Kathmandu, October 2
Senior musician Jibesh Chamling Rai has passed away. Family sources said he died Wednesday night while undergoing treatment at Hams Hospital in Kathmandu.
Rai, 65, had been receiving treatment at the hospital for a brain tumour.
Known as a music guru, Rai was also the father of the two well-known singers Melina Rai and Junu Rai. Both daughters were inspired to pursue music by their father’s own musical dedication.
Rai was not only a music teacher but a composer as well. He set music to numerous songs, many of them children’s songs. According to his contemporary, musician Shanti Ram Rai, Jibesh worked as a music teacher at 12 schools across Kathmandu.
“Much of his life was spent teaching children to sing in schools. He made his living working as a teacher in schools,” Shantiram said.
“He was a musician with deep knowledge of music. He was sociable. He was a dear friend. But in recent times, he had started talking in a pessimistic way,” he said.
Musician Basanta Sapkota said Jibesh, whose birthplace was Ramite in Miklajung Rural Municipality, Morang, had been immersed in music since childhood.
Jibesh is survived by one son, two daughters and two wives. His funeral will be held at his birthplace on Friday afternoon.
