People’s Singer JB Tuhure is the highly regarded name of an indefatigable and unwavering singer in the progressive cultural movement of Nepal. Throughout his entire life, he devoted his voice to singing songs that resonated with the pain and thoughts of common and oppressed people.
Through his song and music, he powerfully confronted and denounced the societal ills, superstitions, exploitations, oppressions, injustice and atrocities that were rampant in the society. He fearlessly championed the cause of political, social, and cultural transformation, disregarding his personal life and well-being.
For over fifty-five years, he dedicated himself to awakening the people through his people-centric and revolutionary songs, contributing to the establishment of the republic in Nepal.
Tuhure embarked on his musical journey against the prevailing panchayat system in 1967, which led him to face repeated jail terms and handcuffs for giving voice to the people through his songs. Amidst challenging circumstances, he courageously stood up for the people, using his songs as a powerful voice; this act of defiance led to him being targeted by the Panchayat rulers.
Though he encountered numerous challenges in his life, he never distanced himself from pro-people song and music. Tuhure’s main genre was progressive literary cultural movement and movements aimed at social transformation.
Tuhure began his singing journey in the 2020s of Bikram Sambat with a Dharan-based musical group named ‘Naya Lahar,’ and later, in the 2030s BS, he joined the renowned Sankalp Musical Group.
“In the early 2030s BS, the songs ‘Aama, Didi, Bahini Ho’ ( Oh ! Mother and Sisters) and ‘Basaai Sarne Ko Tanti, (Influx of Migrants) ‘ sung by him, became immensely popular and were on everyone’s lips. The ‘Aama, Didi, Bahini Ho’ is regarded as the most popular song in Nepal about women’s empowerment. Many people were inspired to join the anti-panchayat movement after listening to Tuhure’s songs. When he used to sing the song ‘Ama Didi Bahini’, it often moved women to tears. While performing that song on stage, the audience used to request him to sing it multiple times. Along with ‘Ama Didi Bahini’ and ‘Basai Hidneko Tanti,’ dozens of Tuhure’s other songs, such as ‘Ho Ni Balau’ , ‘Janna Ma Ta Ni Gorkha Bharti’ (I Don’t Go to The Gurkha Recruitment), ‘Dukhko Bojh Bisauna’ (To Shed the Burden of Sorrow), ‘Baru Mero Chhati Chedla’ (Instead My Chest Will Be Pierced), and ‘Ke Deon Daijo Cheli Lai’ (What to Give in Dowry for Daughter), are also immense popular. He penned and sang more than 150 progressive songs.
Tuhure, who debuted with his first solo performance in Kirtipur’s auditorium hall in 2027 BS, went on to perform at Mahendra Campus in Hattisar, Dharan, in 2033 BS and at the Nepal Academy hall at Kamaladi in 2060 BS.
In 2062 BS, Tuhure was appointed Vice President of the National People’s Cultural Forum Nepal, Nepal, and later served as its President for two terms. Throughout his tenure, he traveled extensively to every nook and corner of the country leading the Mechi-Mahakali Cultural Campaign five times and amplified his voice. Besides, he also performed in various countries, including the Indian cities of Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kolkata, Delhi, and Haridwar, as well as in Pakistan, South Korea, Hong Kong,Muscut, and Dubai.
Honoring his significant contributions of nearly five and a half decades to the pro-people song and music, the Government of Nepal conferred the title ‘Jana Gayak’ (People’s Singer) upon Tuhure, following a cabinet decision on 23 August 2023.
Born on the 31 October 1944 in Old Bazaar of Dharan, JB Tuhure, originally named Juth Bahadur Khadgi, migrated with his parents to Letang, Morang in 1950s, where they resided briefly before relocating to Madhumalla( Miklajung Rural Municipality). Growing up in Madhumalla, Tuhure began singing at a tender age. There, he also ventured into politics by joining the Koshi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party in 1968 AD. His inclination towards communism was shaped by the influential lives of Pushpalal, the founder of the Nepal Communist Party and a prominent leader Manmohan Adhikari. Continuing his endeavors, he joined the Mukti Morcha, Coordination Committee, CPN (ML), and later became affiliated with CPN (UML). Later, he was appointed as a member of the Central Disciplinary Committee during the Eighth National Congress of CPN (UML), the political party to which he had dedicated more than four decades of his political life. On May 15, 2009, he joined the CPN Maoist (Center) party and was appointed as a Central Advisor.
Tuhure also served as the chairman of the Cultural Corporation (National Theater) for consecutive terms. He was nominated as a member of the at the second Constituent Assembly (2013-2017) with the endorsement of the CPN Maoist Center, and also assumed the chairmanship of the International Labor Committee within the Constituent Assembly.
JB Tuhure, at the age of 78, passed away on 26 August, 2021 in Kathmandu. He is survived by a spouse, a son and four daughters.