Welded drum, poor pipes but spirits high as hills— Kalimpong band plays it pro in Switzerland

It is the first time in Basel Tattoo’s 15-year history, that a pipe and drum band from India has been invited to be a part of the extravaganza.

The Kumudini Homes band plays at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland. | Special Arrangement

SREYASHI DEY, The Print, 21 July, 2022, Kolkata: Every night, the streets of Basel reverberate with the tune of Sare jahan se achcha, the piercing sound of the bagpipes keeping in tune with the beat of the drums. Twenty-one students from Kumudini Homes, a government school in Kalimpong, are representing India at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland, the world’s second largest annual show featuring military bands, display teams, and musicians. 

 “The hills are proud of these students who have represented our nation in this international event. The hills are known for their brave soldiers but now the hills will be known for its music too,” says Vikram Rai, assistant professor, and founder of Vikrun Foundation, a charitable organisation in Darjeeling, which has been highlighting the band’s feats on social media. 

It is the first time in Basel Tattoo’s 15-year history, that a pipe and drum band from a school is participating in the extravaganza that began on 15 July and concludes on 23 July. It’s also the first time India has been invited to be a part of the Tattoo. 

Band members—between 16 and 21 years–play Gorkha tunes as well as those from the Indian School of military music. “Our USP is that we play a confluence of eastern and western songs. Almost a cocktail if you may say, mixing Indian tunes with Scottish tunes. Maybe that’s why we stood out from the many bands across the world and India to be the chosen ones,” says Priyadarshi Lama, the band in-charge, trainer, and an assistant teacher at Kumudini Home who is currently in Switzerland. Some of the older members who have graduated continue to be a part of the band.

The Kumudini Homes band members participating at Basel Tattoo, in Switzerland | special arrangement

Holding heads high

It’s been a surreal experience for the band members, most of whom have never left their state. Seventeen-year-old Subham Chhetri, who plays the pipe, describes the experience as a dream in an interview with The Indian Express. “It is still not sinking in… I’m pinching myself…” he says.

Chettri’s bandmates, Sabin Rai and Alex Lepcha, told ThePrint that they were very proud to represent india—and their school.

While the band is thrilled that the nation is cheering them on, Lama said it’s difficult to hold their heads high. “We went on an international stage and performed alongside such prestigious bands, but our instruments were of inferior quality since they are 60–80-year-old pipes. The bass drum which holds the rhythm of the band is 12 years old. It was in such bad condition, I took it to a garage and got its handles welded before travelling. Even our uniform, which cost around Rs 5,000, was of poor quality.” Band members carried their sewing kits with them. “The buttons were coming off in between performances,” Lama added.

Kumudini Homes at Basel Tattoo | special arrangement

Minor mishaps and lack of equipment aside, band members are giving it their best shot while the school mates and families cheer them on back home. 

This year, the Basel Tattoo is hosting about a thousand participants from four continents, including the Band of Her Majesty’s Welsh Guards. The festival was inspired by the hugely popular Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland. India’s Kumudini band is amongst 22 European military bands including her Royal Majesty’s Welsh Guard band to perform in this year’s anniversary edition.

Stranded but banded together

Even till the very last minute, they weren’t sure if they’d make it to Switzerland. Hours before they were to board their from Bagdogra, it got cancelled due to a glitch. Band members were stranded at Bagdogra in West Bengal. It was Darjeeling MP Raju Bista who arranged for a special flight from New Delhi to take them to Switzerland. “Despite facing tremendous hassle, the team’s spirit didn’t dampen. They have not only brought laurels for our region but for the entire nation with their flawless performance with the Khukri dance,” says Bista.

The West Bengal government and Kalimpong MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha helped sponsor the trip.

Silence to sound

Kumudini Home’s Pipe and Drums band was founded in the 1960s but was inactive for almost four decades. Priyadarshi Lama, who joined the school in 2010 as an assistant teacher of commerce. 

“There were no days off for us, we diligently practised everyday even on Sundays and public holidays,” says Lama. On school days, practice sessions were held from 3.30pm to 6pm. “The students would then go for their tuition from there so that studies remained unaffected.”

According to the band members, they caught the attention of the organisers of the Basel Tattoo in 2004, but it was only in 2019 that they reached out to them. But Covid put a spanner in the plans.

Accolades have been pouring in on social media, with many political leaders Raju Bista, Darjeeling MP, and Anit Thapa, the newly elected Gorkhaland Territorial Administration head, acknowledging their success.  But the band is hoping that the Centre will recognise them as well. 

“Sportsmen who represent India at the Olympics are hailed. For us, this was as big as a World Cup, but we haven’t heard from the big leaders who otherwise are seen praising talent on their social media,” says Lama.

Courtesy & source- The Print