Satya Mohan Joshi does not require an introduction. Nepalis at large are well aware of his contributions to our history and culture. His work has won him numerous accolades as well as a lot of respect over the years. Joshi was the first director of the Archeological and Cultural Department in our country, and he is still praised for helping establish the Rastriya Naachghar – National Theatre in Kathmandu.
These days he is enjoying a retired life in Patan. However, it is not like he has much time to laze around. Many people still flock to his home on a daily basis in hopes of some advice, insight or just a good old guff session. Even at 95, he clearly enjoys it, and with his treasure trove of experiences, so do his visitors.
The Week’s Priyanka Gurung sat down with him recently to talk about books and his literary collection.
What have you been reading lately?
As I have aged, I have become more selective of the things I read. Being well into my 90s, I suffer from weak eye sight. Each word seems to be a little too small and difficult to decipher so I make an effort with worthwhile articles. Second, when you reach my age, you have seen and experienced so many things that there aren’t many topics that surprise or interest you. I hear about the popular books and authors of the moment but sadly, they rarely attract me. These days I have indeed become very selective of what I read.
So what are the topics that still manage to fascinate you?
Truth, that’s one topic that I have always found intriguing. Most of the things we say or do simply seem honest on the surface but what lies beyond- that is a big question. It’s terribly hard to help truth survive and thrive among the various worldly agendas, but rest assured, it is lying in there somewhere. I have been really curious about the subject of truth and I enjoy reading different philosophers take on this particular subject.
Has philosophy always been your favorite genre?
In a way, you could say that. Even back when I was young, I used to seek experts who had written on this particular field. Reading words penned by wise people is an investment. The perspectives that they help you gain, and the ideas that it gives birth to is invaluable. Luckily I understood that early on in my life. However, other than philosophical books, I also grew up reading a lot of literature and poems as well. Those have had an impact on me too.
Do you remember, how your love for reading began?
I always liked discovering writers and poets but my love for words truly flourished when one of our teachers at Tri Chandra College, Ram Prasad Manandhar began teaching us. I must have been around 22 years old and Manandhar, back in the day, was famous for being a brilliant scholar. He topped all of his classes - so much so the government granted him a scholarship to go study in India. There too, he was the best student in his class and when he returned to Kathmandu I was fortunate enough to be one of his pupils.
He was the one who introduced me to foreign poets, different styles of writing and classic works of literature. He used to take 3-4 lines of a verse and spend the rest of the class explaining it to us. The way he articulated his thoughts was stunning. Frankly we couldn’t understand half the things he said back then, but the parts we did comprehend left us in awe. We couldn’t help but feel inspired. He not only added great works of literature to our syllabus but also used to encourage us to go explore libraries. Whenever he made a recommendation, my friend and I used to make sure we read it.
I doubt I can specify exactly how my love for reading began but back when I was a student at Tri Chandra College, Ram Prasad Manandhar played a big role in growing my love for literature.
Did your writing aspirations take hold around that time as well?
Yes it was. There was a copy of Tennyson’s Aylmer’s Field, one I still treasure. It was part of our I.A. 1st year syllabus and while reading it in class on its first page I wrote “What will he do?” by S.M. Joshi ( Nepal). It was supposed to be a title. I vividly remember really enjoying this book and I also remember thinking I could write something like this too. It retrospect, it seems when I had scribbled that question on the front page, I had already made up my mind to begin a writing career.
I have always felt that it is not enough to simply read and discuss good and great literature. In my opinion, we have to be able to give back as well after consuming them. I strongly believe it is very important to share our knowledge and express our feelings and perspectives through writing. It’s why I started writing myself and it’s why I believe everybody should start writing too.
You have published several works in a variety of genres. From theatre plays, fiction to books on culture and history, what are the things that a writer should keep in mind while working?
A book and its writing should give a reader a bountiful of experience. Whether one is focusing on theatrics or sociology, it doesn’t matter. A reader must be informed, provoked, intellectually stimulated and emotionally moved. As for a writer, they should have real personal experiences. I wouldn’t be able to define our splendid culture or discuss our rich history if I had not travelled widely through the country and had spoken with a variety of people from different walks of life. Nothing beats being present on the spot where all the action is taking place.
For instance, I have books that are a collection of folk songs. I wouldn’t have got the idea, had I not walked the rough roads of several villages and witnessed the people who sung them. If I hadn’t experienced the sweetness of the melody myself, I wouldn’t have written a book that won the Madan Puraskar. Writers bring on a Cultural Revolution with their own experiences.