“Samasya maniska nimti abhishap hoina, yo ta pragatiko khudkila ho. Chunautile bastabma bhagyamaaniko dhokama matra ghachghachaucha. Jo abhagi chha, uslai samasyale sataudai sataudaina. Jindagiko har ghadima samasyaharu airahanchhan. Chhyamatawan byaktile samasya suljhaudai janchha, murkhaharu yesbata bhagchhan wa aljhinchhan. Manismatrale bachaidekhi samana garnu parney bastabikta ho yo….Chunautisita, haaksita haar khanele safalta hasil garna sakdaina na ta jindagima pragati nai garna sakchha. Chunautibata bhagney manchhe karmasheel hudai hoina.”
-- Soch, Karna Shakya [break]
These lines have the essence and power of inspiring any downtrodden man, and it portrays the true meaning of life itself.
Karna Shakya, by talking about his life experiences in this book, also makes us realize the hidden meaning behind our downfall and how we can look forward with hope after our each failure. There are many such similar lines in the book.
In this particular paragraph, Shakya talks about how happiness and sorrows are parts of everyone’s existence. No person can have the privilege of just getting happiness all the time and escape from sadness and despair. When sadness approaches us, it rather comes as an opportunity.
If a person cannot experience agony or pain, then he cannot move forward. If he never experiences wretchedness or pain, then he is deprived of learning about life.
A person has to make mistakes and has to suffer from any given problems to move forward and then only he will learn and grow as a person and build new insights about life itself.
That sadness and problems are not pain but lessons to be learnt, an opportunity that opens new doors. This is the reality of life.
The main problem in today’s society is that people make a big deal out of small issues and easily get frustrated.
For instance, when people suffer from economic crisis or from illness, or students who face some ill fate, they just give up, too easily. But they all should take that sadness is a prospect to move forward with more strength.
The beauty of this book is that anyone can relate to the instances presented here. Even I have a weakness of getting petrified when I face any sort of obstacles in life, which is a common human nature. But the lines mentioned here motivate me to look at the brighter sides of life.
The writer has also stated that people, especially Nepalis, have the habit of blaming their own country for everything. The young generation is eager to go abroad and think that their country is too small to offer them anything. He has mentioned such aspects in details.
I think the younger generation, especially since they have a long way to go, need to understand the realities of life.
About Malla
Born in Dhankuta, Ashesh Malla’s first written play was “Tuwalole Dhakeko Basti” some thirty-five years back.
After staging this play in his hometown, he traveled with his crew to other parts of the country and then came to Kathmandu to have it performed here. He never went back and decided to stay in the capital to pursue his dreams in theatre.
Playwright and veteran theater artist and theatre director, Malla prefers to write about the political instability of the country and the issues related to it.
Most of his writings have been inspired by this theme, and he thinks that all the problems, pains, poverty that exist in the society are because of only one reason: and that is political volatility.
“Our country isn’t developed because of this sole reason. That’s why I want to bring this reality out in my writings and also talk about the malpractices and injustice that follow when political situation isn’t stable in the country,” says Malla.
Malla has twenty five published books of plays, poetry and fiction to his credit. Some of them are poetry collections – Agyat Pradeshharuma, Eklo Ekanta – short stories like Kathakon, Paani, Jungle ra Gaun, and plays like Sadakdekhi Sadaksamma, and others.
His recent publication is a book on street theatre, Sadak Natak: Siddhanta, Srijana ra Prastuti (Street Theatre: Theory, Creation and Presentation).
Also the Director of Sarwanam Theatre Group, founded in 1982, Malla is the pioneer of street plays in Nepal. He has won many prestigious awards like Sajha Purashkar, Moti Award, and is an Associate Professor of Nepali Literature in Tribhuvan University (TU).
Also having been Academician at the Nepal Academy, he headed its theatre department for five years, and he is honorary life member there.
“I just finished writing a collection of poems for children and also a one-act play for children called ‘Junglema Ek Din,’” says Malla.
As told to Nistha Rayamajhi
Sanyasi Jisne Apni Sampatti Bech Di
by Robin S Sharma
This is the Hindi version of the book “The monk who sold his Ferrari” by Robin S Sharma. This non-fiction book is based on the life of an American lawyer, Julian Mantle, who faced a spiritual crisis and how he later became a monk.
When Mantle had a heart attack, he got frustrated and then set off on a journey without telling anyone where he was headed. The book is about his journey to India after he abandoned all his property and belongings.
In India, he meets and spends time with sages who have life-changing effects on him. This book is about living a simple life with greater balance and courage.
The Empty Space
by Peter Brook
Brook is a famous theatre director, and his book has really inspired me as one. The book talks about how on any empty stage we are capable of presenting ideas and many aspects of life. Similarly, an actor’s body movement and emotions can present many ideas and emotions.
There are four chapters in this book which are 1) the deadly theatre, 2) the holy theatre, 3) the rough theatre, and 4) the immediate theatre.
This book has helped a lot in modern theatre, and I think that no theatre workers, actors and directors should miss this book.
Modiayen
by Bishweshar Prasad (BP) Koirala
This short novel by Koirala, I believe, is a milestone in the history of Nepali novels. Even at international levels, this book can be considered to be of a very high standard. In this novel, the story of Mahabharat has been recapped and it talks about the issues that have not been mentioned in the epic.
The plights of the general people who died in that era have also been mentioned in the book. I really like the presentation of the book, and I think among all the books of Koirala’s, this is the best. Many have forgotten about this book but this is a must-read.
Haari
by Khagendra Pradhananga
There are many books written by many writers which usually go unnoticed because of lack of publicity and media coverage. For me, such books are more important and I like reading them. Among those, one such book is “Haari” which is written by my father himself.
This book is about the story of the Rais and the Limbus of Dhankuta. This book portrays and describes their cultures.
Pratyek Thhaun: Pratyek Manchhe
by Peter J Karthak
This novel is basically about life in Darjeeling and of those Nepalis who live outside Nepal. I appreciate the way the book has been presented, as it depicts the situations and stories in emotional ways.
The style of writing and the presentation really drew me to this book. The life of Darjeeling and its culture have been aesthetically portrayed in this book.
The book also does not follow the traditional way of writing, and it has many characters who tell many different stories.
Related story
New York Writers Workshop and Himalayan Literature Festival to...
