Academy Hall in 1990, is his best-ever musical performance. It was the most well-liked musical performance he ever did.
Narayan Gopal had diabetes. He died on December 5, 1990, in Bir Hospital at 9 p.m. in Kathmandu at the age of 51. He will always be remembered for his musical contribution to the Nepali music world.
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