The time when the sun hides over the hills. At exactly 5 o'clock, a tune was playing on Radio Nepal. Children scattered around would approach the tune of the radio. Along with the tune, a familiar voice from the radio would lovingly call out to the children, 'Come my dear dear brothers and sisters, come near the radio. Let's start our children's program today.

Vasudev Munal, who called the children near the radio every day until 2066 and narrated stories, poems, dramas and songs, got absorbed in a journey that would never come back eight years ago. However, his voice is still remembered by many people. There are many stories for children to watch, listen and forget in this day and age of technology leaps and bounds. They can know and learn everything from the world of laptops and mobiles hand in hand. However, if we look back in the 30s, these things were not even imagined. Yes, at that time they taught us to dream and imagine with the sound of the radio. Among those voices was the popular voice, Vasudeva . 

He Vasudev continuously conducted children's programs in Radio Nepal from 031 to 066. Weaved songs, composed music, wrote plays and gave birth to many talents. Deepak Raj Giri, Manoj Gajurel, Daman Rupakheti, Deepashree Niraula, Suresh Adhikari, Jitu Nepal among those talents are now established artists in Nepal's creative sector. Singer Munal, the creator of popular songs like 'Pani Khane Nihunle', 'Jhamjham Stockot', '2 Ekan 2', 'Padh Padh Babu Nani', 'Jhilmil Jhilmil Tara Jhilmil', made his debut on this earth 76 years ago today. Even though the state ignored Vasudev, his loved ones have not forgotten him, the generation that grew up listening to his voice has not forgotten him . What was Munal who lived in memories and anecdotes at this time? His son Mohit Munal, who grew up following his footsteps, is currently remembering his father .

When he reached his house in Dnyaneshwar, Kathmandu last Saturday, Mohit was carefully turning the pages of his father's old diary. He could clearly make out blurred and indistinct letters . Apart from me, no one can understand these letters, nor the context. That's why I am typing myself," said Mohit. One of Vasudev's wishes was to build an institution and publish a biographical book. For that, he had also prepared a blueprint. However, in 1974, his plans were put on hold after he succumbed to cancer. In the last hours of his life from his death bed, he wrote the last letter:

is a slow poison.

I can't flourish anymore

I can fall instead I

spent three hours

now is one hour to live .

The day after drawing these letters, he killed himself forever . Vasudev used to say to his son, 'Mohit! We artists can't make money . Only earn money.' When everyone was rejoicing in the rush of Dasain in the year 074, the lamp of happiness went out in Mohit's family. Mohit called many of his friends. Almost all of them had reached outside Kathmandu. Apart from a thin number of relatives and well-wishers, there was no one to join the father's farewell at Pashupati Bank . At that time, Mohit's heart was pounding and thought, 'Is this what my father told me?' Remembering the father he understood when he was with him, he sounds emotional, "When I read, I feel that I don't understand the father when we are together." Vasudev used to say to Mohit even days after he passed away due to a stroke, "What else do I have to do?" Support me.' Mohit now regrets, 'I wish I had listened to him then.' 

After Vasudev's grand departure, Mohit decided to fulfill Baa's wish. Built the foundation and organized the program in the first year . Many artists and creators who were close to Ba were invited to the program. Mohit saw a lot of calls and thought, 'There are many people who love my father.' Due to lack of finances, he has not been able to do big things from the foundation. However, every year they do some activity. Now he has to fulfill another wish of his father . That is the biography . What does Vasudev's biography look like in summary? Let's see Vasudev, who is loving, kind, angry and mixed with different juices, through the eyes of his teenage years. 

Born in Taplejung, Vasudev Koirala became Munal after reaching Radio Nepal. Before that, he, Rohitjung Rana, Krishna Adhikari and Tanneri together built the Munal Club in Biratnagar. That club was not built with any great purpose . Everyone in the society was afraid of Baliabanga Te Tanneri . The place where they dominated was sarcastically called 'Bhaladmi Chowk' by the people there. Later the name of that square was Munal Path. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, a classmate of Vasudev's school, one day told Mohit the story of Munal Path, which was named after them. 

They decided to form a club to pass the time after SLC. They built a building without the help of family and society. The land and materials for building were also collected by stealing some and threatening others. Many people used to say, 'The strays started to build an arena for the vagrants.' But that is not an arena, it became an opportunity for people. What to do after building? Some were interested in sports, they brought sports materials and started playing . Some were interested in studies, brought books. Vasudeva was interested in music, he brought instruments for playing instruments. The name of the club remained - Munal Entertainment and Gopinath Library .

The same club opened in Lahad made a beautiful identity in sports, music and cultural events. Most of the members in the club started putting Munal behind the name . Vasudev had a different name behind his name. Sanoma Ba told him, 'This is the lamp of our clan.' Then he wrote Vasudev Koirala 'Deep'. Later, Deep did not recover. Wrote the dream . After opening the Munal Club, his name was Vasudev Koirala 'Sapna Munal'. After Redia started working in Nepal in 2011, Natikaji suggested to him one day, "Your name has become too long". Throw away everything else and keep only Munal behind.' Vasudev did that.

Vasudev has also written on the pages of the diary about the time when he started the children's program . Before that, the children's program was initially run by Tariniprasad Koirala, Rashmi..., Shyamdas Vaishnav, Yadav Kharel, Kiran Kharel, Damodar Adhikari and recently by Dhan Lama. Vasudev was offered a program three days after entering the radio.

'After 3 days of my entry into the radio, Dhan Lama told me that he would go to Nijgarh to raise the farm . Since then, he has been gone from the children's program. When Dhan Didi left me and walked to Nijgarh, the things she left behind were, 'three program recording tapes, reel tapes with songs, some hair and some Hindi monthly magazines, a small drawer and Sanket Dhun,' she wrote in her diary around the year 1970 .

When turning the handwritten pages of Vasudev, interesting contexts of the song are also found . Once around November 2003, Natikaji said, 'Munalji! Is singing a song? Is the studio empty today?' Vasudev then asked Madhu Chhetri. But the song was not ready. "I make the words, you make the tune," he said to Madhu. Madhu began tapping her fingers on the harmonium . At the same time was born, 'Pani khane nihunle come to your home, if you get a chance, Rani will go for a walk in the forest.'

Natikaji did not accept this song at first. After watching, he said, 'Munalji, you have brought a very exciting song. Well, I didn't think it would pass.' At that time, Munal remembered the writer Daulatvikram Bista, who is also the deputy director of the radio. After that, I ran to Daulatvikram Daiko . Show song . Dai looked at it and said wow. Saying words full of sweet beauty, he asked who this song belonged to," wrote Vasudev. After Daulatvikram ordered to record, Natikaji passed it. Later this song became such a hit that Madhu and Vasudev's life became a new song.

Vasudev was not only a prankster, he was also adept at causing some trouble. Around 032 he was going to Biratnagar for marriage. A few days ago, he told his radio friends, "Look boy, my marriage is going on". Throughout the wedding day, play my song only.'' On the day of Vasudev's wedding, Radio Nepal was full of excitement from morning to evening. At that time when radio was craze across the country, this matter reached the Ministry of Communication . The director of the radio, Ramraja Paudel, received a harsh scolding from the ministry, "All day, only Vasudev Munal's songs are playing, what is it?" It should be explained .' The

director has become unsatisfied . Director Paudel called Munal who returned to Kathmandu after the wedding and asked, "What did Vasudevji do?" It didn't go well . Making them play their own songs all day long?' Vasudev said as if he didn't know, 'Well, what did the boys do?' Didn't know . I was at a wedding.' Paudel turned Vasudev back saying that this would not happen when he came later. This memory has also been recorded by Munal on the pages of the diary .

Son Mohit has dim memories of his childhood with his father. He used to go to Radio Nepal with his father. Participated in the program. Once Vasudev wanted the sound effect of a baby crying . Searched, did not find a record anywhere . Then he took the little son inside the studio and beckoned the technician to come out. After turning off the light inside, they started making scary noises of animals . Mohit got scared and started crying. You sat watching me cry for 3 minutes. That has been recorded . And he turned on the light and gave chocolates,' Mohit remembers, 'Later, he used the sound of crying in many plays.'

Mohit was stunned when he walked to the program with Ba. Even the people who saw it for the first time would say to Ba based on hearing the voice, 'You are Vasudev Munal, aren't you ?' The scene of people waiting outside the gate of Radio Nepal to play the play and recite the composition is still fresh in Mohit's mind . Vasudev's wife Indira Koirala has many memories of her radio-loving spouse.

'He used to sleep on the pillow after listening to the radio. If the things written are interesting, I would like to share them with interest. I was his regular audience,' she remembers. The day when Vasudev had to leave the radio after a stroke was very difficult for him . After leaving the program, he remembered the radio a lot. She used to sit on the veranda and cry saying that there is no point in living,' she remembers. Narayan Gopal, Pandava Sunuwar, Ashesh Malla, Lokmani Sapkota come to mind as Indira was a close friend of Vasudev. They were as dear as family to Vasudeva.

Vasudev was very fond of cigarettes . Even two bhattas a day was not enough for him . Along with cigarettes, he also had an addiction to alcohol. One day, his friend Ashesh, who was annoyed by Vasudev's habit of drinking alcohol, suggested to Indira, "Sister-in-law, remind Munalji once". Instead, you should also support us, let's get her used at home.' Then Vasudev also taught Indira to eat and later her sons too. Father and I used to sit and drink together at night. He used to wake up at 2 am and finish writing the script of the play . He used to prepare and record in the morning,' recalls Mohit Vasudev's hard work.