- About postgraduate study
- Part-time study
- Courses
- Faculties
- UK students
- EU students
- International Students
- How to apply for your course
- Handy Hints
- Open Events
- Student Recruitment
- Money Matters
- About Us
7 Dec 2009 11:00:19
Things to do before you’re 30 – have a number one hit single, climb Mount Everest, record a hugely successful album, film exotic wildlife, experience a totally different culture and way of life.
Well ‘Samaveda’ - others at the University of Bedfordshire might know him as modest Ram Krishna Tripathi - has done all this and much, much more.
Multi-talented Ram, a mature international student from Nepal, is a highly successful musician in his native land.
Recording under the name Samaveda, his last four albums have topped the charts in Nepal, a country with a population of 30 million people which is bordered by the likes of China and India.
Add in half a dozen number ones, and the fact he composes and writes his own songs, his music credentials are obvious. Not to mention he plays the guitar, piano, keyboards, flute and violin to name a few – and is planning to release one of his new songs in ten different languages!
Ram, who is teetotal and a non smoker, said: “I get a lot of respect in Nepal for my music which I enjoy. I don’t ever say I’m number one to people and I don’t like awards – I give them all away.
“All the money from my music goes to charity and social projects. I get enough money from my television editing for me to live on.”
There are three separate charts in Nepal – one category for ‘modern’ which Ram’s music falls into, folk and film. And in a country where vast rural areas still use cassettes – although CDs and downloads are accessible in the cities – it can take weeks to gather all the necessary data.
Ram said: “I love nature and the countryside; my songs are about the mountains, animals and the great outdoors, and they are based on reality. My music is modern; Nepal is dominated and influenced by Bollywood music.”
A level two TV Production student at the Luton campus, Ram is classed as being 30 in his homeland but only 29 in this country as he was born on 24 June, 1980!
He commutes to Luton from Muswell Hill in London.
Having been involved in music direction for movies since he was 21, and always interested in moving into television, he followed his wife, a staff nurse, to England in September 2007.
He first got a job for Midlands Asian TV (MATV) before starting at British Asian mainstream channel Sunrise TV as a post-production editor at weekends when he began his studies at Bedfordshire in October 2008.
He said: “I’ve had enough experience but needed to get the necessary qualifications to progress, so that’s why I chose Bedfordshire as it’s got a good reputation and also the nearest course to where I live in London.”
Ram is hoping to move on to postgraduate study after finishing his degree and eventually land a job in international media.
Energetic Ram is also a skilled climber, although his first trip up Mount Everest in 2005 saw him rescued by helicopter after getting into difficulties!
Mount Everest is also where he launched a album and filmed a music video in May 2007 – making it the highest ever point for these two feats, although he is still awaiting official confirmation from the Guinness Book of Records.
He has previously toured the Himalayas to do sound research, taking in China, India and Tibet along the way as well as his home country.
His busy summer was spent creating a documentary in HD for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), as well as shooting three music videos and recording his latest album!
Ram said: “Every day was different and every day I could do new things. Being a student now, I did in two months what I won’t be able to do in two years’ time when I leave.”
He spent ten days in the jungle in Nepal filming rhinos, crocodiles and elephants among others. Although it is first due for release in Nepal this month, it is also hoped to be shown on the Discovery Channel or Animal Planet at a later date.
Ram is already planning next summer’s adventure as he is hoping to take an expedition from the University to Nepal. With amazing wildlife, remarkably different terrain and six seasons in a year, fancy joining him?
