–Bhagwad Gita
This is one of the most inspirational quotes that I found in Gita. Bhgawad Gita, I think, is the most practical book ever written. People may disagree and say that it’s too ideal or spiritual for today’s age and context but I disagree. I really believe that this book, if well read and properly absorbed, can be a blueprint toward living a moral and disciplined life because it teaches you the systematic structure of living. I had Komal Gita, the Nepalese translation of Bhagwad Gita, with me even when I was travelling to the USA and other countries as a reminder of my roots and values.[break]
Bijay Gajmer
When I was a kid, my mother used to call me “the shepherd of words.” I was so fond of reading that I had a book with me all the time. I was reading as I planted rice, fed the animals and roamed the streets. Even at night, I would finish my homework early and get under the blankets to read. In fact, I remember, after a while, the book lender in my village struck a deal with me. For one rupee a week, I could read as many books as I wanted. I’m still grateful to him for making that offer to me which I had so gladly accepted. Those days of intensive reading have paid off and I’ve grown to become a writer today. People know me through my works. I think this is the best example of what happens when you work hard and keep working consistently and diligently.
An old saying goes: As you sow so shall you reap. You will never reap mangoes if you’ve planted lemons. Whatever you do and however you do it, you will be harvesting the rewards or punishments accordingly. All you have to do is your “karma.” Your deeds will bear their fruits in their own sweet time. If you’ve done something good, somebody is out there watching to reap you the benefits. And if you have done something bad, the same somebody is watching you live out your punishment. Everything has its own correct time and space. One must be patient, hard working and moral. This, in my opinion, is the best teaching that anybody could learn and receive.
About Nayaghare
Yuwaraj Nayaghare is a well known name in the field of essays and travelogues. A graduate in Nepali, he’s the writer of books like “Ghaam ko Chumban,” “Ek Haat Ko Taali” and “Kathmandu Laai Korra.” His works are a part of the undergraduate curriculum at Tribhuwan University. More than two hundred students have done their Master’s thesis on his works.
He likes to describe himself as a traveler and a full time writer. He’s recently returned from Tso Rolpa trek and is full of inspirations and memories for a new creative project. He believes that one has to travel on foot to understand the land and people. He has visited foreign countries like the USA, Japan, Bhutan, India and Singapore and has also travelled almost all over Nepal. “I travelled the world on the basis of my words. My works get invited and I just follow wherever it leads,” he says.
He believes that our language and culture are our identity and we should experiment with them in order to transport our literature to the foreign arena. Also, he feels that in the globalized context, when your command over the language English is below average, you miss out on a lot of opportunities. “I have read the greatest of international works in Hindi and Nepali,” he says adding that maybe he would have enjoyed and internalized them better if he could have read them in English.
Nayaghare, a prose writer himself, is in favor of the idea that poetry always comes second to prose. “When you’re learning how to swim, you go for rivers, not buckets,” he laughs. He has also observed that the recent trend of essay writing is getting more focused on autobiographical style and mini narratives. He believes that Nepali literature scenario has a lot of potential provided we utilize our native flavors and grant it a good translation for readers abroad.
Nayaghare’s five picks
Alikhit Dhruba Chandra Gautam
The writer has picked his characters from the smallest of villages and the poorest of communities. It’s a beautiful novel with a regional flavor and rustic ambience. The smallest of deeds that are common to the villages are considered strange by the rest of the world. This makes the novel quite fascinating. The killing of snakes and rats and the caste discrimination could evoke interest and curiosity in many readers.
Aatmabrittanta BP Koirala
I was only ten years old when I heard his speech at Birtamod. I remember going there with my father. His voice was corroded by cancer but he was still charismatic. It was the same voice that was recorded and later printed as the book, “Aatmabrittanta.” As a writer and a Nepali, I recommend everybody to read this book at least once in their lifetime. It’s truly inspirational and amazing.
Sharanaarthi Krishna Dharawaasi
It’s one of the finest examples of experimentation in writing. Just like the USA has become a melting pot of the finest of minds, this book by Dharawasi is the best and most inspiring amalgamation of bits and pieces from many works. A beautiful ornament of gold comes out in all its glory only after going through a treatment of heat and chemicals. The language is lucid too and the events are chained together beautifully.
Maaitaghar Lain Singh Bangdel
This is a sensitive story of a woman’s plight who could be any mother, sister or lover. What happens when a lad falls in love with a girl in the village and then later goes off to the city to chase his dreams and ambitions? She’s left behind in the abyss of illiteracy, loneliness and poverty while he scales the heights of ambitions and success. This is a story that depicts how a simple human being’s dreams break down when in the clutches of the society.
SarpadhashaTaarini Prasad Koirala
I had read this book as a kid. And, I have read it about five times till now. My two favorite characters in the book Nimmu and Kammu have stayed with me all through these years. The way the boy smells his sister’s hair and puts his limbs into a snake pit are vivid and meaningful metaphors. It’s an excellent work on child sex psychology.
As told to Nitya Pande
Related story
Rabi Lamichhane lands in Chitwan, heading to Bhairahawa by road
