Mongolian Heart Puts Raju Lama In Trouble [Update : 30 Jan 2007]


As we had reported to you sometime back that a group of Nepali artists had gone to the US for a two month tour on November 24, 2006. Those going were Nima Rumba, Sindu Malla, Mingma Sherpa, Anup Das and Mongolian Heart on the invitation of the organizers of two concerts, Himalayan Buddhist Community, New York. Since they were scheduled to stay in the US for about two months and only two shows were scheduled for New York, they, on their own initiative and contacts planned seven other performances at various other venues.

Well, all other artists have returned back after an overwhelming response there (they landed at the Tribhuvan International airport on the night of 25th Jan. 2007) except for Mongolian Heart…none of them returned! They are Raju Lama, drummer Dev Gurung, Lead guitarist Raj Kumar Thapa, Bass guitarist Dhiraj Gurung. Since this counts for a serious issue of Nepali artists going abroad for performances and ‘vanishing’, we at pulled all stops to get right into the dept of the matter. This is what we have investigated so far.

Himalayan Buddhist Community had invited the artists for two performances in New York and Raju Lama had then insisted that they include the other members of Mongolian Heart as well for this particular tour. The organizers were apprehensive in the beginning but had agreed to Raju’s demand but with the condition that Raju be responsible and liable for the actions and activities of the other members of his band. But alas, after their performances, the other three members namely, Dev Gurung, Raj Kumar Thapa and Dhiraj Gurung simply ‘vanished into thin air’. In spite of trying to contact them, nobody seems to know where they are.

Their reputation and a whole lot of other things at stake, Himalayan Buddhist Community has ‘detained’ Raju and made sure that he did not board the plane along with Nima Rumba and company. Information has it that unless and until Raju contacts or makes their whereabouts known to Himalayan Buddhist Community, he “shall be not allowed to leave the shores of the US”.

Nima confirms the above and says that it was indeed very unfortunate that Raju was not allowed to return back with them and that the other three had in fact not contacted Raju or the organizers till the date of their departure. Raju is now in deep soup. He has been pulling all stops to get hold of or contact his band members and convince them of the unpleasant situation that he is at the moment, not to mention further repercussions back home. Till the filing of this news, we have been informed that he has not been successful in finding their whereabouts. We, here at fursad com shall continue to investigate this matter and will try and update you soon with further developments.




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Okay, unless Raju Lama had signed some contracts with the Himalayan whatever assuming responsibility for the other band members, it is not legal on the latter's part to hold him 'hostage'. If the band members really have disappeared, homeland security should be notified.

wtf?? Raju Lama was not forcefully detained by the HBC...this erroneous reporting has got to stop! The members of the HBC invited the band on his request and they let him know that if the band did not return with him they would hold him responsible. Raju Lama being the gentleman he is, offered to stay back, help find his band-mates and convince them to return to Nepal. Also, unconfirmed reports say that he was stopped at the airport by the Immigration authorities which as you all know has nothing to do with the HBC.

Btw, artists/tourists/seasonal laborers of Nepali origin vanish and merge into the illegal US labor force every other day so I really don't think this is that big of a deal. Too bad that the HBC might not be able to send any more invitations to Nepali artists anymore.

i agree with funkyB. that's pretty much holding hostage. they need to inform Homeland Security instead of keeping him prisoner. but it will likely make it difficult for other artists that are genuinely here just for the events.

ignore my previous post...thought he was forcefully detained....

Raju is a good person i hope everything is going to be fine

Copied and pasted from the comment section of Fursad. Sounds like 'Mitjiu' knows exactly what he/she's talking about as I heard similar things he/she mentions below. Please, let's not jump in to conclusion and don't appear to be as as irresponsible as the fursad's 'news'.


post by: mitjiu @ 31 Jan 2007 09:36 am

Listen up guys, First of all Raju Lama is not "detained? ???" by anyone. No one can detain anyone in the U.S. except by the law enforcement. Thats clear. The Himalayan community has requested all the artist including Nima Rumba to stay behind so that the band members might come back. Unfortunately only Raju and Tsering Gyurme has agreed. Now Raju and Tsering didn't have to.

Raju can go back to Nepal anytime he wishes. No one can stop him, not even Himalayan Community.

Now about the Band members;

Even though they haven't showed up, they still have the visa to stay till end of February. So, don't just assume yet they are not going back. Even if they don't go back its their choice to do so. They have all the rights. Don't blame Raju Lama for that.


About the Fursad article;

If you call this a news, please do some research before you post anything. Go to the right source (in this case Himalayan Community).Investigate and verify. And please don't use words like "detained" and "vanished". These words are considered
very serious and Criminal words in U.S. if not in Nepal. How would you feel if you were deceived by people who have been friends for more than 16 years. Please leave Raju alone at least until all truth comes out.

Jai Nepal!!!



post by: mitjiu @ 31 Jan 2007 11:43 am

To: Dev, Dhiraj and Raj Kumar,

I understand that you've all the rights to stay in the U.S.

But please contact Raju as soon as you can and clear all this gossip and misunderstanding.

I agree with SSNY and samsara....cheap trick to defame a known personality and gain fame..what a oxymoron. is fursad whatever the national enquirer equivalent of gossip?

Follow up To Raju's Woes In The USA [Update : 02 Feb 2007]

As promised to keep you further informed to our news headline "Mongolian Heart Puts Raju Lama in trouble" carried a couple of days back, we are happy to inform you again of the developments. In what was otherwise mentioned that Raju Lama has been held back by the organizers in the US, we have been informed that Raju along with Tsering Gyurmey in fact volunteered to stay back and find out the whereabouts of his band mates.

In an email confirming the same, Mr. Lobsang Thinley Sherpa, the President of Himalayan Community, USA wrote to us saying quote "It is true that Raju's crew members have been missing since January 21, 2007, and we were not able to find the whereabouts of them. We did not detain anyone which is not possible in this country, may be in Nepal. We simply asked him where they are, and Raju himself agreed to stop for a while to find them. Still, Raju Lama and Tsering Gyurmey (Tibtan Artist) are free from us. They have their passport and tickets with visa in their hand. We are doing our internal investigation whose hand is behind this matter. Once the fact comes out, we will let you Know. Respect and Professionalism is our main concern." Unquote.

It is indeed true that some members of Mongolian Heart have been missing and their whereabouts is still unknown. Nobody is accusing anybody of anything and surely not Raju Lama or the organizers who invited them and provided the platform for them to perform in the USA. If there is anybody at fault, they are the three members of the band that betrayed their close friend and band front man - Raju Lama. We, here at FURSADDOTCOM would once again like to emphasize on the fact that incidents like these, especially if you happen to be a 'big' name in the music industry of Nepal, hurt others, not to mention the future of hundreds of other artists who aspire to one day perform abroad. Organizers will indeed think twice before inviting another troupe and of course, there is the question of the Embassy concerned, harassing fellow Nepali artists. We urge the three missing contact Raju immediately and rid him of his woes.

Himalayan group le nai Looka ko ho ki jasto lagna lagyo yar aaba ta..

hehehehe

may be they did., but who? they are bunch of leaders from different communities. as you see in the article, they are doing internal investigation in this matter, hopefully the truth will come out. whoever did this, it is not good for nepali community. i think it is pre-planed before they leave nepal. sooner or later, we will meet the missing members, then we can ask them directly. plz, missing artists dhiraj, nam, raj, tell us something about this matter. if you have paid them, don't worry. just open your mouth by writing on internet. so it will be easy for everybody and no more rumors.

missing guys, don't go back to nepal. you not going nothing frm raju. i heard raju is selfish and he never was fair for band members.

yeah..truth will come out...we are eagerly waiting for that as well...we don't want to hear that Members of Himalayan group involved in there...

or ask this guy he might be able to answer you all

human traffic. anyone is involved with this ghatana, they have to bring out to the public.