By Our Correspondent
Baitadi, Feb. 3: Prem Raj Khatri, an author, creator and singer of the famous and historical ‘Deuda’ song of Sudurpaschim, has been overshadowed for years.
His song of Ho Jilla Baitadi is still popular, which he sang after passing the audition from Radio Nepal in 1983. But singer Prem Raj has still been outshined.
The song, which was filmed at the famous religious Jagannath and Tripura Sundari temple complexes in Baitadi, introduces history of Baitadi district and the religious temples.
Prem Raj, who joined Nepal Police in 1979, retired from the post of the Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Prem Raj, who was in the profession of carrying a gun and protect civilians, is better known as Deuda singer than a DSP.
Born in 1958 in Dasarathchanda Municipality-5, Baitadi, Prem Raj retired eight years ago after serving in Nepal Police for three decades.
Currently, he lives in Bhimdatta Municipality-3, Tilakpur, Kanchanpur.

In most of his Deuda songs, identity of the historical place and the glory of the endangered plant ‘Silango’ can be heard.
He said that the old name of the place where the power office is connected to Baitadi district headquarters Gothalapani is in ‘Shrikatya’.

“Shrikatya had an old Chautari and Silanga trees. We used to sit on the ‘Chautaro’ and offer flowers towards the Tripurasundari temple with folded hands,” he recalled.
He further added, “Today's new generation has forgotten the name ‘Shrikatya’. Chautari and the Silanga trees have also disappeared.”
Prem Raj has been participating in various cultural programmes since his college days.

He came into the limelight after writing dozens of songs. He has brought four albums to the market in his own investment.
He said that he was involved in music to preserve and serve the art and culture in a pure way rather than for commercial purpose. Dozens of songs he has written are still in his diaries, he added.
He said that while serving the nation as a police officer for three and a half decades, he became the first police officer from Sudurpaschim to be decorated with Police ‘Ratna’.
Prem Raj, who has a deep interest in music and art culture along with serving the nation, said that he was taught to be honest by his father Raj Man Khatri.

“My father tried hard to send me to school,” he said.
Prem Raj studied up to SLC at Birendra High School in Baitadi district headquarters.
“The financial condition of his house was weak but while working in the Nepal Police, I passed the higher education level and bachelor level and I never give up practicing music,” he said.
He said that he did not stop writing songs even after retiring from the service.

He has still many collections of songs which reflect the art and culture of Sudurpaschim, and he was ready to provide his collection of songs if any singer wished to sing them.