Yo ekaisaun satabdi
Mahan bijayako satabdi hunechha.
Krishna Sen Ichchhuk in “Bandi ra Chandragiri” [break]
There has always been a struggle between the working class and the elite class. But these lines written by Krisna Sen Ichchhuk powerfully declare that the new century will be in favor of the working class people or that of the laborers and the farmers. Ichchhuk wrote this poem when he was imprisoned for being a rebel.
Also a journalist, though Ichchhuk was from a well-to-do family and could have chosen the easier path, he actually spoke against injustices and used to write in favor of the helpless and the working class people. For that, he was assassinated on May 27, 2002.
There are only a few people who have the audacity to stand up for the rights of other people and take up challenges. He was one of them. Even though he was asked to surrender while he was in prison, he never gave up. People usually look for power and money but he shunned that life. So his ideology has always inspired me.
In the history of class struggles, working class people have always been suppressed. But Ichchhuk even at that time stated that in the twenty-first century or the new century, the struggle of the working class people will take higher leaps and they will accomplish their dream.
He had dreamt this even at that time, and unless a person is farsighted, he cannot think of something as powerful as this.
About Subedi
Subedi’s forte is writing poetry, memoirs and stories. His love for literature started early when he started acting in plays written by his brother in Srijana Nagar village of Ramechaap where he was brought up.
Influenced by his brother, he also started writing plays when he was 16. Slowly he also moved into writing poems and stories.
Also a journalist, his interest lies in writing accounts of the places he has traveled to or the programs that he has attended in artistic ways.
“I still remember that when I was still a child, back in my village, we were suppressed by the affluent people and they had even tried to seize our land. This is what prompted me to venture into writing so that I could tell my stories,” says Subedi.
His published works are collection of stories, such as “Seto Gulab,” Naya Basti,” “Maile Rojeko Bato,” poem collections such as “Yuddhaghosh,” “Gaunko Ranga Feriyeko Chha,” “Naya Samayaka Naya Manchheharu,” and “Chihanmathi Thadiyeko Shalik.”
Currently focusing on his PhD on the subject of relation between war and literature, Subedi thinks that people have wrong perceptions of wars but fighting for peace, freedom and rights is not a bad thing. “Writing or any form of art created in times of struggle and war is the most beautiful,” says Subedi.
As told to Nistha Rayamajhi
Samarka Smritiharu
by Shova Kattel Pratibha
The author is from a poor family and being a rebel she was imprisoned and suffered a lot. She even heard about her husband being killed when she was in prison but she never surrendered as she was a brave woman.
She further proved that Nepali women are also aware and fought for the freedom of the poor people. She talks about the harsh cruelty of war and she wrote this book while she was in prison. At times of trouble, people try to flee but she fought for her freedom and is a great inspiration for me.
Ichchhuk Rachanawali Bhag 3
by Ichchhuk Sanskritik Pratisthan
This book is about Krishna Sen Ichchhuk who used to write not only poems but also memoirs and songs. This book is a collection of all his writings.
I really like this book because his struggles and experiences have been portrayed in detailed and simple manner.
Janayudhaka Kabita
by Ichchhuk Sanskritik Pratisthan
This is a collection of poems. Among the poems, Belisara, a poem by Chunu Gurung, is really powerful and inspiring. Gurung is also a singer and a poet and has suffered a lot in life.
Within the month she was married, her husband was killed. She was also put in jail and was later assassinated. Though she was in prison, she wrote good poems, which are recited even today and have even been made into songs.
Though she is no more with us, her poems are still alive. Belisara is a character of her poem who is from a poor family in a village. She later gets involved in politics and fights for freedom. The book has many other similar poems with inspiring themes.
Makaiko Kheti
by Krishna Lal Adhikari
At a time when the country was under the autocratic rule of the Ranas and that too at a point when it was under the stringent rule of Chandra Shumsher, the author wrote this book and was imprisoned for this sole reason.
This book had one thousand copies and were all destroyed and so this is a compilation of the opinions of those who read this book. Ninety years back, even at a time when he was suffering in prison, Adhikari dreamt of a day when there would be democracy in Nepal.
He raised his voice against the Ranas and he did not surrender, and as a result, was assassinated for his rebellious act.
Kranti ra Saundarya
by Chaitanya
There has always been class struggle and all kinds of other struggles in society but we cannot say that such struggles and wars are bad. In this book, Chaitanya has described the history of art in Nepal and he talks about how people think that war is bad. But he speaks in favor of the positive aspects of war and says that war is also about people fighting for their rights to bring about freedom.
He talks about how war started by working class people to bring about revolution is something positive. He also discusses the relation between revolution and beauty.
The book also has the history of Nepal’s wars over 100 years and the art and writings created during that same period. The book puts forward the point that when history is written, beauty is written.
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