The Origin of Shamsha Doleb.

Perched on the other side of Daga dzong, with verdant landscape of settlement is the valley of Khebisa.  In the past, the valley was known to be Dargayling. During the reign of Dagap Penlop, history has it that Dagana comprises three valleys, Peling (Tseza gewog), Lhaling (Kana Gewog) and Dargayling (Khebisa Gewog) and they were collectively called Daga Lingsum which can still be heard today.  

Khebisa is hardly known for origin of its most evanescent song called 'Shamsha Doleb', a song unique to Dagana. Locals claimed, the song was born in an auspicious time when Zhabdrung Jigme Chogyel, a mind reincarnation of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, visited the place called Gangkha in Khebisa Gewog. . 

In the Bhutanese contexts, Shamsha literally refers to Beneath and Doleb meaning Stone Slab. So the title of song was found to be originated from a laid stone slabs on which Zhabdrung took a seat. Today, people have been preserving this fixed stone slab for an indication of his visits and its connection to birth of Shamsha Doleb. The stupa is also said to be built by Jigme Chogyel and it was later renovated the outer part with concrete. 

Stone Slabs

While these features remain the actual evidence of source of Shamsha Doleb, it is often heard that Sham Doley village in Tashiding, Dagana is misleading the genuine source. People says not only the name of village bears the similar name to title of song but village has also a giant rock the locals still preserved as a mark of origin of Shamsha Doleb. It is however, villagers know only the title of song and has no idea on what actually the whole lyrics describe about. What is more clear is locals have never performed this song even a once. Sham Doley is only a village named in Lhotsamkha referring to its location in the last edge of the community.   

The song however neither speaks about village, nor tells the story of rock but it describes purely about a tree if one clearly understand the lyrics instead. An iconic tree just before the temple in Gangkha is a living testimony the Shamsha Doleb explain about. The tree is believed to have grown from a walking stick of Zhabdrung Jigme Chogyel. It was Jigme Chogyel who composed and sung a genre while he fixed his walking stick on the ground. Today, it is revered as a holly tree.

 

As societies modernize, the indigenous culture and tradition retard in significance and cultural traits are often abandoned or on the cusp of dying . What can be more evident than disappearing of Shamsha Doleb which had been once upon a time a very popular cultural identity across the valley of Daga Lingsum? Unlike most of the other classical songs in Bhutan, Shamsha Doleb is not widely heard. It is not even recorded. It however continues to survive until today because whether fortunately or unfortunately, a woman in 50s (Sonam Choden) from Gangkha is known to be only a legend today. Who will take a next lead is unsure because very few or no younger generations are interested in our folk music.    

Today, the song is performed on special festivals like Dagana Dzongkhag Tshechus, national events, local festivals and other occasion when important officials visit the village. The song is performed by a team from Khebisa under the guidance of singer Sonam Choden.  

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