Evidence

BY CHANKY SHRESTHA

Right then
the truth is slain
When evidences are gathered

In my name
Some one else slaughters my love and my dream
Some one cuts my heart out of my body
And throws it away
On my death warrant
Some one forges my signature
But when evidences are gathered
These crimes aren’t crimes at all

After evidences are arranged
The form of object can easily be changed
As a sheet of white paper can be painted
by any colours you like

A poet can’t own his poetry
And an artist his art
Nither a peasant can have a piece of land
Nor a patriot his country
The possession of the things of our own
shifts to the feet of the fake master
As cuckoos migrate in the spring

Poets, Artists
Tenants, Patriots
Policemen, Journalists
Doctors, Lawyers, Justices
All await the truth
attending its funeral at the cremation spot.

Translated from Nepali by Binod Bikram KC

Farewell dear Koili Devi

By Eliza Rana

Kathmandu, Dec. 21: Veteran artiste Koili Devi Mathema, who composed and sang more than 4000 songs, died at the age of 78 on Friday. She has had the honour of being the first female composer and lyricist in the Nepalese music after the establishment of Radio Nepal, the then authority on music and broadcasting.

She was suffering from heart disease for the last four years. Dr. Arun Sayami had performed the surgery to place the pacemaker in her heart in 2061 B.S. Regarded as a legendary singer of Nepal, she had, however, released her first solo album, named Chitta Nirantar at the age of 71 and her second album, Hajurali came when she was 74.

Her all-time hit songs include Samjhi Rahanchu, Nisdin Kabal Hajurlai, Gaucha Geet Nepali, Timro Siudo Sajai dine, Kina Kina Timro Tasbir, and Gajaluti Tula Tula Aakha. She received lessons on the Oriental classical music from her musical guru Ram Bahadur Tandukar.Born to a Chhetri family in Makwanpur she migrated to the Kathmandu Valley and practised music at the palace of Singh Shumsher.

It is here that she earned the name of Koili Devi for her melodious voice replete with pleasant mellowness.  Married to Saakar Bhakta Mathema, Koili Devi had to go through many ups and downs of life, particularly after the demise of her spouse. It is disheartening to the art lovers that she had to spend her entire life at a rented room.In honour of Koili Devi, Bhawak Aviyaan Nepal had established a Koili Devi musical fund in 2057 B.S.Noted singers and musicians paid their last tributes to Koili Devi and her last rites were performed at Pasupati Aryaghat Friday.

She had earlier wished that her last rites were performed without putting her mortal remains at the Nepal Academy premises. According to noted artiste, and film director Prakash Sayami, late Koili Devi had wished so because she used to allege that the Academy had done nothing for her during her lifetime.

Courtesy: The Rising Nepal

Satyajit Ray triology at Martin Chautari

Martin Chautari has shown two of Satyajit Ray’s world famous triology films, Pather Panchali and Aparajito. The third part Apur Sansar is being screened at the premises of Martin Chautari, Babermahal at 3 pm on Dec 27.

PATHER PANCHALI (1955)

This is a tour de force around a family’s quest for that better future amidst sheer poverty. The film’s success is not limited only to realistic depiction of human condition in early 20th century Bengal, but it brings up the triumph of human spirit, love and affection in spite of utter struggle in the most poignant way that one may think. Anybody remotely connected with movie making should also watch APARAJITO AND APUR SANSAR, to complete the experience, and off course to understand the art and craft of cinematic expression from the Maestro. No doubt it ranks in top 100 movie list from Time magazine, not to speak of almost all Indian publications connected with films rate this one as THE MOVIE.

APARAJITO (1956)

Ray’s ‘Aparajito’ continues with its second installment as we see the beautiful but harsh world through the eyes of ‘Apu’. Ray’s portrayal of Apu’s innocence and curiosity during his maturation into adolescence was spectacular. However, the pinnacle of the film is heart wretching performance of Apu’s Mother, whose portrayal of fretfulness, nurturing, and loneliness pulled at this reviewer’s heart strings. Although this film is filled with moments of sadness and despair, this film is about Apu weathering the seemingly endless storm of personal tragedy and eventually reaching maturation.

APUR SANSAR (1959)

“The quiet but deep observation, understanding and love of the human race, which are characteristic of all his films, have impressed me greatly. …I feel that he is a ‘giant’ of the movie industry.” Akira Kurosawa, Japanese Film Director.Apur Sansar (the World of Apu) is the third and final film of the Apu Trilogy . Apu (Soumitra Chatterjee) is now a graduate and without a job. He lives in a rented room next to a busy railway yard. He finds himself among a large population of the unemployed youth in the city. To pay his rent, he has to sell his books. The job search turns out to be an amusing and a tormenting experience. Unfazed, He is writing a novel based on his life, which he hopes will make him famous. His life takes a turn, however, when he meets his old friend Pulu. He coerces Apu to travel to his ancestral village to attend the wedding of his cousin, Aparna ( Sharmila Tagore ). Apu wanders bitterly through the Indian landscape, searching for solace and peace. The end moments can not be explained in words, and simply must be experienced. Ray’s lyrical realism breathes beauty in the mundane acts of his characters. One of the greatest films of all time.   

WEAPON

BY CHANKY SHRESTHA

Nakedness, too, is a powerful weapon
against shamelessness
As prostitution is a genuine action
against hypocrisy.

When people
in expensive and flashy apparel, like an emperor’s,
are million times more vulgar than naked people
Nakedness, too, is a solid strength
against the corrupt world.

When, in an innocent Afghan abode
there was going a heavy bombardment on
against the whole humanity
A Croatian lass stark naked
And holding a black flag, asked the British Prince-
Who is more naked ?
A naked woman or your country, your highness ?

War-opposing American youths
taking out a nude rally on the busy street of metropolis
asked their President-
What are the frontiers of nudity, President Bush ?

To unveil people unashamed
Many nude demonstrations have been staged
And many many shameless beings
have thus been made nude
The raped woman,
Widows who have lost their husbands untimely
And insulted, plundered prostitutes rise in protest
Ultimately they make their government nude.

When the pioneers of justice
become butchers of justice
Nudity, too, is a powerful weapon
As against oppression,
Slef-cremation, too, is a howl of rebellion.

Translated from Nepali by Binod Bikram KC

A Hand Cart-Puller

BY KRANTI JOSHI

Sweating all his energy
With the beautiful dreams
Pulls a mountain load
And moves to the destination
Bearing the abuses of the people
Pulls his hand cart
A hand cart-puller

He has very cute imaginations
To them money doesn’t parallel
His outlook reflects his poverty
But in his eyes ?
Yes, his eyes are the mirrors
All the sorrow, pain, experiences
And, a little happiness
Shine in eyes

These things are not about the world
But a poor, hardworking and honest
A hand cart-puller
I always meet him on the road
Pulling his cart with load
He tries to bring a fake smile
On his off-seasoned blossom like face

As he told me
He saw the face
Of his beloved late daughter
In my face frequently
His smile soon turned to tears
He hastened to his destiny
With all the dreams to make a house
Of the complete satisfaction and happiness
He went ahead without any back-look
I stared at this
Strange being with a curiosity
To know his life-story
But, he never told me
His story of mystery
He never sold to me
His precious recollections
‘Coz I am a writer
He knows the writer
Writes his story and sells
Sells them to the public
Perhaps,
He dislikes his story to be written
I got him a great mystery

But,
Yet I meet him
On the same road
Pulling his luck with
The similar mountain load
As a Hand Cart-Puller !!

(Nobel Academy Higher Secondary School)