- Sumnima, B.P. Koirala [break]
This quote from B.P. Koirala’s novel “Sumnima” has really moved and taught me to value the gifts of life. Through this quote, I believe that Koirala is trying to shed some light on the fact that since we are mortal beings, we might as well enjoy the joys of our life and body while we can instead of worrying about our soul upon which we have no control.
In this quote, the character Somnath believes that an individual should be concerned about his spirit, his inner being rather than his body, since our aatma tends to live forever. Somnath expresses his view that our spirit does not require our tending to and taking care of and yet it lives on forever, never wavering.
Sumnima, however, expresses a different opinion. She tells Somnath that our spirit is not under our control, and since it doesn’t require any taking care of, we should focus on looking after our body. We live only once, and hence, we must take utmost care of our body and rejoice in this gift fully.
About Neupane
Amar Neupane is among one of Nepal’s most celebrated young writers. His first novel “Panimuniko Gham” was widely appreciated and received the PadmaShree Sahitya Samman Puraskar in 2009. After that, his second novel “Seto Dharti” brought him one of the most prestigious Nepali literature awards a writer can hope for – the Madan Puraskar.
At present, Neupane is working on his third novel. He tells us that in this book he has focused on the educational system in our nation.
Neupane believes his inspiration in reading and writing mainly came from his parents, and the beautiful village environment of Parbatpur where he grew up. His mother’s recitation of the Gauri khandakavya often left him on the verge of tears. He started writing from an early age, and was greatly inspired by the writings of Diamond Shumsher. Neupane says he was so influenced by Shumsher’s writing that he actually used a similar style of writing in his initial works.
However, he realized that a writer has to be original and unique in every way possible to gain acceptance and appreciation of his readers. This view inspired Neupane to conduct extensive research into the subject matter that he was writing about.
Neupane’s five picks
Basanti
by Diamond Shumsher
When I first finished reading this book, the characters played in my head for at least a month. In this novel, Shumsher describes the love triangle between Gagan Singh Khawas, the queen and Basanti while also revealing the details of how Jung Bahadur Rana rose to power.
The book also shows us the friendship of Jung Bahadur Rana and Gagan Singh and how Rana vouched in front of the queen that Basanti was his lover to protect Gagan Singh.When the queen expresses her surprise at Rana’s choice of a married woman like Basanti, Rana justifies his emotions to the queen by saying that love sees no boundaries. “Sarkar, premle malai aakhako andho, kanko bahiro, magajko baulaha, mukhko lato tulyayo. Doshi chha bhane yo prem doshi chha.” (Love has turned me blind, deaf and mute to everything and if it really is someone’s fault, I believe the fault is of love itself.)I believe that through this book, Shumsher has correctly implied that no caste, religion or social status can separate two lovers as love is pure and sees no differences.
Palpasa Café
by Narayan Wagle
I believe that the novel “Palpasa Café” brought a revolution in Nepali writing. Previously, there was a misconception among Nepali writers that the use of difficult language and extensive vocabulary was the key to a reader’s heart, but with this book, Wagle tells us that simple and easy writing is often most popular among readers. The story material is light and yet it is relayed beautifully to the readers. The conversation and dialogues among the characters of this book are really simple yet engaging, which is why I believe this book to be of utmost importance in revolutionizing Nepali literature.
The Old Man and the Sea
by Ernest Hemingway
This novel tells us about the struggles of man. It makes us realize how we struggle to achieve various things our entire life and yet leave this world empty-handed, just the way we came. The book mainly deals about how an old fisherman finally manages to catch a huge fish after days of struggle at sea. However, in the process of hauling the giant fish back to the shore, all kinds of sea animals feed on the fish, thus leaving nothing but the bare skeleton for the man when he finally reaches the shore.
Through this, I believe that the writer suggests how, despite numerous efforts, we end up with nothing in the end and hence teaches us not to be materialistic.
Sumnima
by B.P. Koirala
I first read this novel when I was in my Intermediate level. At that time, I had the notion that our body is something that we cannot control. I felt that a person’s spirit or soul was what mattered as it didn’t wither and die with age. However, when I read this book, I realized that the body is actually the area of human existence where one can exercise his control. It helps us feel, see and experience and it is something that we must rejoice about while we can. The spirit, on the other hand, is immortal and hence it is not under our control.
Siddhartha
by Herman Hesse
Through this novel, the writer tells us that one must seek knowledge on his own and the knowledge he receives through the advices of others merely serves as information. It is a book about two friends, Siddhartha and Govinda, and how they meet Gautam Buddha in the pursuit of knowledge. Unlike Govinda, Siddhartha however realizes that one can only receive true knowledge through experience, and although Gautam Buddha was a huge philosopher, one has to seek his knowledge himself. Thus Siddhartha sets out on his journey for knowledge and in the end it is only he who gains true enlightenment.
As told to Nisha Bhatta
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