Ranahăr: Historical fiction on the last Malla king

KATHMANDU, June 2: Nepa-laya’s next -- Ranahăr’, meaning defeat in war-- is a fictionalized account of the historical portrayal of the last Malla King, Ranajeet Malla by history scholar, Yogesh Raj. Bhaktapur’s last Malla King, Ranajeet Malla, whose name translates to victorious in war, is portrayed as the protagonist of the story. It was during the Ranajeet Malla regime that the Gorkhali King, Prithivi Narayan Shah, invaded Bhaktapur -- the last Malla bastion of Kathmandu Valley.

The book has been meticulously crafted by Yogesh Raj, an acclaimed scholar of history. He has presented the historical account of Bhaktapur with great precision. The novel narrates the tale of King Ranajeet’s rule in Bhaktapur which failed to foresee the impending danger from the Gorkhali King. 

The author takes readers back to the 18th-century Indian Subcontinent when the British Empire was in a constant quest to expand their kingdom. The hilly settlements also contested in the same conquest. The prosperous Malla Kingdoms in the Nepal Khaldo -- now known as the Kathmandu Valley -- was the center of attention of many. The book elaborates the events leading to the eventual defeat of the Mallas, in the hand of the Gorkhali Army. 

“We feel privileged to have published this beautiful work of fiction by Yogesh Raj,” says Saijan Maskey of Publication Nepa-laya. “The special literary skills and styles he crafts make this an important contribution to Nepali Literature.” She adds. 

Keeping with the author’s choice, the publishers are releasing the book without much fanfare. The book is being released on Saturday, coinciding with Nepal International Book Fair. The book will be available at the fair, and in bookstores starting this weekend.