Dev Rana – The Man who introduced Drums to Nepali Music Industry.
Dev Rana, one of the most iconic drummers of Nepal was born on June 18, 1952, in Sungai Petani, Malaysia. He is acknowledged as the person who introduced drums to the Nepali music sphere for the first time back in the ’70s, Dev Rana belongs to that elite league of Nepali musicians who not only paved the way for future generations but also blazed a trail for younger musicians to follow.
His father was a member of the British army. Rana studied in a Gorkha School till the fourth standard. It was a privilege for the British Army that if they were in an officer post, their sons or cousins could study in British School if they could qualify. Rana joined British School at the age of 11. Rana was an average student but he was more into extracurricular activities. He was introduced to guitar after he joined the British School.
Rana came back to Nepal after his father got retired and joined St. Xavier’s School, Jwalakhel, Lalitpur. Rana had a very good friend from St. Xavier’s named Uday Thakur who had a drum set. He was a good drummer and Rana would go to his house and they used to jam together. Thakur’s father had to shift to Japan because of his job and Thakur had to go there for studies as well. After going there, he said that he quit drums and gave it to Rana. That was how he also became a drummer and not just a guitarist.
At 69 years of age, he is still going strong, rolling the drums as a freelance drummer. Rana was married and had a son, Dennis Rana. But unfortunately, he lost both of them.
