• Comments By : Devesh Pant

I surely agree with Kamal on the Gopal Babu Goswami, He has been one of the greatest one in our times but, there have been other great Kumaoni musicians who have influenced the folk music and one name comes to my mind immediately is that of Mohan Upreti who contributed significantly in his hey days '50s and 60's till his death in the 90's.

"Malushahi" one of the great folklore of Kumaon was a very famous composition apart from the numerous others like the "Ho Lalee ho, Lalee hosia, Padhani Lali tweele dahrou bola" which also got into the mainstream Indian film music to become pretty famous.One more thing I would like to mention here is that in those days there were no commercial cassettes or CDs available for the people and so it was really not so easy to get across to the masses with the compositions. However, still these compositions became extremely famous and found their ways to the hearts of thousands if not millions.

There are many more such musicians who, because of their times could not make it big like the Tari master of Almora, whose Holis I found were extremely famous and popular. You won't believe some of my non kumauni freinds still have his hand recorded cassettes (they recorded him when they were visiting Almora in mid 80's) and listen to them more occassionally.

• By Kamal Karnatak

Regarding Mohan Upreti ...Devesh u just pulled the right chord .no  series, article on kumauni folk songs can be completed without the reference of the legendry Mohan Upreti . He was the legend . He gave new heights to kumauni folk ..Specially Malushahi Balled ..I will come on this later . He was instrumental in showing the kumauni culture, heritage in front of whole world. He used to write plays, Sing songs, Compose songs. he was a great actor , composer and a great character .He was associated with Indira Gandhi national center for the arts .  he has done lot of plays . The most famous ones are Nanda Devi , Jagar, (U-matic) by Mohan Upreti, Ramakar Pant, Richa Negi.Indra Sabha by Mohan Upreti.He also composed the title song for TV serial "Ek Tha Rusty" which was based on the story written by Ruskin Bond.

He also wrote books like Kumauni Lokgeet :Mohan Upreti,Malushahi Ballad of Kumaon: Mohan Upreti .He also composed for Brecht's Three Penny Opera. in which there were the vast variety of musical styles employed including kumauni folk style.

Regarding Tari Master ..the great Tara Dutt Pandey.. I would like to say that his classical hori geet were very famous in non kumauni areas also. I am fortunate enough that I have learnt something from him. He was Music Teacher in GIC (Govt. inter Collage) Almora and he taught us music for three years (class 6,7,8) .I still remember when he was teaching us Rag Bheravee .he asked me to sing "Dagar Chalat chhedey shyam sakhi ree " but I was continuously making mistake in singingthe second line ."Paniya bharat moree gagar fori..nahak beyan maloree jhak-jhoree"..then he asked the class monitor ... "Sishoon lya to " (bichho ghas lekey aana ). I was so frightened I sang it correctly.At that time I was not knowing his ability of great musician. I realised it later when he retired . I too have recorded horee cassettes of his.Its a treasure for me .

• By : Susheel Tewari

I don't know much about Mohan Upreti ji although I have heard and read about him but Ya! I am definitely fortunate to hear Tara Dutt Pandey ji ( Tari Masab... famous word for him)... live, during my one year of schooling at GIC Almora and then by audio casettes. I don't know how famous he was outside but at least in Almora I know that he used to be one of the 'most talked  about person' for any classicalmusic gathering... like 'baithee hori' etc..