Book Review
Thakur Belbase
Poetry on the Cultural Beauties of Nepal
Abhayakumar proved to be more a skillful poet than a diplomatic official of the Indian Embassy to Nepal in the literary circle.
Anyway he is a powerful poet first than the diplomatic official. He has already contributed to the global poetic realm with five volumes of poetry. Nepali English writers were already familiar with the poet’s literary work.
Nepali poets dedicated to the poetry writing also are not distant from his poetry. But in his brief stay in Nepal, the gravity of Abhaya’s literary talent has expanded. He is also caught in the eyes of common Nepali readers. It’s due to his love and dedication to the poetry for Nepalese society and culture.
A poet observes only human being. Then he observes his surrounding, and then he globalizes those human being and his surroundings. The poet Abhayakumar is the exemplary of this fact. The poets are not influenced by their birthplace and language only. Breathing of each man keep the poets awake and the poet is the example of this truth.
The nature of the poet Abhaya’s profession is very sensitive and busy. It is a wonder when he finds time to breath and write who is responsible to look after the social, cultural and political affairs of Nepal and India. Abhaya understood the Nepali culture in detail and expresses it in his poetry. It is indeed a rare poetic gift.
Abhaya’s poetic collection, ‘Jaatra’ is out in the market in Nepali edition. Nepal, especially Kathmandu is the valley full of festivals and festivities. Many scholars and researchers have spent their whole lives to understand and study festivals and traditions of Nepal. It’s truly praiseworthy to learn that the poet got the time and energy to study the festivals signifying the myths and magic of Nepal. The structure of Abhaya’s poetry is perceived to be different. He explores the themes of the poetry inside the poem itself. The volume of his poems is short but the length and breadth of the theme is expansive.
First poem in the collection(Pashupatinath-1)
Once
on the bank of Bagmati
in the form of two golden deers
indulging with Parvati each dawn, I
now built in the dense vaastu of ….
Thus the poet possesses the poetic consciousness to create poetic rhythm of narration in abundance. Another example:
Here in the squared-land under the shadowy Nyatapola
Weathering the crowd of Watsala Temple
The traditional pottery artists are shaping by molding the clay
The women wearing haakupatashi
Unfolding the sukul are drawing pictures on the pottery…
(Bhaktapur)
The skill of Abhaya to depict the complete aura in his poetry is very tempting. The poet Abhaya has viewed Nepal with poetic eyes by employing various metaphors. World heritage sites, in symbols of Kathmandu, inside Kathmandu, outside Kathmandu, geo-images, personalities and portraying of characters he has strived to see in many metaphors with poetic effort.
Inside the title, in the metaphors of Kathmandu, the poet has cared to view Kathmandu in different form. In his first arrival, he sees kathmandu as the food bowl.
in the arc of western Kathmandu
The thoughtful and generous divine with astanetra
In the downtown, a pretty Garden of Dream
And a beautiful girl
Expecting her lover’s return
Soyambhu astanetra deva
Eternally looking down the valley.
(Astanetra Deva of Kathmandu)
it seems that the poet Abhayakumar is like a poetic scientist. He invents poetry within the theme. Likewise, he has written poetry on the special places of Kathmandu. The places of his poetic themes like Thamel, Pashupati elderly home, Aaryaghat, Garden of Dream, Babarmahal, Tribhuwan International Airport, Kingsway which are significantly connected with the culture, history, civilization, development and politics of Nepal. Selection of the poetic themes on such places solidify his poetic sensibility and consciousness to be unique and original.
I’m the ultimate realm of life
On this earth
Although nobody walks up to me himself
Into my refuge
(Aryaghaat)
The poet has embraced Kathmandu not only in his poetic world; he has also dissected whole Nepal from layer to layer. Under the title of Kathmandu, he also wrote poetry on Chitwan, Dhulikhel, Nagarkot, Lakuribhanjyang, Daman, Shivapuri, Pokhara, Manakamana, Nanakpur, Mustang, Bardia, Bandipur and Bhedetar outside.
An eye gazing on the horizon
Below down
Glory of people and their city
My great lion
Wounded by the modernization
The messy polythene plastics strewn
Out of the picnic parties
(Lakuribhanjyang)
Lakruibhanjyang is not too far from Kathmandu. It’s right in Lalitupur district. Still for the Kahtmanduits, it seems too far. It is the place that the capital can’t believe which keep witnessing the all sorts of strange works of this city. But the poet believed this place and wrote the poetry.
The poet Abhayakumar has observed Nepal from all angles and sides. His poetic eyes scan Nepal from Mt. Everest to Rara Lake. While understanding the heart and soul of Nepal, he meets dance-bar girls and Sherpa people. The poet seems to be enjoying the stories of Buddha and Arniko who glorified Nepal with their sacrifices and extraordinary works.
Since long time
forgotten in his own land of ancestors
Finds living in the manuscripts of Chiang Xu Fu.
(Arniko)
The poet’s heart is broken when he finds Arniko is forgotten in the land of Nepal who is sweet smell of Nepali soil. The poet thinks the world as his own and loves it dearly. That’s why his unconditional love extends to Bhanubhakta, Devkota, B.P. Koirala and Narayan Gopal of Nepal.
The poet has been successful in being original and flamboyant for writing short and sharp delicate poems. The poetic philosophy over the theme is also completely different. Abhaya’s main language is English. So his poetic collection was translated into Nepali from English by veteran journalist and writer Kishor Nepal. He has taken the help and support of poet Momila to polish and sharpen his translated poetry works that he mentions in his acknowledgment. Talented writers and poets like Kishor Nepal’s translation and Momila’s literary sense have been able to give Nepali flavor and soul to the poetry of Abhayakumar.
Translation: Nirukowa
