Ulaar: A complete imbalance
Truth is often stranger than fiction and the best example is Ulaar – a modern classic.
The novel Ulaar — meaning the rearing up of a cart in Nepalgunj’s local language — is as much about politics as it is about human relationships, friendship and love. Politics is dominant in poor countries like Nepal and Ulaar portrays how such politics destroys peoples’ lives by creating imbalances in their lives.
Nayanraj Pandey has been successful in creating a local ambience in Ulaar that is a modern classic. Full of sights, scents and sounds of Nepalgunj — a mid-western Nepali town — it is unfortunately one of the political centres where one can find many Premlalawas and Draupadis.
Amazingly, Draupadi’s childhood name was Sita. After her mother takes ill, Sita gives continuity to her mother’s profession as a prostitute and changes her name to Draupadi. How Sita in course of time became Draupadi is a satire aimed at our rights’ advocates.
Nepalgunj was not so beautiful before reading Ulaar. However, after reading Ulaar people will love Nepalgunj more as the novel takes us on a journey right into the heart of this rugged town.
Premlalawa’s horse dies due to the cart going Ulaar and he turns to Rajendraraj, a shrewd politician and his mentor and guru, for help. The Rajendrarajs and Shantirajas — the unpopular faces of Nepali politics — promise him help like they do everyone, mechanically.
He is asked to follow Shantaraja to Kathmandu. Premlalawa goes in tow to Kathmandu. But Kathmandu is yet another silent killer, always in search of prey like Premlalawas. After he witnesses the ugly face behind the colourful facade of Kathmandu, Premlalawa returns. He escapes from the monster called Kathmandu and returns to his town where his Draupadi is waiting for him.
Premlalawa, at last, revolts, though silently, against not only Kathmandu — the power centre but also against power crazy politicians, the Shantarajas and Rajendrarajs, and the system.
Pramlalawa sells his land worth Rs 90,0000 for only Rs 30,0000 and starts life afresh with his Draupadi. He vows that he will never give a free ride to the crooked politicians or their families.
Premlalawa — the protagonist of the novel — a cart-driver is sucked into the vortex of troubles by current politics and politicians but he does not surrender. Instead, he vows to fight back.
After a long while we have a novel — Ulaar — that is worth discussing as it captures the interaction of individual lives in the mid-western Nepali town of Nepalgunj.
Nayanraj Pandey’s deft use of words as well as locally spoken slang help create the rich texture of the novel.
The novel Ulaar — meaning the rearing up of a cart in Nepalgunj’s local language — is as much about politics as it is about human relationships, friendship and love. Politics is dominant in poor countries like Nepal and Ulaar portrays how such politics destroys peoples’ lives by creating imbalances in their lives.
Nayanraj Pandey has been successful in creating a local ambience in Ulaar that is a modern classic. Full of sights, scents and sounds of Nepalgunj — a mid-western Nepali town — it is unfortunately one of the political centres where one can find many Premlalawas and Draupadis.
Amazingly, Draupadi’s childhood name was Sita. After her mother takes ill, Sita gives continuity to her mother’s profession as a prostitute and changes her name to Draupadi. How Sita in course of time became Draupadi is a satire aimed at our rights’ advocates.
Nepalgunj was not so beautiful before reading Ulaar. However, after reading Ulaar people will love Nepalgunj more as the novel takes us on a journey right into the heart of this rugged town.
Premlalawa’s horse dies due to the cart going Ulaar and he turns to Rajendraraj, a shrewd politician and his mentor and guru, for help. The Rajendrarajs and Shantirajas — the unpopular faces of Nepali politics — promise him help like they do everyone, mechanically.
He is asked to follow Shantaraja to Kathmandu. Premlalawa goes in tow to Kathmandu. But Kathmandu is yet another silent killer, always in search of prey like Premlalawas. After he witnesses the ugly face behind the colourful facade of Kathmandu, Premlalawa returns. He escapes from the monster called Kathmandu and returns to his town where his Draupadi is waiting for him.
Premlalawa, at last, revolts, though silently, against not only Kathmandu — the power centre but also against power crazy politicians, the Shantarajas and Rajendrarajs, and the system.
Pramlalawa sells his land worth Rs 90,0000 for only Rs 30,0000 and starts life afresh with his Draupadi. He vows that he will never give a free ride to the crooked politicians or their families.
Premlalawa — the protagonist of the novel — a cart-driver is sucked into the vortex of troubles by current politics and politicians but he does not surrender. Instead, he vows to fight back.
After a long while we have a novel — Ulaar — that is worth discussing as it captures the interaction of individual lives in the mid-western Nepali town of Nepalgunj.
Nayanraj Pandey’s deft use of words as well as locally spoken slang help create the rich texture of the novel.
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Book - Ulaar (A novel)
Poet - Nayanraj Pandey
Publisher - Fine Print Inc
Price - Rs 90
Pages - 80
