KPG to MTV
By Sandip C. Jain

There may not be very many people in this hill district of ours who have not heard of St. Augustine’s’ School of Kalimpong. A school with an illustrious history of having dispensed quality education to several generations of the hills and beyond. Education in this temple of knowledge is just not limited to academics rather those lucky enough to have had their schooling here will vouch that the school gave them a wonderful learning experience to deal with their lives later on in life. It was in this very school twenty years back that two very best of friends studying in Class VI were in the midst of a heated argument. All this while the rest of the Class was either on the verge of falling asleep while the other half was already half way through a boredom induced slumber on that hot and humid summer afternoon. All this was in progress while the jovial old History teacher was sweating it out, himself trying his best not to fall asleep.
The argument between the two was because Boy No 1 had this habit of practicing his signature on the new textbooks and exercise books of his desk partner, Boy No. 2. Justifying his calligraphic skills that too on the property of his friend, Boy No 1 to terminate the argument had said, “ You should be happy that you have so many autographs of mine. A day will come when people will have to queue up just take my autograph.” This statement of his of course at that time was treated with laughter, rebuttal and mocker, but today twenty years after this incident the prophecy of Boy No.1 has turned true with him becoming one of the top most stars in the Indian Rock Music scene.
Boy No.1 incidentally is Sonam Sherpa of the super hit Parikrama Musical Band and Boy No 2 is yours truly penning down this article.
The journey from then to today has been a long and hard one for Sonam – one of immense struggle for survival and then for perfection. It is never easy for any small town person to attain success at the National level. Sonam is one of the very few who at a tender age has earned a place for himself, not just in the history books of the Hills but also in any historical records that will be compiled on Indian Rock Music.
From a very tender young age, Sonams interest in music as well as his talent in playing music was very evident. At school he was a permanent fixture on the stage, whether it be during the School Concert or it be the Farewell function or it be the Talent contest or for that matter any function in the school and that too from an age where his guitar was probably taller that he was. His classmates still recall with nostalgia the all time super hit song, ‘Soldier of Fortune’, which he sang for them during their farewell function. Tears rolled down their cheeks while Sonam, himself on the verge of tears, completed the song.
Sonam (Sherpay to his friends) had talent in other fields too – he was the opening batsman for his School cricket team where he was called the ‘Wall’ for his ability to bat for twenty overs out of a maximum of twenty-five and score only 12 to 15 runs. (Sonam may deny this fact now but the author of this piece is proof to this, being the captain of that very cricket team that Sonam was a part of).
Sonams musical skills grew under the watchful eyes of the late Chandra Mohan Gheshing who was the music teacher then in the school and who himself was a musician of big repute in the region. While he was in Class VI Sonam formed his first Musical band in the name and style of “Scorpions” which had as its members Nityen Alley, Benjamin Lepcha and Rajenman Tuladhar, all of whom were his classmates. By the time he completed his schooling he was already a name to reckon with in the field of music, in the town. But it was in Delhi where he actually hit big time- and it was all by chance that Delhi discovered his magical ability with the guitar. In fact this makes an interesting story by itself. Sonam, after completing his Class twelve from Kalimpong went looking for higher education to Delhi. Like all Hill students with average marks, he started his daily shuttles to the various colleges under Delhi University; invariably he was turned away from all of them. One day, tired after his daily routine, he was sitting on the lawns of the Hindu College in Delhi with a couple of boys he knew. Seeing them sitting there induced a couple of senior students of the college to come and ‘rag’ them, as is done in every college. Thinking of Sonam to be a newcomer (fresher) in the college, the senior students asked Sonam what he could do to entertain them. Sonam not wishing to rub them the wrong way, said in all humility that he could sing and play the guitar. The bored seniors soon produced a guitar on which he spell bounded and impressed them so much that these seniors immediately managed his admission in the College. His musical career had started there and then and he was not looked back since then.
In 1991, he alongwith Subir Mullick, Nityen Mullick, Rahul, Chintan and Prasant started the Parikrama band and performed their first programme at Father Agnel’s School, Delhi on the 15th of September. They were an instant hit and since they have done hundreds of shows all over India. They have enthralled Music lovers in Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Calcutta, Bangalore, Pune, Roorki, Vanarasi, Hydrabad, Kharagpur, Lucknow and even in places like Mcleodgunj, Gangtok, Darjeeling and Kurseong. Wherever they have performed they have enthralled crowds and have won hearts. Parikrama is also credited to have organized the first Aids awareness concert in India by organizing the ‘BAN’NED AIDS’ at Patel Chest Crossing at Delhi. Which was conceptionalized and funded by them.
Sonam has also performed in the ‘Edinburgh Fringe Festival’ in Great Britain in the year 2001. This is the largest Musical and Theatre festival in the world. He alongwith a band (Mrigya), was given a four star rating in the festival, becoming the only India band to ever receive the same. He alongwith Parikrama have produced the super hit album “But it Rained” which was shown on a regular basis on MTV, Channel V and all other major Channels. They have also released an album with Usha Utthup.
Sonam alongwith his wife Dina also run the Parikrama School of Music in Delhi, which is one of the best of its kind in the country. Dina, his wife who is a IIT Bangalore product is from Mizoram and is perfect partner for him and with a voice most would envy. He is currently into producing music for Advertisements and documentaries. Several super hit advertisements like the Bennaton and Bar One advertisement were given music by Sonam. Most of Karan Thappars shows too carry Sonams music. Question Time, which is shown on BBC, has music produced by our local hero.
Sonams determination to succeed and his dedication towards his chosen field is something, which is an example for our youths in the Hills. The world is our playing field and if the dedication and burning desire to succeed is there, like there was in Sonam, there is no reason why the present day youth from this region cannot shine on the national scene.
Sonam is a hero for them and the Hills of Darjeeling and Sikkim salutes him for bringing it glory and fame.