Can Music Change Nepal? Yubaraj Kafle on Art, Ambition, and Overcoming Caste Bias

Music can break down walls, and musician Yubaraj Kafle knows this firsthand. His account as a songwriter who grew up in a Nepali mixed community embodies the experiences of struggles and victories we face as artists in the music scene in Nepal.

Yubaraj Kafle is a prominent Nepalese author and lyricist based in Nepal. He is a public figure with many contributions to Nepali music and literature. His lyric writing showcases a combined multi-communal, multi-nationalistic background that has helped shape Yubaraj’s work, particularly in folk songs and folk music. Yubaraj states that his popular song “Kafle” took him 5 years to finish, as it inspires a sense of identity and unity. 

Yubaraj Kafle shares his process of examining identity and sociocultural problems among the different mixed communities of Nepal. Kafle notes that love should have no basis other than the individual, rather than caste or religion. Kafle shares his beliefs that music and literature help fight caste discrimination, sharing personal stories from his life in a Nepali mixed community.

Experiences and Reflections on Growing Up in a Nepali Mixed Community

Yubaraj Kafle explains the advantages he gained from growing up in a Nepali mixed community, where people are constantly immersed in cultural blending and comprehension. He elaborates that the experience leads to greater social opportunities and helps individuals, including himself, appreciate different cultures, which ultimately transforms into creativity, through music or poetry, and embraces a multicultural society in Nepal.

Mr. Kafle reminisces about his childhood, including being academically sound while being very social within the Nepali mixed community. He shares that he attended a local school, went back home to play, and participated in local fishing and cultural celebrations. He recounts the area where he lived, housing multiple costumes and customs, in particular from the Limbu, Gurung, and Rai communities.

He states that viewing those various beliefs and cultures with the mind of a young person helped shape his view of the rest of the world. In addition, he said that it taught him to respect different cultures and that it would later shape his creativity.

He also shares the challenge of determining one’s identity when surrounded by various cultures. He explains that he felt torn between his caste and the larger community. He states that society likes to put labels on people. He believes that identity should be determined by oneself and not by anyone else. He emphasizes the importance of deciding whether Nepal will unite.

From Nepali Folk Inspirations to Cinematic Success and Industry Challenges

Yubaraj Kafle shares the various folk forms from Nepal that are represented in his song “Kafle”. He states that Kafle utilizes the rhythms of the Rai community and the melodies of the Limbu people to represent national cultural diversity. He highlights how representing the various cultures through his music helps preserve and represent Nepal’s cultural heritage and the Nepali mixed community.

He also gives insight into the development of the “Kafle” song. He shares that the song took almost five years to create and write. He states he collaborated with Jhuma Limbu and had to rewrite each lyric and music part many times. He notes that the song was originally going to be a music video. However, after discovering similarities to a character in a film, it became a song for a movie.

He describes the development of his first song, a romantic pop song “Mero Maya Punya Ko Jun,” featuring Sugam Pokharel and Arpana Shastri. He shares that despite the song being a hit, he started to feel alienated from pop songs, and gradually gravitated towards developing folk songs where he felt a more personal and cultural connection to himself.

Mr. Kafle recounts his initial love for music and writing in a culturally vibrant community. He states that both his love of music and writing were influenced by exposure to different traditions and languages. He remembers being drawn to poetry and songwriting as a child. He states that he saw them as a means of cultural preservation and social commentary. He states that this disposition helped him through his early music experiences, focusing on real-life stories about culture.

READ MORE: Priya Sigdel On Transitioning From Miss Nepal Earth to Breaking Barriers & Empowering Women

Exploring the Societal Impact of Songs, Intercaste Relationships, and Strategies to Overcome Caste Barriers in Nepal

According to Yubaraj Kafle, songs play a significant role in the Nepali mixed community in spreading awareness about caste discrimination. Kafle mentions that songs consider people’s experiences from a variety of mixed communities. He states that people feel empathetic after hearing the songs and that they help create motivation to change social attitudes. Kafle says the music industry faces numerous challenges; however, through persistence, music can lead to effective social change and acknowledgement. 

He discusses the connection between his love story and the movie “Unko Sweater.” He notes that there are indeed similarities in themes like intercaste romance, but insists that his experiences are different. He shares that growing up in a Nepali mixed community shaped his views on culture and relationships. He admits that his story influences his creative work, but it is not the movie’s direct reflection.

He shares a positive view on the topic of intercaste love and marriage. He states that love goes beyond such social and caste barriers. He discusses how societal norms in Nepal enforce caste restrictions, believing they limit true love. Kafle emphasizes the need for acceptance and respect for individual choices in relationships.

He contends that we cannot escape the barriers of caste in Nepal without raising educational and social consciousness. He says caste is a made-up idea by people, and that it only exists because of human ignorance. He emphasizes the need for open conversations around these issues to eliminate unfair ideas in society. He advocates for people to be free to choose who they want to love, regardless of background or identity (caste).

Exploring the Essence of Yubaraj Kafle’s Upcoming Song and Valuable Advice for Aspiring Songwriters

Yubaraj Kafle explains the topic of his upcoming song. He elaborates that the song is about love as a connection of cultures. The song discusses intercommunity connections as well as issues of identity, acceptance, and multiculturalism.

Mr. Kafle’s music explores themes of love, cultural stories, and social issues, including community and caste identity. He regards love as a global concept that fosters understanding. Kafle states that his goal through his art is to challenge social norms in Nepalese society.

He provides some recommendations to those who aspire to become songwriters. He suggests that they write down every idea that they have and persevere. He states he understands how hard it is to get into the music scene without knowing anyone already in the industry. He encourages them to continue writing down all of their inspired thoughts without fear of judgment or failure, and to keep faith that opportunities will arise.

Yubaraj Kafle’s Journey: Love, Inspirations, and Literary Recommendations

Yubaraj Kafle shares how his love story was influenced by experiences growing up in a Nepali mixed community, which shaped his view of relationships compared to traditional homogeneous communities.

He recalls the playful teasing and social experiences in his community during vibrant social settings of various traditional fairs, venues for young people to meet and express affection to each other. While he recalls experiencing light flirting, he states his relationships remained youthful, and his story highlights the role of cultural diversity in romantic experiences.

He discloses the three significant attributes that he searches for in a life partner. First, Kafle states he admires strong family ties and commitment to relationships in a prospective partner. Secondly, he states he also searches for the ability to forgive and readily accept Kafle’s shortcomings without judgment. Lastly, he searches for a commitment to education, which he states facilitates a peaceful partnership.

He characterizes himself as a patient, persistent, and direct person, challenging his problems directly. Kafle expresses a deep commitment to honesty and hard work. He states he prefers facing his challenges rather than dismissing them. He explains that challenges are valuable learning experiences. Upon self-reflection, Kafle credited resilience, maturity, and belief in his ability to be a better person and film producer through hard work and persistence as a valuable learning lesson in both his personal and artistic life.

Mr. Kafle acknowledges his imaginative inspirations to earlier Nepali artists such as Kali Prasa Rijal and Gopal Yonjan, as well as from more recent artists like Shravan Mukarung. He admires their dedication and considers himself fortunate to have had people from whom he has learned and/or received comments and support, allowing him to grow as an artist.

He puts forth three books to develop awareness. Maxim’s “Mother” aims to develop one’s political understanding, whereas the “Mahabharata” is a profound narrative that explores the complexities of life, the struggles of human existence, and the uncomfortable questions about moral behavior. Lastly, he recommends the “Gita” and “Ramayana” for making ethical decisions while also feeling some cultural footing. He claims these books help you understand the world, trust your moral compass, and grow as a human.

Creating a Songwriting Career In Nepal and the Essence of Politics:

Yubaraj Kafle highlights the various challenges of making a living as a songwriter in Nepal. He notes that while many talented individuals exist, entering the music industry often requires connections. He argues that persistence is significant in this industry because the market favors popularity over new names. Kafle focuses on preparing to create new opportunities for himself and emphasizes vision over immediate success.

He defines politics as not only being constrained to party loyalty. He states that it should also include how guidance and lives are displayed in the state, which has a negative connotation with the way politics is managed. He also agrees politics encompasses our actions towards society ‘as a whole’ and ‘awareness’, reminding us that politics exists in many forms.

While he previously had an involvement in politics, Mr. Kafle indicated that he prefers being socially active and intellectually involved as opposed to being in a formal political office. He nonetheless states that he is not completely discarding the option of pulling back from society to engage in politics again. His writing and social work will primarily focus on society, so he is always trying to find a balance between civic responsibility and what is important to him.

Conclusion: Art, Activism, and Cultural Change

Yubaraj Kafle’s story serves as an example of how talent and the desire to work hard can overcome almost anything. His odyssey to create a hit song inspires artists everywhere as he passionately espouses messages of cultural plurality, intercaste love, and the transformative nature of music in social change, to ultimately exemplify that if one is hard-working and authentic, one can achieve creative success in a competitive industry.

In this video, Yuvraj Kafle discusses identity and cultural variety in the Nepali mixed community, drawing from his experiences as a writer and lyricist. He points out how everyone searches for an identity, especially when different cultures mix. He recalls his childhood, where different backgrounds boosted his creativity and bonds with others.

He pointed out that love isn’t concerned with caste or religion. He also touches on the challenges of the music business, showing how Yuvraj produces music that uplifts cultural self-respect, social understanding, and unity against unfair treatment.