This Forest Minister loves folk music. So much so that he takes out time from his busy schedule to sing songs not only for his friends but also for commercial albums.

Lal is now planning to bring out a compilation of some such folk tunes. “I will also sing a few folk songs,” he says.

This, however, will not be his maiden effort at singing for an album. He has already brought out a compilation of songs that talk about birds and forests of Himachal. “We compiled the album, Van Jeevan, in association with the state Government’s wildlife wing and Ghati Gunjan Kala Manch. The album has 12 songs, and of them two have been sung by me,” he says.

He explains the need for such efforts. “This is important because our folk music is dying. It needs to be preserved in the original form.”

“I love Chando Brahmni, a romantic song of Bilaspur district which I have sung for another album,” he says, and elaborates, “Folk represents people. When the Bhakra Dam was set up, many families in Himachal were forced to be displaced. With their pain came the songs like Chal meri jinde nawin duniya basani, dubbi gaye ghar baar, ayi gaya paani (Let’s go my love to a new destination, our homes have been submerged in water) and Hai mere dilrua, sukhi rehna phulnua (My heart aches as I leave, you keep on blooming o’ flowers).”

He says that this passion for music was passed on to him by his father, Thakur Paras Ram, who was a Zaildar of Pargana Bahadurpur in Himachal Pradesh. “My father played the flute,” he says. Born in Ghail village of Bilaspur district, he shifted to Bilaspur town after completing middle school from the village. The school’s bal sabha was his launch pad. Then, he went on to pursue a BA course in vocal music before graduating with a degree in law. “I earned pocket money by singing on All India Radio and through scholarships for excelling in sports,” he says.