''यती माया सोल्टी ज्यू सानुलाई गर्छु
तिमी मेरो सोल्टी ज्यू नभए मै मर्छु ''
गोपीको यो गीतले उनको गीत गाउने क्षमताको मापन गर्छ । लनचेस्टनको नेपाली समुदायमा गोपी राई एक गायकका रूपमा चिनिन्छन् उनको राम्रो गीत गाउने क्षमता देखेर गोपीलाई नेपाली समुदायले आयोजना गर्नै कार्यक्रममा गीत गाउनका लागि अफर आउन थाल्यो । त्यसरी नेपाली सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रममा गोपीको माग बढ्न थालेपछि साथीभाइ र घर परिवारले पनि उनलाई हौ सल्ला दिन थाले । उनी भन्छिन्, ''मैले कार्यक्रम स्टेजमा गएर गीत गाउँदा गीत गाउन पटक पटक अफर आउँथ्यो । उनका गीतमा जम्नेहरूको जमात पनि ठुलै हुन्थ्यो ।''
तर, अहिले उनी सार्वजनिक कार्यक्रममा सहभागी हुन छाडेकी छन् । किनकि उनले आफ्नो सङ्गीतलाई अझ राम्रो बनाउने प्रयासमा छिन् । हामी उनको घर पुग्दा आफै गीत गुनगुनाइ रहेकी थिइन् । हामीसँगको भेटमा उनले भनिन् ''म सबै प्रकारका नेपाली गीतहरू गाउन सक्छु । अहिले त युट्युबबाट सुनेर पनि मैले मेरो सङ्गीतलाई अझ राम्रो बनाउँदै लगेको छु ।''
त्यसो त उनले सङ्गीतको कुनै कक्षा लिएकी छैनन् । आफ्नै प्रयासले उनलाई सङ्गीतमा सफलता मिल्दै लगेको छ । उनी भन्छिन् हामी अपाँगता भएका मानिसहरूले केही न केही गर्नै प्रयास गर्नुपर्छ । समाजमा हामीलाई हेर्नै दृष्टिकोणमा परिवर्तन ल्याउनु पर्छ । हामी अपाङ्ग भए पनि फरक क्षमता भएका अन्य व्यक्तिजस्तै हौँ ।
मेरो मूल्याङ्कन आफै गर्नुभन्दा पनि म मेरो स्वर परीक्षण गराउने सोचमा छु । तर कहाँ गएर स्वर परीक्षण गराउने मेसो पाएको छैन गोपीले भनिन्न, ''मलाइ मेरो सङ्गीतमा साथ दिने सहयोगी हातहरूको खाँचो छ ।"
Yeti Maya Soltee Jyu Sanulai Garchhu
Timi Mero Soltee Jyu Nabhaye Mai Marchhu
This song measures the singing ability of Gopi. She is well known as a singer amongst the Nepali Australian community in Launceston. When others recognised her ability to sing well, Gopi was offered to sing in the programmes organised by her local Nepali community. As the demand for Gopi grew in Nepali cultural programmes, her friends and family also encouraged her. "As I started singing on stages, I started getting singing offers. And crowds were huge during the programmes," she says.
However, she has stopped participating in public programmes. Now, she is trying to hone her musical skills. When we arrived to interview her, she was humming to herself. "I can sing all types of songs. I am honing my musical skills by listening to the music on YouTube," she said during our interview.
Although, Gopi has not taken any formal classes of music, she is getting success in music through her own efforts. She says people with disability should try to pursue their interests. "We need to change society's perception towards us. Despite our disability, we are like other people with different abilities," she says.
"I am planning to get my vocals tested rather than trying to judge myself. But I am not aware where to go to get tested. I need support for my music," Gopi says.
About the storyteller
About the storyteller
तास्मानियाको लनचेस्टन निवासी गोपी राई नेपाली भासी भुटानी हुन् । उनले जन्मदै दुवै आँखा गुमाएकी छिन् । तै पनि उनले पढाइ लाई निरन्तरता दिइन् । पढ्दा पढ्दै उनी गीत सङ्गीतमा पनि रुचि राख्न थालिन् । उनको गीतप्रतिको लगावले गीतमै भविष्य खोजिरहेकी छन् ।
Resident of Launceston, Tasmania, Gopi Rai is a Nepali language speaking Bhutanese. Gopi was born blind but this did not impact her ability to study. Along with her studies, she became interested in music. Her passion for music is now shaping her future ambitions.
म छत्र शंकर विगत १५ बर्षदेखि आमसंचार तथा पत्रकारिता क्षेत्रमा आवद्ध छु । मैले आमसंचार तथा पत्रकारितामा नेपालवाट मास्टर्स गरेको छु भने टेलिभजन तथा रेडियो... read more
Chhatra Shankar has been involved in the field of mass media and journalism for the last 15 years. With a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from Nepal, he brings experience across... read more