An unmusically skilled with an unpleasant voice, a performer was singing and satirizing on the politicians and the political order of the country. He was parodying a not very old Hindi popular song, “Tu Cheez Bari Hai Mast, Mast!” (You are quite a bombshell darling!). I was not disappointed by the singer and his selection of the song to satirize Nepali political culture. Such mediocre acts have become quite a norm in Kathmandu ranging from academic practices, political thoughts to artistic and literary representations. I rather thought how an intelligent writer of our generation participates in such a mediocrity.
I happened to see the performance while passing by New Baneshwar during the late afternoon of March 11. I may not reveal the identity of one of my favorite writers, but it would not be difficult to disclose who he was. But that is not important. The problem is: What has gone wrong with writers and public intellectuals of the country? The civil society represents Nepali intelligentsia which they act with all their energy but rarely with critical public appreciation. During the last days of Nepali conflict and general efforts to bring peace and order, one of my colleagues from Tribhuvan University was a regular participant and supporter of the civil society workings. He used to ask me to take part in their activities. I was not sure about my competence to engage with the intelligentsia, but I later observed that the academician silently disjoined himself. His initial enthusiasm did not continue and he resumed his writing on art, literature, and politics. I rate such dissatisfaction as criticism on the intellectual standard of Nepali critical organizations.
The writer who as the participant of “Mast, Mast!” parody evening was perhaps staring helplessly at the decadent modes of resistance, criticisms, and public opposition. I thought this is how the fire in a writer is lost when too much of mediocrity creeps in around us.
A civil society is or should be the group of culturally equipped citizens. If a song like “Tu Cheez Bari Hai Mast, Mast!” becomes the measure of criticism and satire for the people of the civil society, political order and politicians of a country are bound to be intellectually bankrupt. The once popular Hindi song was good in its own context but transferring that song as a weapon to critique the grossly sick Nepali politics by a responsible cultural group illustrates the fallen standard of the culture of criticism. The more disturbing image is participating in such a mediocrity by a firebrand sensible writer of our times.
I observed the response of the audience gathered there. They looked at the singer with flat expressions, and amidst honks and disinterested people the performer looked utterly gratified by his scale of voice. I did not first recognize the participant-writer standing by the side of the singer. An incongruous coupling and inappropriate combination! I may take the singer into task if I get some opportunity but I console myself by thinking that he was doing what he is capable of doing. But the writer of honest reputation, to my critical eyes, was out and out unfittingly present there.
The once popular Hindi song “Tu Cheez Bari Hai Masta, Masta!” was good in its own context but transferring that song as a weapon to critique the grossly sick Nepali politics by a responsible cultural group illustrates the fallen standard of the culture of criticism.
Hopefully, it is not the case like what the Shakespearean character Iago explains what reputation is. “Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving . . .” A writer like Khagendra Sangraula, for instance, has certainly not a false imposition on him. He has got it with merit and has not “yet” lost it. He has achieved name as a good writer and possesses more than reputation. You would not like to see people like him around inappropriate and mediocre places, and if you are forced to see such people in such places, you must be sad on the plight of Nepali intelligentsia.
The organizations, groups, associations on whom reputations of being intelligent and responsible are falsely imposed, reputation is certainly what Iago says it is. I am in a very uncomfortable critical position. Is it to side with reputation is to side with intelligentsia or with mediocrity? Are we more for reputation than for establishing critical tradition through such gatherings? Is to be a reputed writer a false imposition?
A friend, who was with me that day, asked, “Are you going to criticize a famous writer?” “I am not criticizing the merit of a writer but talking about his intellectual displacement,” I retorted. “I would not imagine seeing a person like him near farcical performances.”
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