Saag ra sisnu khayekai besh anandi manale.
- Muna Madan, Laxmi Prasad Devkota
I’ve read a lot of poems but the one particular poem has touched my heart and is ever ingrained in my thoughts is this couplet from the short epic “Muna Madan.” [break]These lines are simple to read but it has so much depth in it. The lines were said by Muna to Madan when he was leaving his hometown to make money and to look forward to a better future.
The lines bring to light an important issue that money isn’t the sole reason for happiness. There are many who just run after money but even after acquiring all the wealth, they can’t be happy if they aren’t satisfied from within. More than money, what matters is a good heart. If a person is satisfied in his life, then he can be happy with whatever little he owns. Happiness can’t be replaced by wealth and even if a person is very rich he won’t have peace if he isn’t satisfied with what he owns. He’ll thus remain miserable his whole life.
These lines represent the reality of our society where we can see many people crossing their limitations with their intention to earn money, fame and power. They don’t realize that in the end what matters is a life lived with satisfaction.
I had read this poem when I was in my fifth grade and I never get tired of reading it even now. The lines and the language are really simple and anyone can understand the meaning behind it.
Muna represents the voice of many women. There are many women like her who have become lonely when their husbands leave their hometown to earn money. What Muna is trying to say is that women can’t be happy if they just have money, as what matters to her is her family living together in harmony. That’s the definition of happiness for her and it can’t be measured by money. What we can learn from this is that in order to be happy, we need to have positive approach to life and get satisfied with what we have.
ABOUT POUDEL
A writer and a poet, Poudel started writing when she was 14. She likes writing about social issues that are realistic and she is more inclined towards children’s literature.
“Writing gives me immense pleasure. There are lots of thoughts that may come to my mind and through writing I feel that I can express myself better,” says Poudel.
She mentions that during her schooldays it was hard to find books other than those from the course. So whenever she could lay her hands on any book she would read it with a deep interest. It was that passion for reading that led her to become a writer herself.
She has published more than 13 books. Some of the works are her collection of poems, “Gangaka Kehi Chaalharu,” “Andhikholako Samjhana,” Children’s story collections such as “The Tricky Mickey,” “Suri ra Bhau Bhau,” “Kimmi ra Mimmi,” and “Kitabko Jilla,” to name a few.
She has also been awarded with Ama Samman 2067, Sunkoshi Sahityik Pratishthan, Utkrishta Bal Sahitya Pustaklekhan Puraskar 2066, and recognition from Nepal Bal Sahitya Samaj,” among others.
She is also the editor of “Bhanu Masik” which is a monthly Nepali literary magazine.
“In literature we create characters and through them we get to express ourselves, so it gives you a kind of contentment. Moreover, writing is a kind of service because you impart ideas and information,” says Poudel.
POUDEL´S FIVE PICKS
Khurkhurey Chheparo ra Sululu Machho by Ram Prasad Gyawali
I’ve always loved reading children’s books and this is one of my favorites. The book has vivid descriptions which make it more fun to read. The story is about a fish and a lizard and both of them mock each other but when in need support each other. The book is recommended for kids as it also has a message behind the story. It shows how we should live in harmony, understand where we come from and respect the differences
among us.
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
My daughter recommended this book. The book even won the Pulitzer Prize. The story revolves around three generations of women who are affected by Virginia Woolf’s novel. The three stories have been interwoven really
well and give us the perspectives of the lives of three different women from different backgrounds.
Paschimaharuko Deshma by Geeta Regmi
By reading this book, it felt like I was there myself. The writer has talked about Germany, Belgium and London and has described her experiences well. The minute details, the language and the way the experiences have been presented are praiseworthy. She has even described the history of the places that she has mentioned. Even though she’s abroad, the writer hasn’t forgotten to celebrate Nepali festivals and has described them well. I’ve read a lot of travelogues but this one is the best of the kind.
Naubeli by Krishna Prasad Parajuli
This is a collection of short stories. The stories have been written describing a society which existed many years back. It depicts the harsh reality and gives us a picture of how life was back then. There’s one poignant story in the book about a young girl who got married to an older guy when she was just ten years old. It shows her sufferings and how her life changed after the marriage. The book points out many such issues.
Meri Sasu by Indira Prasai
In this book, the writer has written about her mother-in-law as a great source of inspiration to her. This essay represents the bond and relations between a married woman and her mother-in-law. Usually people think that the relation between a woman and her mother-in-law is more formal and that they are considered to be stern but the writer says that there is so much you can learn from them.
(As told to Nistha Rayamajhi)
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