Hira Devi Waiba
Hira Devi Waiba was an Indian folk singer in the Nepali-language and is hailed as the pioneer of Nepali folk songs.
Her song "Chura ta Hoina Astura" is said to be the first Tamang Selo ever recorded. Hira Devi Waiba is the only Nepali folk singer to have cut albums with His Master's Voice. She was the sole Grade A Nepali Folk Singer with All India Radio. She was also the first musical artist that Music Nepal, a leading music house in Nepal recorded and released an album of. Before that Music Nepal only released compilation and remastered songs
Life and music
Hira Devi Waiba came from a family of musicians from Ambootia Tea Estate near Kurseong in West Bengal and was one in the line of a long generation of Nepali folk singers and musicians. She was born to parents Singh Man Singh Waiba and Tshering Dolma. She has sung nearly 300 folk songs during her musical career spanning 40 years. Her singing career began when she recorded three songs in Kurseong for Radio Nepal in 1966. She worked as an announcer at the All India Radio station in Kurseong from 1963 to 1965.Waiba's popular songs include Phariya Lyaaidiyechan, ''Ora Daudi Jaanda and Ramri tah Ramri''. As a tribute to her father, Waiba had opened the SM Waiba International Music and Dance Academy at her home in Kadamtala, near Siliguri in 2008.