Religious Cult of SUMNIMA

      Once Sumnima a famous book by B.P. Koirala was a topic of great discussion on  its religouus theme. It is the matter of cult that incorporates religious beliefs, traditions and practices. The novelist Koirala is very mindful of the religious differences and conflict that arises out of the difference, too. Suryadatta, the ascetic hermit tells his son Somdatta that Kirats are non-Aryans and “Non-Aryans follow the religion of beasts, but whereas we believe in the religion produced by gods”  Sumnima says that being human beings we should not follow gods’ behavior  She further adds: “Somdatta, we should practice human customs as we are human beings”.

         Somdatta has the arrogance of being a Brahmin more than a human being and tries to convince Sumnima: “Sumnima, you ignorant girl, we are Brahmins who can achieve divinity by the power of penance. All our fire sacrifices, religious activities, rituals and practices are fused together for achieving a salvage from human weaknesses; do you understand?. Sumnima does not lose her heart and refutes 

Somdatta’s argument: “If we try to live like gods, we don’t remain human”.Koirala has brought the Hindu varna system in reference to show the difference among the ethnic groups that the Brahmins are the ascetics, their duty is to go to the jungle in search of greater knowledge and Kshatriyas have kingly duty to protect the Brahmins form all dangers and save their lives and the king has the duty of managing the society. The Kirats and Bhillas have erected the hermitage for the ascetic Brahmin family and they have presented Suryadatta’s family with a milking cows. When a prince of the state visits the Brahmin family there in the hermitage, he commands his people that the ascetic family should be protected from hunger and other dangers. In addition, on the complaint of Suryadatta, the prince addresses a royal decree to the Kirats and Bhillas that they shall not sacrifice the cows and piglets around the hermitage area and declares that the place will be called Varahakshetra, or the region of the boar-god and it will be a “pilgrimage site symbolizing the incarnation of Vishnu as Varaha as propounded in our religious texts.

           The Kirats and Bhillas can continue their rituals but they have to shift the altar of sacrifice beyond the ridge. The Bijuwa, Sumnima’s father who is the head priest of the kirtats agrees to arrange the altar of slaughtering of cows and piglets at a different place beyond the hermitage area, though there is a conflict among his people. 

         

B.P. Koirala

            Koirala was the first democratically elected and 22nd Prime Minister of Nepal. He held the office for 18 months before being deposed and imprisoned at the instruction of King Mahendra. The rest of his life was spent largely in prison or exile and in steadily deteriorating health.

        BP Koirala began writing short stories in Hindi. His first stories were published in Banaras in Hansa, a Hindi literary magazine edited by Prem Chand . His first Nepali short story "Chandrabadan" was published in Sharada, a Nepali literary magazine in 1935.  

Sumnima a famous Nepali novel by B P Koirala, a former Prime Minister of Nepal is about the painful complications that arise in a man-woman relationship. The story is about the powerful attraction that exists between a Brahmin boy and an ordinary girl. It deals with the conflict within the boy who also wishes to pursue spiritual salvation but is torn between his desire for this woman and his urge for spiritual emancipation. To surmount carnal desires is not possible for an ordinary mortal and the pleasures of the flesh have a place in life. The Brahmin boy is serious about his spiritual goals but succumbs to the charms of a lovely girl. 

While Koirala is considered one of the most charismatic political leader of               Nepal, he was also one of the most well-read and thoughtful writers of Nepalese literature. He wrote short stories and novels, and some poems. BP Koirala began writing short stories in Hindi. 

  

        His first stories were published in Banaras in Hansa, a Hindi literary magazine edited by Prem Chand (India's Tolstoy). His first Nepali short story "Chandrabadan" was published in Sharada, a Nepali literary magazine in 1935. Koirala was very good at depicting the character and mind of women. Four other stories of Koirala were included in Katha Kusum (an anthology of Nepali stories), published in 1938 in Darjeeling. As a social realist, with good psychological insight as he was first writer to write stories and novels based on human psychology in history of Nepalese literature, Koirala had established himself as one of the most important Nepali short story writers by 1938. Doshi Chashma [Guilty Glasses], Koirala's anthology of sixteen short stories, was published in 1949. He was one of the greatest writer to contribute to the Nepali literature. 

  

         Koirala was very busy in the 1950s as he was often found amidst the political situations of Nepal. He was, however, able to write an incomplete novel Hitlar ra Yahudi (Hitler and the Jews) in the form of travelogue. The 1960s were very productive for Koirala in terms of his literary output. He wrote many novels and short stories in jail during 1960–68. They include: Tin Ghumti (Three Turns), 1968; Narendra Dai (Brother Narendra), 1969; Sumnima (A story of the first Kirata woman), 1969; Modiain (The Grocer's Wife), 1980; Shweta Bhairavi (The White Goddess of Terror), 1983; Babu Ama ra chora (Father, mother and sons), 1989; and an incomplete autobiography Mero Katha (My Story), 1983, and many more yet to be published.

Biography

Koirala died in 1982 at 67 years old leaving so many books for the Nepali writers.

Laxmi Prasad Devkota

               Laxmi Prasad Devkota ,a greatest poet in Nepali literature, play wright and Novelist  was born in 1909 In Dillibazzar Kathmandu to a father Tilmadhab Devkota and mother Amar Rajyalaxmi Devi. He was honored as a great poet in Nepali literature. His widely popular book Muna Madan along with Sulochana ,Kunjini,Bhikhari were also equally popular.He was the father of five daughters and four sons. 

                  He was named Laxmi prasad because he was born on the night of Laxmi Puja, Hindus worship Goddess Laxmi at that night So according to Hindu culture he was as a gift of Laxmi(goddess of wealth) but he remained poor throughout his life and became a gift  of Saraswoti (goddess of Knowledge) Devkota Started school at Durbar High school. He wrote his first poem at school and he preferred reading and writing. He was quiet and excellent student and got married at the age of fifteen while he was at school. He finished his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws at Tri-Chandra College and Patna University. Because of the week the financial condition his desire to complete master degree was uncompleted. He taught in two well-known public campus of Nepal, Tri- Chandra colleges and Padma Kanya College. 

               Devkota was never smoker when he was at school and college but when he started smoking, he became a chain smoker for rest of his life. He lost his father mother and two-year-old daughter at his mid-thirties which resulted him to be an excessively nervous. because of that his brother became so nervous enough to send him to Rachi Mentel Hospital for 5 months. He was so generous that there are so many stories related to his generosity. Once when saw a beggar shivering in cold he gave his coat. he has finished his salary so many times at the someday he had gotten by giving to the beggar. he has some funny stories too related to his life. Once he had been invited to join in poetic Program when it was over all participants were given some kinds of snacks but he didn’t get because he was in his old clothe. Next day he had attended the same program with coat pant and tie .he was given that VIP snacks on that day so he fed his food to his clothes .And he had complained to the organizer that whether the food was given to the guest or to the clothes? 

               Laxmi Prasad Devkota was not active in any well-established political party but his poetry consistently embodies an attitude of rebellion against the oppressive Rana dynasty. During his self-exile in Varanasi, he started working as editor of Yugvani newspaper of the Nepali Congress party, leading to confiscation of all his Nepali property by the Rana Government. After Introduction of democracy through Revolution of 1951, Devkota was appointed as a member of Nepal Shalakar Samiti in 1952 by King Tribhuvan. Later in 1957, he was appointed as Minister of Education and Autonomous Governance under the premiership of Kunwar Inderjeet Singh. 

             His widely popular Muna Madan is still popular in Nepali literature. A  

Kshatriya touches your feet not with hatred but with love. 

Great is a man with a great heart; not with great caste, creed. 

He was born in a first-class Brahman family but his thought was so great which was 100 years ahead of his time.  

He died due to cancer in 1959.He is still shining in the sky of Nepalese literature as a greatest poet.