Stories of Sandeept

Experiences of a common man!

Tag: History

Conflict Management for Positive Transformation: Examples From Literature and History

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On February 2, 2025

In Blogging, Evolution, Humans and Humanity, Musings, Philosophical

Conflict, whether external or internal, is a driving force for transformation. It brings out the truths and vulnerabilities of individuals, communities, and societies. When these vulnerabilities are managed, conflict results in positive change. The role of conflict in transformation is a permanent theme in literature, a recurring example in history, and a profound truth for an individual.

Conflict and Transformation in Literature

Conflict brings out the best as well as the worst in an individual. This can be seen clearly in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Raskolnikov, in the early chapters of the novel, possesses a view that “extraordinary men” can transcend morality and commit crimes. His poor financial situation leads him to think that killing the pawnbroker, who was probably cheating him, would be for the “greater good”. After he commits the crime, however, he is consumed by guilt, fear, and paranoia. He can come out of it once he realises through Sonia’s love that his past philosophy was flawed, and he prepares for a more peaceful life.

The idea of “extraordinary man” bringing a great conflict is also explored in Frank Herbert’s Dune series. When the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV sends the Atreides, the rulers of Caladan, to the desert planet Arrakis (aka Dune), replacing the Harkonnens, the conflict between them reaches a tipping point. The conflict escalates when Paul Atreides, fuelled by his desire for revenge against the family rivals, Harkonnens and the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, exploits the myths of Lisan Al-Gaib and frees the Fremen from slavery. However, the savoir complex in him leads to a Jihad that kills over 61 million humans. He also justifies this catastrophe as a necessary action to end people’s admiration for messianic figures and hero worship. The chronicles clearly show how conflicts unmanaged through generations can result in huge losses. It also shows how the resolution of conflict brings out the best in humanity as they set to explore the universe on their own, discarding the need for a messiah.

Perhaps the best depiction of unmanaged family conflict leading into global warfare is the battle of the Mahabharata. The five sons of Pandu (Pandavas) and the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra (Kauravas) face each other in this family feud along with their allies from around the globe. The origin of the conflict has a root, however, when Devbrata (Bhishma) takes vows to refuse the throne and remain celibate to please his father, Shantanu, and his stepmother, Satyavati. This act robs Hastinapur of its strong ruler and the true male heir.

When his half-brothers, Chitrangad and Vichitravirya, die early, the male lineage of the Kuru dynasty genetically. However, through niyoga, Dhritarashtra and Pandu are born. Although Dhritarashtra is the eldest, he is denied the throne because of his blindness. Pandu becomes a king, despite his weak, sickly body. However, he soon leaves the palace after being cursed by a sage to die if he engages in a sexual act. Despite his restraints, Pandu succumbs to his desires and dies. He is not without heirs, though. Through a mantra, his wives Kunti and Madri have given birth to five divine sons. In Hastinapur, Dhritarashtra is crowned as the king. He promises his eldest son, Duryodhan, to pass on the throne and starts preparing accordingly.

Dhritarashtra’s repressed desires for power manifest into bitterness when Kunti returns with her sons. The fact that her eldest, Yudhisthir, is older than Duryodhan means that Yudhisthir was a challenger for the throne. The Kauravas become bitter, and although everyone knows of this, nobody takes action to bring the Pandavas and Kauravas to negotiations and solve the conflict. The brewing tensions escalate after the Draupadi, the common wife of the Pandavas, is brought to the court and disrobed. This episode makes the war inevitable and peace impossible.

The aftermath of the war shows the victors, Pandavas, distressed and sort of lost. They try, however, to sustain their kingdom as much as possible, setting the foundation for the next generation to come.

Conflict and Transformation in History

Examples of leadership arising from conflict are also evident from history. Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi’s experiences in South Africa changed his attitude towards the British, and he became one of the major freedom fighters for independent India. Similarly, apartheid in Africa gave rise to Nelson Mandela, and racial discrimination brought about leadership qualities in Rosa Park, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X.

In Nepal, too, the decade-long armed conflict between the Mablets and the government brought into light the discrimination of upper caste over lower caste, cultural suppression, and lack of opportunities for the backward communities. The Comprehensive Peace Accord 2006, the Constitution of Nepal 2015, and many other agreements have addressed the marginalisation and put forth mechanisms to solve the issues.

Conflict at an individual level


At an individual level, conflict can help one identify their truths and vulnerabilities. Conflicts can arise when a person has set up certain ideals and wants to follow them. When reality shatters their ideals, they feel weak and can’t accept reality. However, acceptance of reality and confrontation of harsh truths make one stronger. This also gives them a way forward in life.

I too have faced several problems where I feel like I am at a crossroads. When I left my job for preparation of PSC exams, I had no idea where I would go. However, it also made me ambitious and target-orientated. The strong sense of. “I must do it” helped me crack an exam at one level.

Conclusion

The role of conflict in transformation is, thus, a universal phenomenon. However, we should also be careful, for conflict can not only be transformative but also destructive. Sometimes, oversight can make us believe that conflict has no negative effect, but it can turn out to be so. When left unmitigated, conflict destroys individuals, splits families, weakens societies, and collapses countries. Therefore, it is wise to handle conflict as a double-edged sword and work out ways to bring transformation rather than destruction. Literature, history, and individual experiences have revealed that struggle is the source of transformation. Conflict forces individuals and societies to confront their limitations, reimagine possibilities, and evolve. Whether through the internal torment of a character like Raskolnikov, the sociopolitical struggles of the Maoist movement, or individual experiences, conflict is the engine of transformation, propelling humans toward growth and renewal.

निर्विकल्प पुस्तक आवरण

पुस्तक समीक्षा: निर्विकल्प

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On October 2, 2024

In Book Review, Nepali, Philosophical, नेपाली

बाहुन परिवारमा जन्मिएर पनि मलाई संस्कृत आउँदैन । शिक्षा प्रणाली नै त्यस्तै थियो र छ । संस्कृत भनेको पुरेत्याइँ गर्नको लागि मात्रै हो र यो मृत हुन लागेको भाषा पढेर केही हुँदैन भन्ने सोच ८-१० वर्षको उमेरमा घुस्यो । वेद, पुराण, रामायण, महाभारत, गीता आदि इत्यादि पढ्न अरू भाषाको सहारा लिनुपर्ने भयो । संस्कृत थोरै मात्रै पनि सिक्नुपर्ला भन्ने सोच आइरहेका बेला उत्प्रेरकका रूपमा “निर्विकल्प” भेटेँ ।

निर्विकल्प पुस्तक आवरण

संस्कृत भाषा, वैदिक सनातन धर्म र हिन्दू सभ्यताका विभिन्न आयामको परिचयात्मक पुस्तक हो “निर्विकल्प” । सिद्धराज पन्तद्वारा लिखित यस पुस्तकलाई चार खण्डमा विभाजित गरिएको छ । संस्कृत वाङ्मय लगायतका विभिन्न सन्दर्भमार्फत् सनातन धर्मका बारेमा सरल शब्दमा बुझाउने प्रयास गरिएको छ ।

पहिलो खण्ड “नचिनेको मणि” मा सारा ब्रह्माण्ड र सम्पूर्ण प्राणी पृथ्वी, जल, तेज, वायु र आकाश अर्थात् पञ्चमहाभूतबाट बन्ने भएकाले “वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम” को मन्त्र सनातनीहरूले अपनाउने मत छ । यस खण्डमा सत्य एक भएपनि अनेक मत हुन सक्ने तर्क प्रस्तुत गर्दै सनातन धर्मले कुनै पनि पन्थका मतलाई अस्वीकार नगर्ने कुरामा जोड दिइएको छ । त्यस्तै, वैदिक परम्परा, श्रुति, स्मृति, इतिहास, आगम, सिद्धान्त र दर्शनको परिचय छ ।

पुस्तकको दोस्रो खण्ड “धर्म विज्ञान” रहेको छ । यसमा संस्कृत भाषाको निर्माण, सात बार किन र कसरी रहे, छन्दको मिठासजस्ता विषयहरू समेटिएको छ । साथै, श्रीमद्भागवत गीतामा रहेको निष्काम कर्मयोगको विषय पनि उठाइएको छ । एउटा अध्यायमा “धर्म निरपेक्ष” शब्दको पूर्ण रूपमा खण्डन गरिएको छ । चर्च र राजाबिचको द्वन्द्वका कारण चर्चलाई राजाका निर्ण्यबाट स्वतन्त्र राख्न आविष्कार भएको सेक्युलारिज्मको अनुवाद “धर्म निरपेक्ष” होइन । राज्यको कुनै धर्म हुँदैन भनेर “धर्म निरपेक्ष” शब्दको प्रयोग हुनु नै विस्मयकारी छ । किनकि राज्य (सञ्चालक) को धर्म जनतालाई सुख, समृद्धि, सुरक्षा आदि कुराहरूलाई सहज बनाउनु हो । पन्थ वा सम्प्रदायलाई धर्म भन्ने गरिएको प्रति लेखकको असन्तुष्टि छ जसमा म पनि सहमत छु ।

तेस्रो खण्ड “वर्णाश्रमधर्म” सोही विषयमा केन्द्रित छ । वर्णाश्रम धर्मलाई वेद, पुराण, स्मृति, इतिहास सबैमा महत्त्व दिइएको छ । “निर्विकल्प” मा पनि मनुस्मृति र महाभारतको शान्तिपर्वमा वर्णित वर्णाश्रम व्यवस्थाको चर्चा गरिएको छ जसले ब्राह्मण, क्षेत्रीय, वैश्य र शुद्रका विशेषताको बारेमा जानकारी पाइन्छ । चारै वर्णका धर्मका विषयमा विशेष चर्चा छ । वर्णाश्रम न्याय प्रणालीमा शुद्रलाई कम सजाय र ब्राह्मणलाई सबैभन्दा धेरै सजाय दिइने कुरा पढ्दा आश्चर्यमा परेको थिएँ । यसमा लेखकको तर्क यस्तो किसिमको छ, “कुनै विशेषज्ञ चिकित्सकले लापरबाही गरेमा उपचाररत व्यक्तिको मृत्यु हुन सक्छ र उसले ज्यानमारा मुद्दा खेप्नुपर्ने हुन सक्छ तर सफाइ गर्ने कर्मचारीको गल्ती क्षम्य हुन सक्छ ।”

त्यस्तै, यस खण्डमा कोभोडलगायतका विभिन्न उदाहरण दिएर छुवाछूत कुनै न कुनै रूपमा हुने तर्क दिइएको छ । छुवाछूतका भौतिक, मनोवैज्ञानिक र सामाजिक कारण केलाउँदै छुवाछूत संस्थागत भएको हालको अवस्थाको पनि विरोध गरिएको छ ।

अन्तिम खण्ड “आततायी कालखण्ड” हिन्दू जातिले भोगेका आक्रमण र तिनबाट भएको धर्म र सनातनीको क्षयीकरणलाई समेटेको छ । इस्लाम पन्थको सुरुवात, “काफिर” विरुद्धका आक्रमण, हिन्दू राज्यमाथि गरिएका छलकपट र लुटको विवरण छ । नालन्दाजस्ता विश्वविद्यालयमा हुने विद्यार्थी छनौट प्रकृया, वरपरका गुरुकुलको वर्णन साथै तिनको विनाशको चर्चा छ । राति विवाह गर्ने, हिन्दू नारीहरूले घुम्टो लगाउने, बालविवाहजस्ता प्रचलन त्यही बेला सुरु भएको रहेछ । यस्तै विवरण लेखनाथ पौड्यालको “सत्य-कलि-संवाद” मा पनि रहेछ्न् ।

यस खण्डमा अङ्ग्रेजले भारतमा गुरुकुलहरू लाखौंको सङ्ख्यामा रहेको, त्यहाँ पढ्नेमा शुद्रहरूको सङ्ख्या बढी रहने गरेको र त्यस प्रणालीलाई अन्त्य गर्न अङ्ग्रेजी शिक्षा प्रणाली सुरु गरी भारतीयलाई सोतर्फ आकर्षित गरेको कुरा प्रमाणसहित दिइएको छ । विस्तारै गुरुकुल परम्परालाई नाश गर्दै भारतीयको आत्मविश्वास गिराउने काम अङ्ग्रेजले गरेको तर्क लेखकको छ । नरेन्द्र मोदी प्रधानमन्त्री भएपश्चात् केही आत्मविश्वास बढेको विश्वास लेखकको रहेको छ ।

पुस्तकमा अलि चित्त नबुझेको कुरा चैं वर्णाश्रम धर्मलाई विदेशीले फुटाउन प्रयोग गरे भन्ने तर्क हो । वर्णाश्रम साँच्चिकै शास्त्रानुरूप चलेको भए विदेशीले अपव्याख्या गर्न सक्ने नै थिएनन् । ब्राह्मणको छोरा ब्राह्मण र राजाका छोरा राजा नै हुने प्रसङ्गहरू महाभारतमै पनि टन्नै छ्न् भने मुस्लिमहरूको आक्रमण हुने बेलासम्ममा के अवस्था थियो होला ? महाभारतमा विदुरलाई छाडेर दासपुत्र उच्च ओहदामा पुगेको याद छैन । दासदासी राख्ने चलन थिएन र राख्दा पनि सम्मानसाथ राखिन्थ्यो भन्ने तर्क पनि अलि कमजोर नै छ ।

नेपालमा सनातन धर्ममा मुस्लिम आक्रमणले पारेका प्रभाव खासै केलाइएको छैन । नेपाल र भारतका परम्पराहरू किन फरक छ्न् भन्ने विषयमा केही चर्चा गरिएको भए हुन्थ्यो । “हिन्दू” शब्दको व्याख्यामा जम्बुद्वीप पूरै अटेको छ तर यही उत्पन्न बौद्ध, जैन, किराँत, जस्ता पन्थ र दर्शनको खासै चर्चा छैन । त्यस्तै, अन्तिम खण्डमा “सङ्गम टक्स” युट्युब च्यानलमा गरिएका प्रस्तुतिहरूलाई धेरै ठाउँमा स्रोतका रूपमा लिइएको छ । धेरै स्रोतहरू समेटिएको भए अझै राम्रो हुने थियो । एउटै स्रोत प्रयोग गर्दा बायस्डनेस हुने कुरा पेशाले इन्जिनियर समेत रही सक्नु भएका लेखकले याद गर्नुपर्थ्यो ।

अन्त्यमा, सनातन धर्म र यसका विशेषताको चर्चा गरिएको “निर्विकल्प” एक पठनीय पुस्तक हो । यसलाई थुप्रै एपमा सित्तैमा डाउनलोड गर्न सकिन्छ ।

Book Review: Killers of the Flower Moon

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On October 8, 2023

In Book Review, Humans and Humanity

The teaser of Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” captivated me in an instant. From the comments, I discovered that it is based on the book of the same name by David Grann. This is a review of the book.

The discovery of oil in Oklahoma in the early twentieth century made Osage the richest tribe on the planet. A few decades ago, the tribe had been chased from Kansas to bare land in Oklahoma and had been forced to adopt the ways of the white people. An officer is known to have said, “[American] Indian must conform to the white man’s ways, peacefully if they will, forcibly if they must.” 

Since Osage were hunters and gatherers, they were inept in farming. Also, because of the unproductive land, and the elimination of bison (their major source of food) by the whites, they were dying of famine. When the first oil well was tapped, they were elated. Having seen and experienced the exodus of other American Indian tribes, the Osage had made a deal with the federal government that they be granted headright over any mineral resources discovered in their new land. This gave them the riches. However, the U.S. government did not allow American Indian tribes to use the money on their own. They needed a white guardian. That’s why the Osage elders also believed that wealth was a curse.

In May 1921, the fears of the Osage materialized with the death of Anna Brown. Until 1925, there were 24 Osage murders, all of which had different modus operandi. The investigation of these murders got challenging because of corrupt local sheriffs, attorneys, and others in power. The Osage sought help from the federal government. However, even the federal government did not have an official investigation organization. The agents of the Bureau of Investigation, as it was called then, did not have the right to arrest anyone. In such a situation, Hoover, the BoI chief, sent Tom White for investigation. How Tom arranged a team and solved the mystery of the murders is the central narrative of David Grann’s 2016 non-fiction “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

The book chronicles the history of the Osage, from rags to riches and how their murders brought changes in the then Bureau of Investigation, and to eventual formation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Despite being a real story, at times, the plot sometimes seem to have been picked from a movie. (Or do the movies take some elements from the Osage murders?) It’s scary how racist policies of the white Americans against American Indians along with greed brought hell to indigenous tribes.

Towards the end of the book, Grann mentions that there were some errors in the way the murder cases were solved. Although Tom White and the Bureau of Investigation identified one major schemer, they overlooked several other possible criminals. Some murders still remain unsolved and many others ignored for illnesses. This gives the Osage murders a new perspective and the picture of a bigger problem at that time–systematic oppression.

There was a significant error in the book. Grann writes: 

“The head of Standard Oil warned a former Harding campaign aide, “I understand the Interior Department is just about to close a contract to lease Teapot Dome, and all through the industry it smells….I do feel that you should tell the President that it smells.” 

Because I had finished reading Leonardo Maugeri’s “The Age of Oil” recently, I knew that Standard Oil was dismantled in 1911. However, the Teapot Dome scandal occurred during the presidency of Warren G. Harding from 1921 to 1923. That’s why it is not possible for Standard Oil’s head to warn anybody about the “oil’s smells.”

Another error (?) is in the title. In the first page of the book, Grann refers to the large moon in May as the promoter of larger prairie plants such as the spiderwort and black-eyed Susans. These plants dominate and kill small flowers like Johnny jump-ups and bluets. The title is also a reference to a poem written in 2009 by an Osage poet, Elise Paschen. The poem also refers to the killer-of-the-flowers moon. That’s why the title feels somewhat wrong.

Other than these, I found the book informative and thought-provoking.

The Deserted Landscape

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On December 18, 2019

In Nepal, Humans and Humanity, Life, Nature, Science And Society

Down below is a river valley that widens in the southwest as it mixes with the Sunkoshi. This terrace is fertile, as evident from the cultivated farms. Less than 50 metres higher, where we stand, there is a different scenario. The soil is red, hard, and clayey. Trees, here are rare. Bushes are scanty and prickly. Cacti have reached heights of more than 3 metres.

A view from Ratmate

Are we walking on a desert?

When I say “desert”, the first image you usually come up is that of arid, sandy land with little to no vegetation, no water, mirages, and camels. You are not wrong. Your mind has what popular culture has engraved in it. The popular culture shows just one picture of desert that is actually a rare phenomenon. Only one of the things that you thought of is common in deserts: scarcity of water.

Does this area lack water?

We survey this area close to Ratmate[1] Bazaar, Sindhuli. The surface has been scoured by running water. These rills imply the relative impermeability of the soil. (We also confirmed the very low permeability by a simple infiltration test). This almost impermeable soil does not allow water to infiltrate (and so the rills form!). Thus, there is no possibility for occurrence of spring or well.

The redness suggested otherwise. We theorized, “Some time back in the past, the area could have been a lake, providing water required for oxidation of iron present in the soil.”

Can we find iron here?

On examining the origin of the soil, we find allochthonous granite boulders. These boulders apparently settled here during a landslide event. When we produced “fresh” samples, we saw that the boulders themselves were stained in red. Only one of ten samples was unstained. A little further, we found quartzite, and saw similar scene. The red soil, the granite, and quartzite samples, all had high specific gravity. We could conclude: “The iron comes from both the granite and quartzite. This iron reacted with oxygen and produced haematite, a red and heavy iron oxide.

Later when I searched for the properties of red soil on Google, I found some useful information: 1) The red soil is generally acidic; 2) It is low in nitrogen; 3) It is suitable for rice plantation (because of water holding capacity) and some beans; and 4) The soil is naturally infertile.

The land we studied hosted some bushes, as I have mentioned earlier, but the lack of water, acidic nature of the soil and general infertility helped us conclude: “We were on a desert or were seeing some sort of desertification.”

What can lack of water do to villages?

We observed this two days later.

That day, we climbed a peak of about 1400 m in Ramechhap and came down a trail. We had thought it would lead us down safely. But that was not to be.

A small landslide had occurred near the main trail. From there we could see a path that went downhill. As we walked, it suddenly ended into what looked like a same baari[2]. There was nothing but colluvium, but it was definitely cultivated in the past. (We had seen a cultivated baari some 10 metres above). We looked around and saw a heap of stones. This, we assumed, where the house was. After the owners left, people nearby might have demolished the house, taken doors and windows for fuel and heaped up the stones in order to take them later.

As we roamed around in despair looking for the main trail, we found four more similar scenes. This, we concluded, was a nice settlement until something forced them out. In our topographic map (some 26 years old), there are some clusters of houses. This, we concluded, was one of those clusters.

Finally, we found the trail but instead of taking us down, it took us up! Sometime later, it disappeared. On observing, the trail was still there but the grasses had made it invisible and slippery. Helping each other, we went down and finally reached the trail we had used to climb up earlier that day.

A Trail that Vanished

What drove off people from that place? The immediate thought was: landslide. But the slide looked younger than the desertion. Lack of water was another reason we discussed about. In that hill and in most of the hills in that district, there is scarcity of water. But was there another reason?

It did not come to me at that time, but the whole of Ramechhap was important place for the Maoists during the 10 years of civil war in the last decade. Many people in the district undertook the ideology and carried guns in the name of revolution. Some families were involved in entirety. Some families were driven away. Some left to safer places to avoid the war. Did the village we walked through die because of nature or politics? While I feel that the nature pressured the desertion, politics could have also played some role. The definite history, however, cannot be drawn unless we find the people who left the place.

[1] Red-soiled.

[2] a small land usually cultivated for flowers, fruits and vegetables by a single household

A Story that took eight months to complete

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On August 31, 2016

In Blogging, Story, Words

I began writing Leave Me Alone through a concept while I was writing Quest during last year’s NaNoWriMo. I had written about a book Arun (the main character of Quest) reads during his vacation. Sometime later, I thought, ‘Why shouldn’t I write one such story myself?’

On 31st December, 2015, I began writing the story. I had set a goal to write about 4,000 words that resembled the story of the book Arun reads. I decided to use the first-person narration from the girl’s point of view. The first statement in that version was- “I was cold. So cold that it felt like my heart was frozen.”

When I read the first draft later, I was sure the story would not be completed in 4,000 words. Nor would one person’s view was enough. I decided to add one more character- the girl’s boyfriend. I made them enter the girl’s house together, where the boy would be attacked. Until then I had not given them names.

As I added more characters- a lawyer, a maid and a doctor- who, obviously had no names, I had to name the girl and the boy. That would make the narrations of latter characters easier. I gave them names- Ajay and Sasha. That was on May-April, I guess.
A month after I finished my notebook (not a computer) draft, I started typing. By this time, Ajay’s narration had preceded Sasha’s and each character was speaking in the first person PoV. When I reread that draft, I was distressed. They just looked like collection of judicial statements with only two characters having a little interaction.

Then I jumped to the PoV I am more comfortable on- the third person. And I decided to limit it, focusing one character during one chapter. ‘That will add suspense,’ I thought.

So the first time I typed it into the computer, Sasha’s PoV came up in the first chapter again. Sasha and Ajay would go to the girl’s home and Ajay would be attacked.

The same thing would be narrated by Ajay in different place. But there are differences and they are intentional. The foremost chapter has now become the third. The fourth, fifth and the sixth chapters have the stories of a maid, a lawyer, and Sasha’s dream on a back story linked with attack on Ajay. When the story ended, someone else than I had previously thought became the antagonist. I have not pointed them. 

I want you to unravel the mystery.*

*Note:The story is going to be published every Friday beginning on September 2, 2016. Be prepared!

Jhola-An Epic Movie

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On February 1, 2016

In Humans and Humanity, Monthly Feature, Nepali, Review

Introduction

Sati, the first wife of Lord Shiva had jumped into the sacrificial fire in protest of the abuse her parents had done to her husband. Commemorating it, an inhumane tradition continued for thousands of years in which a woman burnt herself alive on the pyre of her dead husband. Women who were saved from the practice were rare. Only Mandev’s mother has been mentioned in the ancient history saved from the tradition. And then there was Rajendra Laxmi, the daughter-in-law of Prithvi Narayan Shah. Thirty one Satis burnt themselves at the death of king of Patan Yog Narendra Malla. During the reign of Laxmi Narsingh Malla, Kaji Bhim Malla was persecuted for a crime he did not commit. His wife, while sacrificing herself on the pyre of her husband, cursed: May the rulers of this country lose their rationality!

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Jhola (English: Bag) is a movie based on the story of the same name by Krishna Dharavasi (Dharavasi literally translates to- one who lives in the Earth) was the most anticipated movie of 2014. Speaking on the evil practice of Sati, the story of Dharavasi had gained immense popularity- credit to the radio programme Shruti Sambeg and genuine lovers of Nepali literature. What was the custom? What were the pains? Yadav Kumar Bhattarai has shown well as the director of the movie.

As soon as the production declared the making of the movie, everyone was eager to know the development. The movie’s shooting was given utmost importance by the national level magazines and TV shows. The actress, Garima Panta rose to fame. The post-production was keenly watched over. Content, everyone knew. How would it be presented? Major curiosity lied on the presentation of nudity. Complete nudity was mentioned in the story. How it be shown in a movie that had audience of conservative mindset? This curiosity had also made up a newspaper article.

The Movie

The movie opens with a song by Sumnima Singh of Night- the same band I had featured in January. Krishna Dharavasi and his family make a special appearance in the present (2058 B.S.). He discovers a paper (letter) inside a bag left by an elderly man earlier that day and reads it.

The story opens in the year 1971 B.S. at an Eastern Hilly Village of Nepal. The writer of the letter is about 9 or 10 years old while his father is more than seventy years old. Shockingly, his mother is just twenty-seven. As his father lies on deathbed, his mother undergoes many troubles to take care of her son and household.

One day, the old man dies. The boy is then under the care of his uncle and aunt (both older than his mother). His mother is declared a Sati and she is made to perform several rituals before she offers herself to the burning pyre. However, she escapes without the notice of the processors. The boy finds her and takes her away to Manipur, India.

Social Evils and their Eradication

The movie presents some other social evils along with the tradition of Sati. Unequal marriage, treatment by witch-doctors and slavery are the evils of the era movie is based on.

Sati Pratha and Slavery were abolished by the Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher in the years 1977 and 1981 B.S. respectively. But as the movie says- Evils in our society still linger. Widows were burnt once then. Now, they are burnt several times by the society. Unequal marriage, child marriage still prevail. Dowry system is growing up as another evil. Everyone should be united to fight against these evils.

Personal View
The movie has been well presented. Such a presentation is rarely seen in low-budgeted movies of Nepal. Village life in the hills of Nepal has been well depicted. The story is supported by the acting. The illness of the old man seems real. The rituals after his death are well-shown (although there could have been finer details of the procession). The background music is catchy and melodious. The cinematography and the lighting is good, although there is need of improvement at some points. The only thing I felt bad about was the transition between the scenes and the scenes that occur rapidly after the death of the boy’s father.
Overall, the movie is the best literary adaptation in Nepal.

Movie facts:
Director: Yadav Kumar Bhattarai
Story: Krishna Dharavasi
Screenplay: Krishna Dharavasi / Deepak Alok
Music/ Lyrics: Jason Kunwar
Singer: Sumnima Singh
Actors:
Garima Panta
Deepak Chhetri
Deshbhakta Khanal
Laxmi Giri
Sujal Nepal (Lead Child Actor)
Producers:

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

References
1. Jhola at Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
2. variety.com/2014/film/asia/nepal-picks-jhola-for-foreign-language-oscar-race-1201290740/

You can watch the movie at: https://youtube.com/watch?v=tvSSDYsOHxw

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