Folk singer Narendra Singh Negi revives century old folk song about love story of sons of Frederick Wilson known as ‘Raja of Harsil’
Folk singer Narendra Singh Negi revives century old folk song about love story of sons of Frederick Wilson known as ‘Raja of Harsil’
S.M.A.KAZMI
Dehradun, Sept 21
Famous Britisher Frederick Wilson, who was also known as ‘Raja of Harsil’ is again in news after more than a century following release of a love song based on the love story of sons by renowned Uttarakhandi folk singer Narendra Singh Negi. The song which was released today morning has already been listened by more than six thousand persons within hours.
The song which is believed to be a century old portrays the love story of Nathu Wilson and Henry Wilson, the two sons of Frederick Wilson with Ruda-Godari (Godavari) from village Dharali in Uttakashi is being liked by Garhwali folk music lovers and historians alike.
British hunter and army deserter Frederick Wilson came and settled in Harsil (Uttarkashi) in 1840. After getting permission from Raja of Tehri to cut forest for timber and hunt wild animals, Wilson made a fortune by cutting forest and floating the sleepers in Ganga river and collecting those at Rishikesh and Haridwar. He was one of the richest person of his times. He married two Garhwali women from Uttarakashi and had three sons namely Henry, Nathu and Charles Wilson. Very little information is available about Frederick Wilson and his three sons, although his bungalow was at Harsil which was gutted in a fire in 1990’s.
Henry, Nathu and Charles Wilson all got married during the lifetime of Wilson. Frederick Wilson died in 1883 and is buried at Camel’s back road cemetery at Mussoorie. His three sons failed to carry on the legacy of their illustrious father despite having huge properties in Harsil, Mussoorie, Haridwar and Dehradun. Despite passage of time, Frederick Wilson and his fascinating story continue to be popular. He has found place in many of the short stories of the famous English author Ruskin Bond and one of his stories is even titled “The ghost of Wilson”.
Raju Gusain, a senior journalist of Uttarakhand who found the song said that occasionally the shepherds from Dharli and Harsil used to recite the folk song titled ‘Nathu Wilson aur Ruda-Godvari’. Madhvendra rawat and Balam Dass from Harsil helped in getting the complete lyrics. Narendra Negi decided to sing the song which has now been released.
Narendra Negi said, “When I was posted in Uttarkashi in 1992, I had this opportunity to visit the bungalow of Frederick Wilson at Harsil. The building with traditional wood carving was amazing. But, at time nobody told me that there is a folk song on the family members of Wilson. I got this song through my friend Raju Gusain recently and decided to make it public. Efforts should be made to digitalize the folk songs otherwise they will be lost forever.” This folk song revives the old memories of Wilson.
