Arts

An epic on the sufferings of marginalised people. Travelogue on the remoteness and beauty of Khaptad region. Novel narrating love in times of Maoist insurgency. Pageant of poems on love and tragedy.

A book on the script of the bygone Licchavi era. Dictionary of Sanskrit words used in Nepali. History of Sati system. And a book highlighting the importance of Hiti, the traditional water spouts of Kathmandu Valley.

These, in brief, constitue the eight Nepali books shortlisted for Madan Puraskar (Award), the most prestigious literary award given annually for the best creative literary writing in Nepali.

A trust called Madan Puraskar Guthi confers the award on the first day of Dashain, the day of Ghatasthapana.

In a press statement, the Guthi said the eight books were shortlisted from a long list of 299 books that had been submitted for consideration.

Know more about the shortlisted books:

Agni by Dr Naba Raj Lamsal

Agni is an epic which depicts the plight and sufferings of marginalised people in Nepal. Revolving around the issues of caste-based discriminations and untouchability, which are common in Nepali society, the writer has used prose as a technique to depict the experiences of several members of the marginalised people in Nepal.

Going back in history, the book also deals with the story of Shah King Prithvi Narayan Shah and the Sen Kings in Nepal, who are said to have attempted to end discriminations. It also narrates how power can be used to harm marginalised people and also advises social reforms and emancipation of the marginalised people.

Grishmako Nilo Batas by Dr Damodar Pudasainee 'Kishor'

Grishmako Nilo Batas is a travelogue by Dr Damodar Pudasaini, narrating his trip to Khaptad National Park in Sudurpaschim Province in far-western Nepal. Besides narrating the culture, social behaviour, thoughts and professions of people living in the region, it also explains about the geographical remoteness, beauty within the remoteness, beliefs, and superstitions prevalent in the region.

Pointing out the problems such as lack of hotels and quality motels, transportation services and other issues, the writer strongly recommends improvement in tourism infrastructure and services in the region.

Mahabhara by Basanta Basnet

Mahabhara is a novel set in eastern Nepal during the people's war.  Mahabhara is a story of Dukpa, who is intertwined in his triangular conflict of love, politics and religion. He is mischievous and poor in his studies, but is popular in his community for his ‘Dukpa dance’.

Also he’s liked by women for his Palam songs. But he migrates to the Terai region leaving his girlfriend. The story narrates a story of how the eastern hills and its people suffered during the Maoist insurgency.

Yaadko Sanduk by Dipa Mewahang Rai

Yaadko Sanduk is a collection of poems by Dipa Mewahang Rai. The collection has poems ranging from love, tragedy, importance of relationship and so on. It is a collection of both the long and short poems. Her poems also depict the plight of Nepali people living away from their homeland in foreign countries. It narrates how they keep missing their families and relatives back home.

Lichhavi Lipi by Dr Nayanath Paudel

Lichhavi Lipi is about the origin and development of Lichhavi script. The book talks about the use of grammar in the script. The writer delves on the development of Bramhi script and describes how it has played a major role in the development of other languages such as Lichhavi, Gupta, Kutila, Nagari and Bengali langauges in the book.

Byutpattimulak Sankrit-Nepali Sabdakosh by Prof Nilmani Dhungana

Byutpattimulak Sankrit-Nepali Sabdakosh is a dictionary, a collection of Sanskrit words and their meanings and use in Nepali language. The dictionary gives extended information about the word a reader may search for. It has a collection of about 35,000 Sanskrit words (root words).

It is beneficial for those learning Nepali language and literature and those willing to learn the prefix and suffix in a root word.

Sati: Itihas ra Mimansa by Sujit Mainali

The book Sati: Itihas ra Mimansa is about the Sati system in Nepal. It deals with the historical, social and psychological aspects of the system. Discussing how the male-dominated society took advantage of the ancient custom of burning wife of a deceased man in his funeral pyre, the book also discusses other forms of violence against women such as the practise of untouchability during menstruation. 

It also talks about how the sati system was used to control a woman’s sex life and how it was used as a weapon to gain power by royal families.

Hiti Pranali by Padmasundar Joshi

Hiti Pranali is an extensive research work on the ancient Hiti system. The book talks about how the Hitis played an important role in Nepali life and how introduction of the drinking water pipes and taps covered the Hitis. It discusses at length how centralisation of the urban services created problems in their conservation.

The writer also recommends ways to rehabilitate the Hiti to revive the system as a whole. Joshi’s proposal to revive the Hiti puts mapping the system on top, alongside declaring it a national heritage, with a proper law, without its politicisation. It includes separate sewage systems in the valley, with rain sewage and exit sewage.