From classroom to stage
Naren Gurung’s story is of an artist who valued keeping a tradition alive more than stage fame. According to his official Padma citation, he was born on 21 January 1957. After finishing Higher Secondary in 1974, he began work as a primary teacher at Dikling High School.
Seeing his talent, the Sikkim government moved him in 1979 to its Song and Drama Unit. He was one of its founder artists, working as a singer, musician, choreographer and drama artist. A schoolteacher had become a cultural worker carrying the state’s folk memory forward on stage and on paper.
Songs that might have been lost
The citation links him to preserving Nepali folk literature and music, re-collecting fading traditions, and studying many forms, including Maruni, Sorathi, Sangini, Ratauli, Asaray, Tamang Selo, Deosi-Bhailo and Lok Dohori. He is a graded artist of All India Radio and has performed from its Gangtok, Shillong, Guwahati, Imphal, Agartala and Kurseong stations.
Writing it down
He has also written books on folk traditions, published in 2017, 2021 and 2023 according to the citation. The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2004), Sikkim State Award (2008), Sikkim Sewa Samman (2022) and the Padma Shri (2025) marked the long road.
Saving a culture is not only performing it. It also means recording it, teaching it and handing it to the next generation.
Sources
- President of India: Padma Awards 2025 citations (ceremony I)
- Government of Sikkim: press release
- Sikkim Express: profile
- presidentofindia.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-06/padma_awards_2025_ceremony_i_1_compressed.pdf
- sikkim.gov.in/media/press-release/press-info?id=132357&name=Sikkim%E2%80%99s+Naren+Gurung+Conferred+with+Padma+Shri+Award
- sikkimexpress.com/news-details/president-of-india-confers-padma-shri-on-naren-gurung-from-sikkim
- indiatodayne.in/sikkim/story/sikkim-folk-artist-naren-gurung-honoured-with-padma-shri-for-contributions-to-art-1160723-2025-01-26