‘Dasdhunga’ Incident Song by Bam Bahadur Sparks Threats from Amar Lama After Release

It has been 33 years since the deaths of UML General Secretary Madan Kumar Bhandari and Organization Department Head Jibaraj Ashrit. A 58-minute-long song titled ‘Dasdhunga Incident Song’ narrating the events of the Dasdhunga incident has been released on YouTube. The song features vocals by Bam Bahadur Karki, Shiva Ale, Lochan Bhattarai, Bimakumari Dura, and Pavitra Thapa, and also includes excerpts from Madan Bhandari’s speeches.
Kathmandu – Sunday marked 33 years since the demise of then-UML General Secretary Madan Kumar Bhandari and Organization Department Chief Jibaraj Ashrit. Various programs commemorating their contributions are ongoing on this occasion. Every year, a particular song becomes integral to the observance of Madan Memorial Day. The ‘Dasdhunga Incident Song,’ sung by Bam Bahadur Karki, Shiva Ale, Lochan Bhattarai, Bimakumari Dura, and Pavitra Thapa, frequently features during this time. Originally released six years ago on Music Nepal’s YouTube channel, the song was re-uploaded on Saturday by Bam Bahadur on his own YouTube channel. The content titled ‘Dasdhunga Incident Song’ is available only in audio format; no video has been produced.
At 58 minutes long, the song is among the longest in Nepal. It not only recounts the details of the Dasdhunga incident but also presents the circumstances of that day, including Madan Bhandari and Jibaraj Ashrit’s schedule, weather conditions, the journey, and the purpose of their travel. Listening to the entire song transports the audience back to that period. Vocals by Bam Bahadur, Shiva, Lochan, Bimakumari, and Pavitra are complemented by intermittent snippets of Madan Bhandari’s speeches.
The song opens with an excerpt from Madan’s speech: “The incident happened on Jestha 3, 2050 BS (May 17, 1993) at a place called Dasdhunga where a jeep fell…” This song has garnered over 800,000 views on Music Nepal’s YouTube channel. Hundreds of listeners have paid tribute to Madan and Ashrit in the comments section. A social media user named Biru Rimal wrote, “It was Friday. We were leaving school at 1 PM when we saw a jeep flying a flag driving through Dulegaunda in Tanahun. The next day, we learned it was the vehicle Madan Bhandari was in and that there was an accident in Dasdhunga.”
Many have expressed sorrow over the incident, while others have commented that the country still needs leaders like Madan and Jibaraj today. Some noted that they had long searched for this song and found it only recently. After the song’s release, Bam Bahadur Karki revealed that the song was originally recorded in 1993 at Radio Nepal’s studio. Initially, he planned to create a Teej song but intended to incorporate various national events to narrate stories to women through music. During this process, he decided to include the Dasdhunga incident as well.
He began collecting materials published in newspapers. “One day while at Radio Nepal, it was raining heavily. I read a newspaper there and took notes to write the song,” Bam Bahadur explained. “We recorded the song at Radio Nepal.” At that time, Bam Bahadur was an employee under the Ministry of Communications. He recalls that after the song’s release, he faced consequences as he was accused of supporting the state’s insurgency, leading to disciplinary action. Subsequently, he was sidelined. “After the song came out, some radio stations refused to play it. As a government servant, I was penalized under the Civil Service Act for releasing controversial content. There were also covert efforts to undermine me,” he recounted.
Bam Bahadur also remembered that co-writer Damodar Ghimire’s name attracted objections. He said Amar Lama, a well-known figure associated with the Dasdhunga incident, appeared displeased with his mention in the song and issued veiled threats. “Amar Lama threatened me, saying ‘We will have a proper meeting someday.’ I understood the meaning behind his words,” he added. Bam Bahadur recalled that the song became one of the best-selling cassettes at the time. “Songs never required much money to produce then, and audiences loved this one,” he said. According to him, the song remains relevant today both to inform younger generations about the Dasdhunga incident and to help them understand the political context of that era.
Originally recorded in 1993, the song was later privatized and handed over to Music Nepal by Karki. He has now re-uploaded it on his channel with Music Nepal’s permission. Except for the thumbnail image, there are no differences in the song’s content.