Bijayata Pradhan
Book Name: Jhyaalincha
Author: Dr. Suchan Pradhan
Number of Pages: 144
Publisher: BukAnt
Language Nepali
Genre: Poetry
Price: INR 249
ABOUT THE AUTHOR – Born on March 29th, Tharpu, West Sikkim, he has lived in Darjeeling and Mirik for his schooling, college in Siliguri College, Siliguri, Masters and M.Phil from University of North Bengal, doctoral degree from Sikkim University and is currently working as an Assistant Professor and Head in the department of Nepali in Khangchendzonga State University, Gangtok. He started writing poems at the early age of eleven. His first poem was “Saipatri“. Earlier he published a book entitled “Nepali Chhadparva haru ka Saanskritik Adhyan” in 2014 and his debut anthology “Jhyaalincha” in March 2023 soon gained popularity in India and abroad.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Dr. Pradhan’s anthology “Jhyaalincha” is evident to be one of his masterpieces, divided into four parts. The first one as “Phoenix Sapna haru”, the second “Maanchitra Vitra Desh ra Subaltern”, the third being “Chiyabari symphony” and the fourth as “Nadi ko Dharatal”. Throughout his poetry he proves himself to be a modern Nepali poet who evolved a new poetics for the readers and made a new start, both in theme and technique.
“Mero naam ma timile
Tauko chirera sindhur nahalnu
Haat maila paarera
Mehendi pani nalagawnu.
Mero naam ma
Kunai brat narakhnu
Merai goda choyera
Shir pani najhukawnu.
Mero naam ma
Kunai mandir ma gayera
Bhakal pani narakhnu
Baru
Sakchyau vane
Parthana ma afnu lagi
Alukata jeundo sapna maangnu”
This is actually a strong protest against the traditional marital bond in the Nepali community. He tends to consolidate his image in public as feminist yet straightforward, unconventional yet honest, jovial yet tragic, impetuous yet insecure, unnatural yet ecologist – an image also projected by these poems “Hawa ko khoji ma”, “Kunai din”, “Ek samai ko depression”, “Ek Shok Geet”, “Timi ra Ma”, “Sayash”, “Pratyagman”, etc. Dr. Pradhan who has lived long in the countryside is very much fascinated with nature and has written a lot about it. “Rukh ko hatya, “chiyabari symphony” series, “Nadi ko dharatal” Teesta series are such examples.
In “Mrityu”, the meaningless of life is sourly conveyed in the given stanzas;
“Pugera kahiley awnu thiyena
Farkanu pani
Kunai udeshya nai thiyena.
Arthath
Tyaha samma ko matra udeshya thiyo
Ho
Tyahi udeshya
Hami sabaile Maya gareko
Mrityu”
and in “Utopia”;
“Ek din ka lagi
Sappai manche haru le
Jaat
Bhulidinu
Dharma
Bhulidinu
Rangved
Bhulidinu
Bas
Ek din ka lagi
Manche
Kewal
Manche matra vayera baachidinu.”
The poem “Utopia”, “Rukh ko hatya”, are both poignant and truculent. The need to conform to the conventions of a hypocritical society makes the poet’s feeling of emptiness all the more painful. The poem is ironically in its meditative refrain.
“Jhyamma nikhur hariyo
Rukh ko hatya garera
Foksobata dhunwa fukne
Factory ma pelera pelera
baniyeko tyahi kagajma
Baristha kavi le
Paryawaran diwas ko
Kabita koryo
ani
Tyahi kagajma paryawaran mantrile
Bhashan lekhey.”
Another remarkable poem of this anthology is “Taliban” and “Ek shokh geet”. It externalizes the humiliations and frustrations of the humans in the society. He remarks sarcastically that a man should accept the cruel reality nurtured in the society.
Pradhan’s verse distils emotions through the medium of free verse, as employed here offers immense opportunity for freedom of speech; it is also allied with elasticity and tenderness in expression. The diction of Pradhan is, broadly speaking, lyrical and spontaneous. Simplicity and lucidity are its hallmarks. It is hardly ever wrapped up in philosophical broodings or mystical abstractions. The following lines are a brilliant example of lyricism.
“..ma merai clon banaawchu
Aba ma euta clon vayera baachchu
Bas!
Clon clon clon…..
Vayera hazar barsa ko
Umer baachna chahanchu.
Ma clon bata sardai-sardai
Hazar barsa ko
Umer ko Shikhar ma pugna chahanchu.”
As a poet, Suchan Pradhan makes ample use of images. And some of these images are so recurrent that they take the form of symbols in his poetry. A study of his imagery and symbolism is bound to reveal his artistic skill and craftsmanship.
Pradhan is a great innovator in Nepali as he has emotions arrested in glowing words, phrases and expressions and has immense skill to turn out brilliant images, metaphors, similes, personifications, and these are enough to qualify him as a genuine poet in Nepali. Pradhan’s rhythm is “feverish”, his diction is changed with power and his verification is technically accomplished.
MY VERDICT: This is such an anthology where one should not miss out. It is highly rhetoric, anxious and captivating. It gives a glimpse of absurdity and modern writing of poetry. The small poems written on the imagery peripheral surroundings of Nepali culture involving our own people’s ordinary lives and it is really a wonderful work. Our Nepali young readers are sure to be captivated by his Nepali writing style. His writing style is really magnetic.
“Saachai
Malai schizophrenia vayeko chha.
Ma schizophrenia grasta chhu. Adrishya
Kohi merai aad ma
Tham tham hideko dekhchu.
Ma hidne bato chhekeko dekhchu.”
Therefore, this is one of the gems of an anthology which marks a deep impact upon the readers for its briefness and simplicity. Definitely a re-read for me.
( Bijayata Pradhan is a Lecturer at Kurseong college, Kurseong)
