Melawa Devi

Melawa Devi Gurung was from Rumjatar, in Okhaldhunga District. She holds the distinction of being the first female singer from Nepal to be professionally recorded. She recorded songs in Calcutta in 1928, including the well-remembered “Na Gharlai Ghar Kahincha Nari Nai Durbar Ho.”

She also performed for Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana. At the time, public performance by women was rare in Nepali society. This made her an early pioneer.