Composer, lyricist, and singer Amber Gurung has been felicitated with the Rastra Gayak title at a ceremony held at the Diplomat Colony, Budhanilkantha, in the Capital, on Wednesday.

The felicitation ceremony was organised by Ajar Amar Geetharu, an organisation led by filmmaker and poet Prakash Sayami.

The title, passed by a cabinet meeting, was conferred upon Gurung by Deputy Prime Minister Bhim Rawal. It was also announced that the government would bear all future medical expenses of composer Gurung.

During the event, minister Rawal also recited a poem, titled Amber timi Amar Rahu. Also performing during the event were singers Tara Thapa, Meera rana, Sangeeta Shakya, Suraj Thapa and Benuka Rai, among others.

After undergoing a treatment in India at the Medanta Hospital un Delhi, Gurung recently returned back to Nepal, on March 30.

78-year-old Gurung has composed, along with the National Anthem Sayaun Thunga Fulka hami, more than  a 1,000 songs, including the era-defining numbers Nau Lakhe Tara and Rato Ra Chandra Surya. Gurung is also a lyricist and singer. Born (in 1938) and raised in Darjeeling, India, Gurung has also authored three books of lyrics and memoirs—Samaalera Raakha (1969), Akcharkaa Awajharu (2003), and an anthology of essays and memoirs, Kahaa Gae Ti Dinharu(2006).

Gurung has also won, along with the Uttam Shanti Shahitya Puraskar in 2007, more than two dozen lifetime awards and felicitations including Uttam Shanti Shahitya Puraskar in 2007, Kantipur FM Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, Hits FM Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001, and Jagadamba Shree in 1998, among others.

Also notable is Gurung’s professional career in which he has worked as the Chancellor of Nepal Academy of Music and Drama, Kathmandu, Nepal, Chairman of Nepal Music Center Kathmandu, Nepal and the music director of Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature, among others.