Showing posts with label The Sanctum of Art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Sanctum of Art. Show all posts

JU : Jadavpur University

Author: Unknown / Labels: , , , , , ,



Pic Courtesy: Google Images.


JU : Gate No - 4



The fourth gate at JU ...

Beyond the gate
are sashayed imaginations
a distance to ponder by the pond

Beyond the gate
are writings
blotched on the walls

Beyond the gate
are hordes of theories
that position to be untouched
just read, write, imagine

and of course smoke.



beyond the gate…


0 comments

“Susheli Ra Sushkera” (Whistle and sigh)

Author: Unknown / Labels: , , , , , ,








“Susheli Ra Suskhera”
A collection of short stories

#
Susheli Ra Sushkera (Whistle and Sigh)

Writer – Gahar Singh Subba “Udhasi”

#

Published by: Srijana Publication, Pragati Chowk (Soreng)

#

Year of Publication: 2012
Subject: A collection of short stories
Binding: Paperback
Price   : 100/-
Printed at: Graphics Printers, Durgaguri (Siliguri)


Gahar Singh Subba "Udashi".



“Susheli Ra Sushkera” (Whistle and sigh) is the latest collection of short stories written by Gahar Singh Subba “Udashi” also a Bhanu Puruskar Awardee, 2002. His writing has a philosophical outlook and his usage of typical Gorkha words and nuances makes his work applauded and well read in the bookshelf of Gorkha literature.

The collection contains a total of 33 short stories which are very much realistic in approach. The stories have been woven with stylistic characteristics like stream of consciousness, metaphor, allegory, de construction and many more. While existentialism, Modernity, psyche, Diaspora etc are made the theme in the various stories.

All the short stories are presented in various ways which undoubtedly gives an abundant insight of the writer in his understanding of the society. One of the story namely “Antarwarta” (Discussion) is stitched to a quote: “Man is born free but everywhere he is tied in chains” and has the leader (politician) of the people as a protagonist of the story. Likewise, some the other stories in the collection are “Rapture” which portrays the countryside life in search of the past memoirs finally realizing the memoirs to have sheltered in rapture. Aaj ko Shree Krishna ra Sudhama (Today’s Shree Krishna and Sudhama) is another short story which is just opposite to the Old story of Shree Krishna and Sudhama, trying its best to showcase the present reality of the society. Gaon ghar ma aajkal (These days in home and in Village) is yet another brilliant short story which is written with utmost craftsmanship and apt. It states the dwelling of life in materialism, it has a theme which is universal in approach namely diminishment of brotherhood, moral and ethical values.  

These were the synopsis of the three short stories out of the thirty three other Goosebumps. Gahar Singh Subba “Udashi” is well known for his usage of classic words which can be observed only after you take a look of this collection of minute short stories.

0 comments

Gorkha Imagined: Indra Bahadhur Rai in Translation

Author: Unknown / Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


Gorkha Imagined: Indra Bahadhur Rai in Translation




Gorkha Imagined: Indra Bahadhur Rai in Translation, edited by Prem Poddar & Anmole Prasad and published by Mukti Prakashan, Kalimpong is a translated book from Nepali to English with short stories and Essays by Indra Bahadhur Rai. The book is unique as the stories contained in it have the supremacy to quench the thirst of every reader for the theme applied is Universal in approach. There are a total of ten collected short stories and Essay collected from his major works. Indra Bahadhur Rai, a successful Darjeeling born Nepali author, a leading Nepali Literati and the one to have forged the “Ayamik Lekhan” (the Dimensionist Movement of which Rai was the forerunner) saw his works at times come under controversy. “From the Introductory section, In short IB’s project is to infect Nepali literature with the intellectual incomprehensibility of his mentors such as Derrida, Lacan and Baudillard and put Nepali Literature out of reach of ordinary readers”. Besides, Literature and writer grow with the critical evaluation by the critics/audience. Rai portrays the identity of Gurkha in most of his work with the usage of theme/subjects like Refugee, Asylum seekers, migrant and many more related subjects. In this book, the readers will find problems of Gurkha Identity its various crossroads of civilization, political affairs and identity.
Furthermore, Prem Poddar in his Introduction provides a synopsis to the readers on the usage of thematic and stylistic characteristics as used by Rai in most of his works. His insightful overture provides a briefing of all the stories and Essays and gives a much insightful view of the book which will add an added dosage to the readers. Some of the short stories and Essay in the book are Jarr: Euta Bhayekai Katha, Ghosh Babu, Ratbhari Huri Chalyo, Kheer, Jaimaya Aphumatra Likhapani Aipugi and Pahar Ra Khola etc.


The first in the book and a very widely renowned story amongst Nepali populace “Jarr” (Adulterer) has a somewhat Shakespearian outlook, the story revolves around three characters Thuli (meaning eldest daughter), Rudraman and Harshajit. Thuli loves Rudraman, a Gurkha lieutenant but she is not able to marry him due to familial pressure and marries her paternal cousin Harshajit. After the marriage is done and half of her marriage life is lived, Rudraman again appears and tires to whip Thuli but he is caught and taken in the Village court. The inborn controversy in the story and the chivalry at the last of the story by Rudraman transforms the ferocious enmity into miteri (Fictive). The other story in the book entitled as “Ghosh Babu” translated equivalently by Michael Hutt portrays shades of Irony by presenting a Bengali drycleaner resident in Darjeeling. Moreover, the story gives a dimensional view of Darjeeling as it unfolds in its narrative. “Kheer” (a Nepali rice pudding) is a story full of allegory emphasizing on the importance and safeguard of Values and Wisdom along with the unique Gurkha Identity, Culture and Tradition that is in the brink of diminishment. “Jaimaya Aphumatra Likhapani Aipugi” (Jaimaya alone arrived at Likhapani) exposes the aftermath problems faced by diasporas Gurkha. The sad story is about the Gurkha family left in Burma ad their pathetic journey towards their once abandoned homeland with equally exigent and challenging situations. At last, Jaimaya alone arrives at Likhapani near Assam leaving back her memoirs in the native land and in the hollow pathways. Moreover the other stories in the book are also full of Gurkha ethos portraying Universal theme and motif.


“Nepali is the major language in Nepal but a minor one in India”. Nepali is one of the 22nd officially recognized languages included in the Indian Literary language approved by the Sahitya Akademi.  The Essay in the Book deals with India as a sovereign state giving respect to each and every religion and languages. The need to understand the churning issue of ethno nationalism is vividly described with much broader approach. The uneven development of the country and the differentiation among the classes, language is also very well defined in the translated version. 
The translators of the book Lt. Dorjee Tshering Lepcha, Amole Prasad and Michael Hutt are to be commended for their work (translation) as their vocation enthralls each and every corner of the Gurkha society by their equivalent writing skill and henceforth Mukti Prakshan of Kalimpong in making the book available to the global audience. The Book “Gorkha Imagined: Indra Bahadhur Rai in Translation” is available in various book stores all around the world, all you need to do is visit some of it.

0 comments

“Call of the Hills”

Author: Unknown / Labels: , , , , , , ,


Book Review...

Call of the Hills…
A Coursebook of Indian Nepali Literature in Translation (Volume I)
ISBN: 81- 86954 -88-0
Binding: Paperback
Price   : 100/-
Printed at: Trade Con, Kolkata
Published by: Centre of Advanced Study in Comparative Literature
   Jadavpur University
   Kolkata
Year of Publication: 2012
Subject: (Coursebook) Essays and Literary Fiction.


 “Call of the Hills” is a course book which has been included in the graduation syllabus of Comparative Literature in Jadavpur University, Kolkata. The name of the book “Call of the Hills” is appropriate, for the stories contained in it deeply portrays the stories of the hills, mountains, precipice and the lifestyle of the people. The book has used English as its medium in translating the Nepali Stories into English. Altogether, the volume has a collection of three Essays and nineteen short stories written by seventeen eminent Nepali writers including three stories of Shiva Kumar Rai. The stories have been translated by students and Research scholars of Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Sikkim and Kolkata namely Martha Rai, Bishwa Devi Subba (Sikkim University), Gaurav Tamang, Gyanendra Mani Pradhan and Shradanjali Tamang (Darjeeling), Lee Pandi Fudong (Kalimpong), Sanchari Bhattacharya, Smita Basu, Debapritam Chakraborty, Rianka Roy, Shubojit Banerjee, Anshuman Bhowmick, Malini Bhattacharya, Satish Kumar and Ranjamrittika Bhowmick (Kolkata).The book is edited by Dr. Kavita Lama and Sayatan Dasgupta.

The translated stories are very strong having Universal motifs depicting the worldwide and everyday life of the Nepali speaking people of India with some stories based on the relevant social, political and economic realities. Provinces in India were created in independent India according to a language being spoken but due to the upcoming of various linguistic languages, no region/state speaks one language. For eg – languages that are spoken in Sikkim are Bhutia, Lepcha, Limboo, Gurung, Rai, Newar, Bihari, Bengali and Nepali etc. Likewise, Sayatan Dasgupta in his Introduction has given a wide view of the differences created by languages taking the linguistic cartography of South East Asia in general and the language Nepali in particular. Some of the stories contained in the book are Chaprasi by Achha Rai “Rashik” is a story woven into the social fabric of life in Darjeeling Hills and relate to the social, political and economic realities of the region, Bal Bahadhur Bishta Chettri by Ishwar Ballabh is written in a tongue cheek tone showcasing the oppression faced by a scarecrow, The Diamond Necklace (Hira ko Haar) by Shiva Kumar Rai focuses on human greed and awe for fame, authority and affluence and is also full of shock and laughter, The path a Thought Traverses ( Euta Vichar ko Yatrapath) by Indra Bahadhur Rai is a story written during the decisive period of the theory of “Dimensional Movement”, it is a story describing its theme from the language of painting, music and is presented in obliquities’ and Reality (Yatharta) by Jas Yonzone “Pyasi” focuses on love and social institutions, evoking a weird feeling and camouflaged on a ghost like story only to make the story turn more realistic with the befall of tragedy in the end. This is not the end, there are more stories of Lakhi Devi Sundas, Agam Sigh Giri, Guman Singh Chamling full of myriad thematic and stylistic characteristics and many more in the book and all you need to do is buy it from your nearest bookstores.

For me, The book tends to be important and of huge success in two ways; firstly Nepali literature which has remain untamed has not been exposed to the worldwide readers, this book with the works of seventeen writers holding different taste undoubtedly will bolster the outlook of Nepali Literature and satiate the thirst of the globalized readers’. Dr. Kavita Lama in her Foreward has stated words like “The number of translated works in Indian Nepali literature can simply be counted on one’s fingers”. True to her words, there are only few translated works but with the coming of such initiative and young talents from the hills, it might be the starting of a new era in the field of Translation and in the globalization of Nepali Literature.

Secondly, the book juxtaposes works of many eminent Nepali writers. Also the stories of the volume are being studied for the academic year 2012-13 in the Department of Comparative Literature in Jadavpur University. It is to be noted that students from myriad communities will also be learning and knowing the tradition of the Hills and also to mention the lifestyle of the Hill and Modus Vivendi of the Hill people. To strengthen the identity of the Gorkha speaking Indians through the usage of a pen and a paper is the success of this book.

0 comments

THE FLOWER SELLERS OF THE CAPITAL

Author: Unknown / Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Choki Sherpa and Sujana Rai, the flower sellers.




THE FLOWER SELLERS OF THE CAPITAL

It’s very hard to see people selling colours and happiness to people but there are some who sells contentment, happiness. Choki Sherpa and Sujana Rai have been selling gladness, a sign of bliss to the other people (customers) from the past six years. They have settled their shop beside the S.T.N.M. Hospital below the Fly over. One can see variety of flowers like Jarbera, Rose, Lilly, Anthranium and some seedlings of seasonal flowers in this mysterious place. The place is usually crowded with the hodge podge of tellurians, vehicle’s honk etc. They have now taken the business as their vocation and further while trying to understand about their life. We came to know the following fact files.

Chunki and Sujana started the vocation blindly by just thinking of engaging and making life full of activity. As time passed by, they slowly went on realizing the bitter truth of life; they had and still have to face various difficulties. They rope in flowers basically from various places of Sikkim like Daramdin, Namchi and Dughalakha etc. Even the varieties of flowers keep on changing on the basis of season and climate. Chunki further stated that People in Gangtok enjoy buying flowers and people from all walks of life come to buy flowers. She further affirmed the business to be delicate as the flowers gets damaged oftenly and if we demand 400 flowers than its very usual that out of the total flowers quarter gets damaged in the first hand only. But still, their passion is as such that it can even defeat the worst of challenges.

On the background where it’s difficult to find Government jobs, Private jobs in Sikkim in particular and the world in General, These Flowers sellers undoubtedly sets a perfect example to all the people to utilize their creations in a best way possible and further proved to be a best example of the quote “Become a job giver rather than a job seeker”. The shop keepers have now given job to two or three job seekers.
It’s just beautiful to see people buying flowers for their loved ones who might be waiting for them in home, hospital or in a Café. A flower has the potential to change the mood of men from awful to wonderful. Masochisting the pain behind, person like Chunki and Sujana still ushers multiple happiness to the people of the city. Such is the life of the Flowers Sellers and the beauty presented by the flowers. 

As “Kahlil Gibran” upon flowers has rightly stated: - “I am the lover's gift; I am the wedding wreath; I am the memory of a moment of happiness; I am the last gift of the living to the dead; I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.” 

0 comments

REMINISCING OUR HUMJAYEGA

Author: Unknown / Labels: , , , , , , ,


“REMINISCING OUR HUM JAYEGA” 

 by - Dweep Mustang. 


 Myriad streets, the coal churning toy train, clandestine lights, and a posthumous humorous man. We are talking about a man, who was/is widely known amongst the Nepalis' diaspora, for his much revered stomach aching jokes. We are talking about the posthumous HumJayega, “The King of Nepali jokes and humor”. He is at a meagre amount imagined much as a fictional character by most of the Nepali speaking people. Let me evase this distortive notion pervasive. Humjayega's original name was Dal Bahadhur Gurung, born in the early years (1921) in a very hardworking peasantry family in the outskirts of Darjeeling in a place called Chungthung Tea Garden. His father’s name was Lt. Man Bahadhur Gurung and his mother’s name, Lt Amrita Gurung. His wife’s name was Lt. Dhan Maya Gurung. Furthermore Humjayega in English means “I Will Go” as per his working audacity even in harsh situation.

                 Lt.Humjayega's Scottish Cap.







A brief account about/on HumJayega.



Dal Bahadhur Gurung, also known as Hum Jayega, had five children out of which four were girls and one, a boy: Jina Gurung, being the eldest of his daughters, followed by Jasudha Gurung “Late Geeta Gurung”, Indra Gurung and his only son Dukraj Gurung. 

 The king of Nepali humor had a unique way of life. Apart from being a jeep driver, he was a responsible family man, who took extra care of everyone. There lived a moribund society of the natives and the saheb's(Gorey babu). Darjeeling that we see today was built step by step by both the babu's and the natives. The weekly market in the past was named as "Gundri Bazaar". It maybe rendered that Darjeeling had progressed much more than the less developed other hilly regions and it was an almost surreal place to the bucolics. As a result, the centre (Darjeeling) had all its hold on the modus operandi of the periphery. 

 The wildfire that has now spread all over the forest, the first flick has to be the healing heights that the hill queen had already attained during a deficiet time. 

 Darjeeling soared high and so did Humjayega, he portrayed his life, full of pomp and grandeur. “He hardly let others feel unrest”, and would on most of the time joke with the gathering in Joey’s Pub “If we eat “Gundruk”, we should come out of our house, prickling our teeth, as if we had eaten a huge lump of meat”. Many of the people talk about Hum Jayega and regard him to have died because of extreme drinking. Far from the rumors, he was a moderate drinker, who, after drinking two pegs of alcohol, would face the mirror and joke to him-self. Dukraj Gurung, the youngest boy child of all the children, fondly remembers the yesteryears with his father Hum Jayega. Dukraj states: “There is a lot of misleading information about my father: In this world, more than being a humorous celebrity, he was a humble person, kind, down to earth and loved by the children of the village. First of all, I would consider late Hum Jayega to be the father of not only me, but of every Gurkha. He did not know English language, but still, he had that aura of entertaining all the tourists, and moreover, every tourist would want to get in the cab of Hum Jayega, “cab number WGY 1265”. He was influenced by the everyday riddles. One could find him humming typical Nepali songs like “Saili Maili Darjeeling Kasto Cha”. He happened to act in the Kollywood film, “Kusume Rumal”, and the lyrics he pronounced were written by him-self. 




The most surprising event that happened and came to be known is that he was born breech. There is a belief amongst Nepali's, that if a person is born breech, he/she can cure body aches. Dukraj Gurung states: “I use to enjoy people suffering from back-pain or body aches. My father, standing upon the body, would cure the person with his feet. There would be a queue in front of our house just to get the healing kick of my father. Dukraj opines another incident “Once, while coming from Nepal with my father, there was a sudden indefinite strike. We were in Kakarvitta, Nepal, with limited amount of money. I wanted a soft drink, so we went to a hotel where a person identified my father. Thereof, slowly, people started gathering around, and than the laughter continued.... As a result, we stayed in the same hotel for five days without payment. Each and every time I called my father, people gathered around him, would buy my more soft drinks, so that I would not disturb the guff”. Most of the older people in Darjeeling still remember his European outlook. His dress style was proper, with a Scottish hat, tidy ironed clothes, either with a chequered jacket or coat, and well-polished shoes”. 


Humjayega's Youngest son Mr.Dukraj Gurung with
Kapil Thapa, The Runners Up of Indian Idol.

As we know, he is no more with us. But HumJayega’s legacy remains, as his quotations, such as 

(i) “Royera Bidha na deu malai, ma ta hasi hasi jana chahanchu”.

(ii) “Today I drank a peg of Rum and my heart is warm, my hair is white, cheeks wrinkled with a red nose, this dirty coat and a torn note of mine, no one does accepts. Now, everyone knows me so nobody gives me anything in credit. For, Oneday Humjayega “and many more.

Before his death in "Bara kakjhora", a very harsh and coincidental plague struck during winter season. It had already led to the death of twenty-one neighbours; all the villagers were frightened and brought in shaman to look in the matter. But the plague was too enigmatic to be ceased. Hum Jayega started feeling ill. Even the hospital staff and the medicine could not save him, only to have caught his last words: (Aab kohi nahi jayega, Aab HumJayega) “Now no one is going, but I will go”. Along with his death, the avenged plague came to a halt.



His Chequered Coat and Ironed Attire.



Darjeeling is famous for its tea, toy train and landscape. But let us not forget Hum Jayega, for his unique identity may perish someday. Hum Jayega dedicated all his life to the happiness of the people. He would hide his sadness and teach people the joy of laughter. A music album on the Late. Humjayega entitled as “30 point Humjayega” with artist like Indian Idol Runner’s up Kapil Thapa, Thupden Bhutia and many more and a biography on Hum Jayega will soon be available on the market. 

4 comments

SORENG

Author: Unknown / Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,





SORENG


The place abundantly filled with nettle
It is where our ancestor happened to settle
Turning its face towards Darjeeling
The rustic sensation from “Moh-Bhir” flies with its wing
Gumpa Dara nestled in its head
People to Barsey enroute do tread.
The heart of the town
A five minute long bazaar wears a gown
Colorful myriad gown
Majestically, the heart of the town (1)


Stretching its one hand towards Timberbung,
The tune of “Haakparey” do the Limboo’s sung.
The melody of “Dohori, Haakparey” flows
By the rice, paddy field that glitteringly glows
To “Tharpu” just below its navel
The bucolic tunes just like Aesop’s fable
Suddenly arouses the man from their babble. (2)



The city of light
To the further does it bright
“I don’t want to remain in here”,
In damp; Malbasey utters in fear
Playing its reed while herding the cow
Making the enthused spirit of Budang low
What has happened and gone wrong?
Oh Shamans… elucidate the gist of the song (3)



The natives then play the tune of Malshree
Evoking the content reminiscence of by gone days
The Limboo carrying its kettle drum plays,
The myriad beat of animism.
Malbasey hereof smiles in the shade of pantheism.
The sound from the Kettle drum
And as the then tunes of Malashree hum
Mingling with the swirling flowing Rangvang rivulet (4)



The gorging and swirling “Rangvang” rivulet
To its foot positioned like bed
While Tharpu and Budang at times
Malbasey during weekends
And Timberbung, once in a blue moon
Rests their head in the bed like rivulet
While Soreng looks upon
At the bed shaped rivulet
Soreng… About to utter but calm
Obelisk and quietly stands tall. (5)




REFERENCE :-
  
  1.  Soreng – It lies to the West of Sikkim. It was previously known as “Sore-yong”. A name which was kept        by the Lepcha’s as the meaning in Lepcha - the place full of nettle.  
  2.  Lepcha – The aborigines or the natives of Sikkim.
  3.  Barsey – The Rhododendron sanctuary in West Sikkim.
  4.  Darjeeling – The famous Hill station faces Soreng face to face. Darjeeling also known as “Gundri – Bazaar” during the past yester years.
  5.  Moh – Bhir – “Mohbhir” and also known as “Bhir Dara” is the ultimate face of Soreng. It may be one of the highest precipice in Sikkim and is very unique as it attracts a lot of tourists.
  6.  Timberbung – A small mainly Limboo inherited village in Soreng.
  7.   Tharpu - A small mainly Limboo inherited village in the outskirts of Soreng.
  8.   Budang - A small village in the outskirts of Soreng.
  9.  Malshree -A beautiful tune played mostly during the celebration of Dashain. This tune gives a melancholic reminiecenes of Dashain and Tihar which is observed by the Nepali people once in a year all over the world.
  10.“Haakparey”- A limboo way of singing song which is full of rhetoric and prosody
  11.Dohori – The Nepali name for folk song which is sung between two arch rivals as they continue to thrash                                    each other by words used in their song.
  12. Malbasey – The birthplace of former Chief Minister of Sikkim. Shree Nar Bahadhur Bhandari.
  13. Rangvang Rivulet – A small rivulet that flows by the foot of Soreng.

0 comments

"The Sanctum of Art"

Author: Unknown / Labels: , , , , , , , ,


My First book entitled "The Sanctum of Art" in collaboration with Pempa Gyatso Lepcha.





LITERARY TASTE FROM THE FOOTHILLS OF HIMALAYA
“THE SANCTUM OF ART”
MADNESS & CREATIVITY

The story content in the various books deals either in the name of “Art for Art’s sake” or “Art for Humanity’s’ sake”. The book “The Sanctum of Art” deals with both types of narrative description and is a compilation of the features displaying Post Modern themes and style in Prose and Poetry. It further portrays the post modern factors like angst, absurdity and existentialism etc. The chapters in the book are all related to realistical issues except for the topic of Tibet which has been taken from the Documentary “Kekexilli,” The Mountain Patrol”.
Furthermore as quoted in the book!
Inside all human lie sublime feelings and only the one who sticks to it can express them freely and this inner tranquil place being called "THE SANCTUM OF ART". So, at this point people, readers maybe curious about what might be the inner core of the Art? There is nothing that can be hidden and there is nothing that cannot be known. Well, the sanctum of Art from the views of the reader may refer to various passionate things. It depends upon the way how they perceive the Sanctum. An Art has no limitation and in the same way Madness and Creativity are infinite and boundless. Art defines what human values and morality fails to define. There is nothing above and beyond art because the way of being Human is also an approach of Art. An art has the capacity to lend hand to the people to hold on to their Dreams, It has the capability of reaching itself to the unseen and further bringing the hidden to life. The passion and their march towards liberation of writers like John Milton, Shree Laxmi Prasad Devkota and Shree Aadi Kavi Bhanu Bhakta etc. Are we to define or term their passion as Madness or Creativity?

The Book as written by Dweep Subba in collaboration with Pempa Gyatso Lepcha has tried to label the definition in the following way –

Madness… Every day we try to learn something new gaddingly. In this march towards liberation which is swayed by passion in every voice, image, talks, gossip, situations becomes an allegory behind every writing and painting.




Creativity ... speaking for those who can't,
lending a hand to hold on to their dreams
and reaching out to the unseen...
bringing them to life,
assuring them that they are remembered,
for they too belong here
and that's why God created colours.

Madness and Creativity belongs to God, It is the Key of His creation.

Furthermore, the book was released on the eve of 198th Bhanu Jayanti Celebration in Soreng, West Sikkim. The book is now available in various book stores in Gangtok, Namchi, Darjeeling and Siliguri etc. The Book is an epoch and has been looked up as an artifact globalizing the literary taste of the Himalayan state.

0 comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Powered by Blogger.