Boy from Lambata passes away

rajugusain

Boy from Lambata passes away

Raju Gusain
Garhwal Post Date 6 Jan 2005

Dehradun: Noted documentary filmmaker Narain Singh Thapa (81) passed away in Mumbai on 29 January. He was recently in the news for his book 'The Boy from Lambata'.
Born on 12 September, 1924 at Marh-Manley in district Pithoragarh, Thapa started his career as a combat cameraman in the Army. After Independence, he joined the Films Division in 1948 and retired as its Chief Producer.
Giving details about his recruitment in the Army, Thapa writes in his book, 'The boy from Lambata', "I changed my name from Dhami to Thapa and joined the 2/10th Gurkha Rifles as a recruit. Not for fighting somebody else's war but to support the money order economy of the Kumaon hills."
'The Boy from Lambata', his memoirs, was published by PAHAR, Nainital and released by filmmaker Shyam Benegal in September 2004.
Narain Thapa produced and directed over 200 documentaries. For 'Song of the Snow' he was awarded the President's Gold Medal and his short film 'Everest' was declared the best documentary at the National Film Festival. His other outstanding short films include Mitrata-Ki-Yatra and Kangra and Kullu.
For his outstanding contribution to Indian documentary film development, Narain Thapa was awarded the Padma Shri.
Joining the Army and on the developments after that, he writes in his memoirs, "In the Army a soldier has no choice but to obey orders. Though I was trained to be a teacher, the army could order me to function as truck driver or a cook. The school teacher in me was ordered to report at the Public Relations School of Cinematography in Calcutta to be trained as a Combat Cameraman."
On completion of his training he narrates, "I wonder at how a man trained to shoot with a rifle had now become a non-combatant and sent to shoot the war with a camera."
A simple and caring person, Thapa was extremely popular because of his simple behaviour. He was loved by all because of his humility. His journey from a small village Lambata to Mumbai will continue to inspire youths of the hills to fight all odds to succeed in life.
On death, he states his views in his book by saying, "At the end of the day, I feel like quoting a line from Jack London's poem; 'When I die, another I shall pass the cup along."

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