Trend of Nepali Literature
Sunil Kumar Poudyal
Past is the milestone of the present or it is the foundation of the present. In other words, the present is the product of the past. Therefore, we cannot escape the past but that does not mean to stick onto it. Past always opens a door from where we venture to the path of progress. It teaches us to correct, improve and brighten our sphere. This is the reason why we human beings pay due reverence and importance to the bygone personalities.
While discussing the trend of Nepali literature, thus, we should, at least, cursorily discuss the trend of the beginning of our literature. The heroic poems, a trend during the unification of Nepal by king Prithvi Narayan Shah, were written by Subananda Das, Sundarananda, Shaktiballav Aryal and some others. Although Shakti Ballav Aryal had already translated Mahabharat in Nepali before Bhanu Bhakta Acharya (1814—1868 CE) (1871—1925 BS) had ‘Ramayan,’ the latter has been considered and valued as the pioneer poet of Nepal. There were some other poets also in Nepal before him. Out of the books of Bhanubhakta, Ramayan is very popular till date. The social values and norms reflected in the literature of his era manifests devotional compositions i.e., writing about God and also heroic poems. When we see Bhanu Bhakta’s poems, we find some tint of satirical elements too in his writing, writing about the sluggishness of bureaucracy (Vinti dittha, bichari harookana kati garoo, kyana bhanchhan yee bholi, bholi bholi hundaima sab ghar bitigo, baksiyos aja jholi) and the worst situation of prison (lamkhutte, upiyan, udush yee sangi chhan yinakai lahada ma basee, lamkhutte haroo gaunchhan yee upiyaan nachchhan ma herchhu basee).
Writing about British imperialism was also a trend of this period which can be found in the writings of Vani Vilash and Yadunath. Similarly, Shashidhar, Sant Dildas, Gyan Dildas and some others were also seen writing devotional poems but had faith in Brahma. These poets writing the poems under Nirgun Bhakti Dhara had manifested their protest against religious and social discrimination and also against oppression in their poems. In one sense, it could be called a beginning of the progressive elements where we can see the writers’ pen running with the intention of reformation and change in the existing system. Similarly, prose writing also started in this period where we see Shakti Ballav Aryal, Shiva Bhakta and others who included religious as well as mystic elements in their writing.
When we come to the Moti Ram Bhatta era (1940 to 1976) [life:1923-53], we find a trend of writing poems manifesting love (sringar ras) as the primary motive of writing. A collection of such love poems can be seen in “Sooktisindhu.” Besides this, the era has come up with the writings about patriotism, moral didactic, social reformation, doxology to the rulers etc. Similarly, devotional poems also were in use in writing in this era. An example of “Gajendra Mokchhya” and “Pralhad Bhakti Katha” by Moti Ram Bhatta and the writing of Rajib Lochan’s “Kalikashtak” and Ramanath’s “Bairagyabodh” are some of the examples.
“Makaiko Kheti” by Krishna Lal Adhikari was a book symbolically written against the Rana autocratic regime, due to which he was jailed and passed away in the cell. The influence of Arya Samaj increased in Nepal in the 1960s AD which also started a movement for religious and social reforms. As an outcome of it, Dharanidhar Koirala and Mahananda Sapkota penned awakening poems against the autocracy for the establishment of democracy. Around this time, we find Yogmaya, the boldest religious and energetic woman in a very backward society of the far eastern part of Nepal, Bhojpur. Her contribution of that time to awakening people victimized under the existing cruel feudal system and also against various kinds of discriminative tradition running in the society has no comparison. Her extempore recitation of poems, later collected in a book in the name of “Sarbartha Yogabani,” though a religious book which was banned by the autocratic Rana Ruler, was against gender discrimination, casteism and traditional religious and cultural faith. She was not only the social reformation activist but also an advocate. She not only pleaded for widow marriage but also against social inequalities. Her poems clarify that she was the pioneer in real sense with a realist and reformist inclination in her thought, action and the works of art.
In the 1990s B.S., some young persons formed Praja Parishad, Prachanda Gorkha and Raktapat Committee. They were all political entities to launch a voice against the autocratic Rana regime. These organizations also played a vital role to arouse awareness among the people which also enthused the writers to write works of art against tyranny, social discrimination and for the establishment of democracy. This very disgruntlement and related activities prevalent among Nepali intellectuals and conscious citizens against the existing social system invented romanticism and realism in Nepali literature.
The development of Nepali literature as in the literature of other languages corresponds with the development of society. Pre-revolution era started from 1990 to 2007 BS. Many prominent poets were born in the 20th century. Among them were Lekha Nath Poudyal and Balkrishna Sam. Lekh Nath is influenced by the era of Bhanu Bhakta’s tradition of old Sanskrit classical poems. His contribution naturally contributed to enrich and refine language. Laxmi Prasad Devkota and Balkrishna Sam look influenced by the western literature. During Rana autocratic dynastic rule, though there was no free writing in literature, rebellion sparks appeared in the writings of writers, especially of the poets’ poetry which explicitly or implicitly aroused people’s sentiment against the regime depicting hope of emancipation through democracy. Some of the poets rebelling against the socio-politico and economic situation of that time were Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Siddhi Charan Shrestha and some more.
The progressive and patriotic pronouncement started to take considerable pace through the pens of Siddhi Charan Shrestha, Gopal Prasad Rimal, Yuddha Prasad Mishra, Laxmi Prasad Devkota and some others. The rebellion deliberation started through the pen of Gopal Prasad Rimal. The beginning of progressive writing flourished from 1951 following the dissolution of colonialism in the Globe extending the influence of Marxism.
The people’s movement of 2007 BS destabilized autocratic Rana rule, opening the door of democracy politically which brought a great change in all the spheres of society, the literature naturally could not stand apart and opened the way to realism in literature. New trend of literature, especially in the West, influenced the works of Nepali writers too. Devkota looks highly influenced by romanticism as a complement to realism which we can see in most of his creations. The romanticism trend continued as a major trend until the death of Devkota which can still be seen in Nepali literature but not as a major trend. Many poets of his time have been influenced by romanticism. Devkota’s imaginative power in writing is so rich that it is incomparable. Later part of his writings looks to head toward progressiveness. Besides, humanism and realism have been one of the basic trends in the writings of most of the writers, be they from their home country or from Indian soil. The establishment of democracy in 1951 AD (2007B.S.) invented civil rights and freedom of expression which invited realist literature and similarly socialist realism in Nepalese literature. The beginning of realism is believed to be started by a popular story writer, Guru Prasad Mainali. Some writers under the influence of Marxism also have contributed a lot to Nepali literature, calling their creations as progressive one.
Existentialism and Freudian tints are another trend in some of the writers of this time. Most popular of them is Parijat whose existentialist ideology is obvious in “Shirish ko Fool'' and the Freudian spirit is seen in the writing of Bishweshwor Prasad Koirala, one example among some is his story “Karnel ko Ghoda.”
The coup d'état of 2017 spoiled freedom of expression. Writers could not express their opinion openly in writing which invented experimentalism. The trend of using imagery, futurism-optimism for future, symbolism, surrealism etc. was the major trend in the literature of that time. Third Dimension was influential at a time where some writers like Indra Bahadur Rai, Ishwar Ballav, Bairagi Kahila, and others were some of them associated with a kind of writing under the concept of third dimension.
The Freudian tints again appeared in the writing of some writers in this period. Some names of powerful Freudian writers are Pushkar Lohani and Prema Shah. Similarly, Boot Polish, Amlekh, Ralpha dissident groups appeared in the literary scenario to manifest their protest against the Panchayat system.
Modernism as a theme in the writing of Nepali literature entered from the advent of multiparty democracy in 1951 AD. Although a tint of modernity in writing was seen about three decades before 1951. The modernity theme was massively found in the writings of then writers. However, since the first world war a great change started in the world in the thinking of human beings. Nepal was also not exceptional. The havoc of lives of many promising people and property deeply shocked the mind of the people and the trend to write against war was established for some time. Their hatred of war and the competition of armament reflected in the writings of some writers. The other side of the writing was a reverence to heroic deeds of the people engaged in war. However, the hatred against war was more powerful and convincing to the mass of the people.
One thing which is to be noted here is that postmodernism has very close connection with globalization ideologically following the thinking of its development in the 1960s in western countries, though it appeared in the 1970s in Nepal. It is a trend which can be explicitly seen in contemporary Nepali literature. Indra Bahadur Rai has been given credit to import this trend in Nepal which was extended by popular writers like Govinda Raj Bhattarai, Krishna Gautam and some others. As it does not give due importance to social responsibility and social role of literature, its influence in Nepali literature is limited. No doubt, it also pleads for identity but does not favor Grand Narrations or main principles of modernism. In essence, it has appeared in the opposition of Marxism and it also pleads against modern outlook and values in literature.
The ten years’ people’s revolution induced the other existing political parties to actively participate in the national movement to throw out the age long monarchy to establish a federal republican system of rule in the country. The political upheaval brought about a great political awareness and change in the thinking of the people which the literary society could not remain untouched. The situation invented a trend to write about the marginalized community, especially the Dalits, women, aboriginal etc. Many novels and poems of this age have given focal attention to these sectors in their writings and have also become popular among the readers.
Progressive thinking in Nepalese literature, though has been as old as the trend to write to arouse consciousness against tyranny of the then rulers, the trend has a very strong and important place in contemporary Nepali literature.
With a faith on the values that the literature should be utilized as an aesthetic weapon intelligently and cautiously written to bring creative changes of the society. Many writers have honestly articulated the theme in their writings. Besides, a trend in manifestation of dissatisfaction created by political megalomania, dishonesty, apathy, vested interest of the leaders etc. have hammered the sensible writers to write against those malpractices to let the general people know about the political parties and their leaders. It is not that there is no lacking and/or weakness in their writings. But they have very cautiously maintained the progressive trend in their writing which can be leveled as socialist realism. Some writers influenced to write under socialist realism are Parijat, Shyamal, Bimal Niva, Sita Sharma, Kunta Sharma, Laxmi Mali, Narayan Dhakal, Poornabiram, Khagendra Sangraula, Ismali, Matrika Pokharel and many others. One thing we should not forget that some critics who played a vital role in enriching progressive criticism and Marxist aestheticism are Ananda Dev Bhatta, Gobinda Bhatta, Ninu Chapagain, Mohan Baidya, Ramhari Poudyal,Tara Kanta Pandeya, Amar Giri, Ramesh Bhattarai, Sudha Tripathi, Hem Poudel, Purushottam Subedi and others. Their unprejudiced criticism has helped the writers of progressive writings for the refinement of their works. Similarly, Abhi Subedi, Krishna Prasain, Dinesh Adhikari, Manu Brajaki, Sanat Regmi, Manu Manjil, Shravan Mukarung are some of the writers who could be categorized to write under the trend of critical realism whereas Svapnil Smriti, Keval Binabi and Rajan Mukarung are among the writers writing in favor of Identity.
Almost around the time of reinstate of multiparty democracy, Nepali literature started to be influenced by the capitalists’ dominance- Globalization which can be found in all genres of literature. But a recent trend which has deeply rooted in Nepali literature is the commercialization of literature. It has come to be considered as a trade where the manufacturers keep in view the importance of profit. The literature that looks saleable by the publishers are published forgetting other things. So, the writers are also influenced by this trend as they also need their writings published and earn pecuniary benefit. It does not mean that the writers in recent decades simply follow the trading trend. Some writers who have gained fame as well as pecuniary benefit by their pens have serious and standard writings too. But some are written to drag the attention of the readers especially for monetary gain. In conclusion, Nepali literature within the recent decade has been influenced more or less by postmodernism, critical realism and also by socialist realism. Some are very influential in the genre and some weak.
There are some other trends which are still in existence though they have very little influence in contemporary writing. One is a traditional trend which follows the ideals of classics. Writers to write under this trend are negligible. Similarly, there is a regressive trend which is also negligible.
Reference
1. Pen Himalaya, Mukul Dahal
2. History of Nepali Literature-Ananda Nepal
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