10 BEST BOOKS FROM NEPAL : PRATIK SOUTH ASIA SPECIAL

 

BOOKS

 

AMAR AAKASH

 

10 Best Books from Nepal

 

Transliterated from Sanskrit, written by Bhanubhakta (1814-1868), the standard Nepali literary tradition established after the Ramayana has witnessed drastic changes. Not only has the written language been modified, its subject matter has changed dramatically along with its vision. Though rich in folk culture and myths, Nepali literature has yet to attain its renaissance and continues to reel under the substantial influence of Western literature along with Sanskrit and Indian literary heritage.

Moving from the tradition of writing hymns to gods and eulogies to the ruthless rulers to the 1932 Political Awakening, the modern Nepali literature seems to have found its element during the despotic Rana rule only. During the one-party Panchayat regime and the 1990 Democratic Upsurge followed by a decade-long Maoist War, Nepali literature has been largely influenced by the political, economic and social turmoil that continues to rock this Himalayan republic even today. The quandary remains more or less the same even in the post-2006 state, after the demise of the Monarchical system.

Here’s a selection of books that have succeeded in winning the hearts of the Nepalese people and seem best in terms of creative expression to represent Nepali literature to some extent.

 

GOPAL PRASAD RIMAL

Aamako Spana

Ammako Sapna (A Mother’s Dream) is a collection of immortal and incomparable poems written between 1935 and 1962 by Gopal Prasad Rimal (1917-1973), the founder of modern Nepali poetry. Though these elegant and artistic poems were written against the autocratic Rana tyranny to advocate a just democratic system, they do not speak for a political party or ideology. The language of the poetry is simple enough for a lay person to comprehend the inner energy that rocked Nepalese poetry immensely. Some of his poems are also well-known among Nepalese people as songs and anthems.

 

LAKSHMI PRASAD DEVKOTA

Muna Madan

Muna Madan by Lakshmi Prasad Devkota (1909-1959) is a work that every Nepalese has heard and claims to have read. Even if Devkota is popular among the Nepalese readers, due to immense use of Sanskrit words, the general public cannot grasp the essence of his poems and only a few have in reality read his entire work. Although this short play is based on a Newari folk song and is said to be written in Jhyaure rhythm, it has nothing to do with the Jhyaure folk meter used by the Nepalese in the hilly regions. During the Rana rule, the rulers looked down upon the Nepali language. The aristocracy took pride in employing Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit words and Sanskrit poetry was held in high esteem. Against this background, Devkota’s use of simple Nepali language, without using Sanskrit meter, deserves accolades. The plot revolves around a Nepalese youth who goes to Tibet to earn gold and in the process gets separated from his wife. Most of the Nepalese people hum the sentences from the play like “Not with a bag full of gold but with a golden heart, a person can be real and great.” 

The book is available in English in the Nirala Series.

 

 

BHUPI SHERCHAN

Ghumne Mech Mathi Andho Manche

 

Bhupi Sherchan (1936-1989) continued the poetry tradition spearheaded by great Gopal Prasad Rimal. Sherchan joined the Communist Party of Nepal in his early youth and wrote poetry about the downtrodden people but soon got disillusioned with the Party and its ideology.  By then, he had written two collections. However, his best work can be found in his third collection, Ghumne Mech Mathi Andho Manche (The Blind Man in a Revolving Chair), very popular among the Nepalese even today. Though some of the poems like “Hami “and “Hundain Bihan Mirmirma” were written under the influence of Rimal’s revolutionary spirit, Sherchan excels in ridiculing the Nepalese society’s fake nationalistic images including the Gurkha bravery involving going abroad to fight the mercenary wars. Although he could not rise above Rimal’s poetic excellence, Sherchan significantly added a new dimension to Nepali poetry alive in the contemporary literary circles.

 

SHANKAR KOIRALA

Khairenighat

 

Khairenighat is the first and important novel of the writer Shankar Koirala (1930-), a writer of several third-grade formula novels. Khairenighat again is the first and last Nepali novel written by an author from within Nepal about Nepalese people and their grueling lives. With minute, photographic details, Koirala describes the farmers of mountainous village Dumja in the Sinduli district as they lead harsh lives in isolation, without modern means of transportation or medicine. The importance of this novel can be seen in terms of sociological study that the novel presents. The novel is also available in English.

 

BHAIRAV ARYAL

Jai Bhundi

 

Jai Bhundi (Hail The Belly, 1965) is a very popular collection of essays written by Bhairav Aryal (1936-1976), considered as the emperor of Nepali non-fiction.  Aryal is highly regarded by the Nepalese public as the finest essayist. Any Nepalese who has studied up to secondary level must know Aryal. He lampoons the darker aspects of Nepalese society. In fact, Aryal has achieved the same success as Lakshmi Prasad Devkota and is considered a celebrity among the Nepalese people and the credit for this goes to his immortal book of satire, Jai Bhundi.

 

GURU PRASAD MAINALI

Naso

Naso is a collection of eleven stories written by Guru Prasad Mainali (1900-1971) where he initiated the tradition of realistic story in Nepal to depict a reliable portrait of Nepalese society. Before Mainali, there was a tradition of writing fiction in the fashion of Indian Hindi writing involving espionage, romance and fantasy. Reading Mainali, one encounters middle class men and women from the Nepalese society caught up in real-life events. Mainali created the first memorable and influential idealistic characters and their struggles. “The Martyrs” and “The Fire of the Straw” included in the Naso collection are considered to be great achievements of modern Nepali story tradition.

 

 

LIL BAHADUR CHHETRI

Basai

 

Guwahati-based Indian-Nepali writer Lil Bahadur Chhetri’s first novel depicts the socio-economic problems prevalent in Nepal until 1989. It portrays the widespread socio-economic situation in Nepal. Basai was actually the first novel written about Nepal by a Nepalese author. In the book, the village landlords lure ordinary farmers to take loans in times of emergency and entrap them in a vicious cycle of exploitation. The life and livelihood of Nepalese farmers are portrayed in this novel.  Chettri dares to raise intriguing issues of migration of the Nepalese race seeking work in India, Burma, Bhutan and other countries.

 

TARANATH SHARMA

Belayattira Baralida

 

Written by a great pioneer in the field of Nepali criticism and travel writing, Taranath Sharma (1934-2021), the book evokes memories of his visit to Great Britain. It appeared as a watershed in Nepali literature and contributed immensely in establishing travel writing in Nepal. Till date, no Nepalese author has been able to rise above the level of immaculate prose found in this travelogue.  Sharma also initiated Jarrovad, a movement to use proper Nepali language shorn of all foreign influences. The book depicts the mindset of Western people in the 60s in just 152 pages. Once one starts, it’s impossible to put the book down.

 

 

DAULAT BIKRAM BISTA

Chapainyeka Anuharharu

 

Novelist and storyteller Daulat Bikram Bista (1926-2002) gained fame by writing Ek Paluva Anekoon Yam (1969) that appeared as a breakthrough in the Nepali fiction. The prevalent Nepali fiction temper initiated by Parijat’s Shirish ka Phool (The Blue Mimosa) was enhanced by Bista. The novel has been hailed as a masterpiece in the Nepali language. It exposes the paradoxical plight of characters pitted against harsh human existence during the World War. There are only three characters in the novel. British Gurkha (Nepalese), German soldier and German woman.

 

 

 

PARIJAT

Anindo Pahaad 

This is the eighth novel by Nepal’s foremost woman writer, Parijat (1936-1993) who was successful in rocking Nepalese literary circles with her first one, Shirishko Phool (1965). Anindo Pahaad (The Sleepless Mountain, 1982) reveals an accurate depiction of the struggle of the Nepalese people with specific focus on the students’ struggle for democracy against the long-standing dictatorial one-party Panchayat system. The novel also exposes the Nepalese men’s exploitative behavior in the villages, corrupt police administration, undisciplined and crafted violence against women. Sentimentality and pessimism seen in her first novel, Shirishko Phool, is missing in here. The fiery feminine spirit found in the characters in the book has impacted Nepalese fiction in the modern times. Decorated with a skillful delineation of characters and plot, this novel is more readable than her earlier works, also the last best to showcase her artistic integrity.

 

 

A significant Nepali poet and fiction writer of younger generation, Amar Aakash contributes columns to several Nepalese newspapers and journals, including leading literary monthly, Madhuparka. His debut poetry collection, Tungana, has just been published. He lives in Kathmandu. 

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PRATIK South Asia Special Issue Highlight: Indian Poet Gulzar's "The Heart Seeks"

 GULZAR

The Heart Seeks

The heart seeks again those moments of leisure

When all day and night we just sat thinking of the beloved

                                                                        – Ghalib

 

The heart seeks again those moments of leisure

 

Lying in the courtyard in the mellow winter sun

The shade of your aanchal pulled over my eyes

Face down, and sometimes on one’s side

 

Or, on summer nights, when the east wind blows

To lie awake for long on cold white sheets

Sprawled on the roof, gazing at the stars

 

On some cold snowy night perhaps

To sit again in the embrace of that mountain

And listen to the silence echoing in the valley

 

The heart seeks again those moments of leisure

When all day and night we just sat thinking of the beloved.

 

Translated from the Urdu by Pavan K. Varma

 

 

Gulzar is a celebrated Indian Urdu poet, lyricist, author, screenwriter, and film director known for his works in Hindi cinema. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2002, the Padma Bhushan in 2004, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2014. He lives and works in Mumbai.

Pavan K. Varma is an Indian diplomat, politician, and author who served as an ambassador to Bhutan and Cyprus. He has written over a dozen bestselling, books including Krishna: The Playful Divine and a biography of the Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib.

 

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Pratik's South Asia Special Double Issue Highlight : Bangladeshi scholar Shahnaz Ameer on 10 Best Books that Transport You to South Asia

 

BOOKS

SHAHNAZ AMEER

 

10 Best Books that Transport You to South Asia

 

 

South Asia proudly nurtures a rich history with diverse cultures and traditions. The literary reservoir of the region is equally bountiful. The literature of this subcontinent flourished in the Mughal era and continued to thrive under the British regime. The Partition of 1947, the Liberation War of 1971, and consecutive wars among the nations heavily influenced it. Many such works have transcended to reach a global audience with many pieces written in or translated into English. Such works prove to be a strong critique of British colonialism, racism, class distinction, corruption, misogyny, taboos, superstitions, and many others. At the same time, they showcase the beauty and power of writing by allowing readers to travel through the realms of multifarious cultures of this subcontinent. Here is a list of the ten most captivating literary works about South Asia that, for various reasons, have been considered the best published.

 

RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Choker Bali

 

Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European to win a Nobel Prize in Literature, explores love, feminism, and sexuality in nineteenth and twentieth century Bengal through the character of Binodini in Choker Bali. Tagore’s novel is modern and progressive as it talks about the desires of a young widow. Soon after her husband’s death, Binodini becomes envious of a happily married couple – Mahendra and Asha. Although the protagonist feels superior to Asha due to her education and maturity, her plain white saree stands in contrast with the colourful life of Asha – creating a further rift between them. Binodini in no time finds herself tempting Mahendra as her intellectual exchanges with Bihar propel the story. The book delves into the psychological aspects of widows who are inhumanly deprived of any joy in life. This novel has a radical reach even to the readers of the 21st century where women are often deprived of their essential rights.

 

MIRZA GHALIB

Deewan-e-Ghalib

 

One of the foremost poets in Urdu, Mirza Ghalib is a pioneer in this field. Deewan-e-Ghalib is a collection of more than 200 of his ghazals written in Rekhta. The poems are written in simple language to make it easy for commoners to read. Ghalib’s skillful combination of his words and thoughts with this form of art exalts his chosen collection of these poems to a great height. His poems create a dialogue between problems in life and his philosophy. Although the rhyme scheme has been followed religiously, it does not seem to be exacted on purpose; it rather enhances the poetic essence of the verses making them sonorous to the ears and appealing to the heart. His ghazals paved the way by broadening the artistic possibilities of the genre and influenced many poets to follow the form in their verses.

 

V. S. NAIPAUL

The Indian Trilogy

 

V. S. Naipaul’s much acclaimed Indian Trilogy that includes An Area of Darkness, India: A Wounded Civilization, and India: A Million Mutinies Now also makes it to the list. Naipaul is a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature (2001). In the first book, the novelist portrays the picture of India in the 1960s as he seems to undergo culture shock while traveling to his ancestral home since the country is ridden with superstitions, caste system, poverty, bureaucracy, and corruption. The second book was written during his third visit to the country. Using the lens of history, he sees India as a wounded nation due to the atrocities of a foreign power on the land for hundreds of years and marks Hindu nationalism as a hindrance in the reawakening of the country. In the third volume, the sojourner provides hope to the readers despite the deeply rooted problems of the country. One can have closer look at the common people of different regions of India and their perspectives and know about their views on the issues of the country. Naipaul’s semi-autobiographical trilogy reveals his ambivert feelings towards India and provides insight into the country’s history, ideology, and development.

 

 

KAZI NAZRUL ISLAM

The Poetry of Kazi Nazrul Islam

 

The glorious time for Bangla Literature witnessed both Kazi Nazrul Islam and Rabindranath Tagore writing in the same era. Though mostly known for his poems, Nazrul offered many short stories, novels, and music compositions to the literary world. He stood as an emblem of bravery against the tyrants in both his character and poetry which earned him the name of a “rebel poet”. His revolutionary poems were instrumental in India’s War of Independence and inspired the freedom fighters in the Bangladesh Liberation War. His most famous poem is “The Rebel”.

 

PAUL THEROUX

The Great Railway Bazaar

 

Paul Theroux’s travelogue The Great Railway Bazaar recounts his four-month journey across Europe, Asia, and Africa. He travels to London, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Burma, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and many other places. His book vividly portrays the multifarious culture of South Asia filled with details of the places he visits by train and the people he encounters during the journey. Despite being critical of the facilities, food, culture, ideology, and beliefs, he provides a distinct glimpse of the cities he travels to. His journey through India is the core of the book. The narrative of India and Pakistan takes the readers on an enjoyable journey. With his gift of storytelling, Theroux derives charm from every place he visits and keeps monotony at bay as every episode feels unique.

 

 

ROKEYA SAKHAWAT HOSSAIN

Sultana’s Dream 

Sultana’s Dream is a futuristic feministic Utopia penned by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain. The protagonist of the book finds herself accompanied by Sara while strolling through the beautiful Ladyland. Set in contrast to the patriarchal world in India, this newly discovered place sees women roaming around freely without any obligations of veil as men are confined inside ‘mardanas’. Women make the best use of their scientific knowledge and hold administrative positions in the region. Through her work, Hossain argues against the existence of colonialism, patriarchy, monarchy, and militarism and advocates gender equality, women empowerment, and environmentalism.

 

 

SAADAT HASAN MANTO

The Collected Stories

 

The first volume of Nasreen Rehman’s translation of short stories of Saadat Hasan Manto was published in May 2022. It comprises Manto’s fifty-four stories and two essays written between 1937 and 1948 during his stay in Bombay and Poona. The introduction to his life by Rehman at the beginning of the volume helps the readers to connect with his thoughts while reading the stories, making them more insightful.  Each of the stories, being unique in its own ways, evokes multiple emotions and provides a sense of completeness towards the end. Not only are these stories historically significant but they also shed light on the fault lines of partition and loss of freedom, love, and humanity in such gruesome times. Manto’s stories reflect his courageous nature and establish his position as a visionary.

 

FAKIR LALON SHAH

Lalon Geeti 

 

Fakir Lalon Shah composed thousands of songs in Bengali in his lifetime. Although he could neither read or write, his oral compositions have survived the test of time and have become equally popular among both rural and urban communities. The compositions reflect his spirituality and philosophy which values human beings irrespective of caste, creed, race, and religion. His work also transcends the gender binaries to see women as equals. They were against religious superficialities, blind superstitions, and conflicts with the potential to divide communities. Lalon’s canonical songs have immortalized him as he continues to inspire people even in the 21st Century.

 

 

PAUL SCOTT

The Jewel in the Crown

 

The Jewel in the Crown is the first book of the four-volume series “The Raj Quartet” by Scott towards the end of British rule in India. Daphne Manners, an Englishwoman, has just lost her family and comes to India to live with her closest living family member. During her stay, she encounters Ronald Merrick, a racist police superintendent, who is smitten by her. She later becomes friends with Hari Kumar, an Indian who grew up in England. However, one incident turns their lives upside down as they witness the ills of colonialism. This book proves to be a strong critique of racism, class distinction, colonialism, and prevalent prejudice in India under the British regime.

 

 

FRANKA FREI

Periode ist politisch

 

Franka Frei, in her book, Periode ist politisch, manages to convey many facts about a still “sensitive topic” in an entertaining way. Since menstruation or periods are still considered taboo, Frei tried to break it. The book not only provides important scientific information about menstruation in general but also brings in people’s perspectives from all around the world. The German menstrual activist traveled to South Asia to meet women from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. The author could demonstrate how women starting from homemakers in Germany to factory workers in garments industries in Bangladesh are related in terms of how menstruation has been used and politicized to marginalize them. This book is a must-read for anyone menstruating or not.

 

Shahnaz Ameer is a Lecturer at the Department of English, East West University, Bangladesh. She has completed her graduation and post-graduation from the Department of English, University of Dhaka. She is passionate about creative writing and research. Her research interests include women and gender studies, psychoanalytic criticism, postmodernism, cultural studies, and magic realism.

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Pratik's Upcoming South Asia Special Double Issue -- Cover and Contributors

 

Pratik

South Asia Special Double Issue

 

Contributors

Mir Taqi Mir  Mirza Ghalib  Nagarjun  Parijaat  K. Satchidanandan  Rukmini Bhaya Nair  Ravi Shankar  Gulzar Kunwar Narain  Malovika Pawar  Vivek Narayanan  Arundhathi Subramaniam  Zilka Joseph  Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih Sudeep Sen  Kalpna Singh-Chitnis  Nishi Chawla  Reeti Mishra  Ashwani Kumar Rabindra K Swain  Annie Zaidi  Daud Kamal  Nasreen Anjum Bhatti  Zulfikar Ghose  Sarwat Husain   Zeeshan Sahil  Moniza Alvi  Munir Niazi  Azra Abbas  Yasmeen Hameed  Sarmad Sehbai  Afzal Syed  Waqas Khwaja  Iftikhar Arif  Majeed Amjad  Shadab Zeest Hashmi Anar  Tamilini  S. Karunakaran Siththanthan  Ajeet Cour  Shamsur Rahman  Aminur Rahman Fazal Shahabuddin  Rebecca Haquel  Carolyne Wright Dilara Hafiz  Dilara Hashem  Shamim Azad  Nasima Sultana  Taslima Nasrin  Emer Davis  Rhony Bhopla  Kumar Vikram  Megha Sood  Indran Amirthanayagam Shikha Malaviya  Anand Thakore  Rochelle Potkar Rishi Dastidar Roopa Ramamoorthi  Pramila Venkateswaran Nabina Das Namita Gokhle Divik Ramesh  Mandira Ghosh  Felicity Volk Shayamal Hari Adhikari Ramanand Rathi Sukrita Paul Kumar Yogesh Patel  Divya Joshi Rajni Shankar-Brown  Shailendra Sakar  Ramesh Chitiz Shyam Rimal  Shamsher Bahadur Singh Ashok Vajpeyi Anamika  Manglesh Dabral  Vinita Agrawal  Shahnaz Ameer John Brantingham Amar Aakash

 

 

Distinguished Finnish Travel writer Piia Mustamäki to guest edit Pratik’s special Issue on City Writing

 

City Diversions

Pratik Magazine special issue on city writing

 

Edited by Yuyutsu Sharma with guest editor Piia Mustamäki

In their conversation in the essay collection Strange and Known Things, Teju Cole and Alexandar Hemon claim that “it’s impossible to write in a linear way about and in cities – they’re necessarily non-linear spaces;” but also that “cities might be our greatest invention. They drive creativity… and they can be hives of tolerance… But the other side is that they are congested with material history and the spiritual traces of those histories, including some dark events.” 

This is a call for submissions of new works on cities – non-fiction, short stories, poetry, photo essays – under the theme of “City Diversions” inspired by Cole and Hemon’s ideas:  on the non-linear diversions cities force and ignite and the creativity, tolerance and historical traces that bring those diversions about. We welcome submissions particularly on global south cities, but are interested in any new writing where the city takes center stage.

  

Piia Mustamaki is a Finnish writer, currently located in Abu Dhabi where she teaches NYU’s writing program. Travelling extensively, her travel writing has been published in Punctuate, The Cultureist, among others.

Recipient of fellowships and grants from The Rockefeller Foundation, Ireland Literature Exchange, Trubar Foundation, Slovenia, The Institute for the Translation of Hebrew Literature and The Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature, Yuyutsu Sharma is a world-renowned Himalayan poet and translator. He has published ten poetry collections including, Lost Horoscope: New Poems, The Second Buddha Walk, A Blizzard in my Bones: New York Poems and Annapurna Poems.  Half the year, he travels and reads all over the world and conducts Creative Writing workshops at various universities in North America and Europe but goes trekking in the Himalayas when back home. 

Deadline for submissions: Feb 15th, 2023

pratikmagsubmissions@gmail.com

 

Pratik: A Magazine of Contemporary Writing

White Lotus Book Shop,

Hanumansthan, Kupondole,

Kathmandu Nepal Phone:5520248, 9803171925

whitelotusbookshop@gmail.com

 

 

UPCOMING PRATIK'S SPECIAL SOUTH ASIAN ISSUE HIGHLIGHT : RUKMINI BHAYA NAIR'S "Quartet"

 

RUKMINI BHAYA NAIR

Quartet

 

I. Hindu

 

Washed floors glow like children

Wiped clean after a muddy tackle

 

Earth-torn, weary, Sita rattles  

Her way through the job, a queen

 

A lotus poised on emerald sheen

Broken-stemmed mother, bent over  

 

Work, and girl-births, rebirths

She sweeps away the Ramayana -

 

Easy as rubbish, and not half so real.

 

 

II. Muslim

 

Perfect single-breasted dome

And four minaret phalluses, which   

Woman is more adored, and more

Restricted? This is Allah’s door.

 

Salma knows she cannot enter 

Woman within concealing burqua

Ignorant of Koran and Kaaba

Many prohibitions bind her.  

 

No and no and no, a jointed arc,

But, one night, she wraps the dark  

Round bundled child and bad naseeb 

And walks away. The id moon sparkles!  

 

 

III  Buddhist

 

I had thought to leave this space

Blank

For those women who do not speak

But the gesture stinks! It is twee

 

Surely nothing can be more weak

Than comfort parasitic on sorrow

My sister Shakti

Frail sparrow, flaps about, chatters, is free

 

And Shanti? She cleaves the narrow

Universe in two. This space is hers

Not she in it

For all my precious, bourgeois wit 

 

I dare not leave that blank unfilled 

Because Gekkutsu Sei, Southern Sung      

Has scratched

With a thirteenth century quill -

 

I set down the emerald lamp

                                                                             Take it up – exhaustless

                                                                             Once lit

                                                                            A sister is a sister.

 

IV Christian

 

Who is Sylvia? what is she

that all her swains adore her?

 

Plath is not in the poetry trade

Gentle, moronic, retrograde

 

Harakiri warrior, she disembowels

Deft as mishima - fetch the towels!

 

When the mess has been cleaned up

Gouged from the page is a pin-up -  

 

Everyone’s Best Woman.

 

 

Rukmini Bhaya Nair is Professor Emerita of Linguistics and English at IIT Delhi, received her Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and was awarded a second honorary doctorate by the University of Antwerp in 2006 for her work on narrative theory. Her earlier poetry collections, all with Penguin India, are: The Hyoid Bone (1992); The Ayodhya Cantos (1999); and Yellow Hibiscus (2004). A fourth volume, titled Shataka, is being published later in 2021 (Speaking Tiger Press). Nair’s first novel, Mad Girl's Love Song (Harper Collins, 2013), was placed on the ten-book final list for the DSC Prize. Often called “the first postmodern poet in Indian English”, she does research for the same reasons that she writes poetry – to discover the possibilities and limits of language.

  

 

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