Narayan Wagle gets Madan Puraskar

KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Aug 31 - The Madan Puraskar Award Trust has decided to present the "Madan Puraskar" for the year 2061 to litterateur and journalist Narayan Wagle for his book entitled ?Palpasa Caf?.?

Palpasa Caf?, the debut novel by Wagle, had created a new "fastest selling" record in the Nepali book publication history. The second edition of the novel has already hit bookstores after 5,000 copies were sold out in the first month of its release in the end of July.

The decision to this effect was taken by a meeting of the trust Wednesday. The award carries a purse of Rs. 200,000.

The 245-page novel has been able to arouse enormous interest and satisfaction among the readers because it highlights contemporary issues facing the country, book critics say.

Wagle is the editor of Kantipur daily.

Likewise, the trust decided to present this year?s ?Jagadamba Shree Award? to litterateur Phanindra Raj Khetala in recognition of his more than half-century long service to the field of Nepali literature. The award also carries a purse of Rs. 200,000. (snn)

****************************************************


Congratulations to Narayan Wagle!

I can't comment on his book because I have yet to get hold of a copy and read it, though -- thanks to the publisher Kiran of Nepalaya -- I know that a signed-by-the-author copy is waiting for me in Kathmandu.

Narayan is an immensely likable guy. That, plus his being the editor of Kantipur makes him a really powerful figure in Nepal. Besides, all the young journalists adore him. All these combine to make it virtually impossible for his book to get a 'bad' review in Nepal.

Some observations on the prize, and, as a no-nonsense long-time friend of Narayan, I hope he tolerates my raising these issues here.

1. Narayan's book came out just two months ago or so. Now it's already won Nepal's most prestigious literature prize.

I can't help thinking: Isn't the prize for Narayan a little too soon, too early, too fast?
I mean, the book is getting ecstatic reviews and is still in its ''honeymoon' phase,
so to speak . . . surely Narayan's winning it NEXT year perhaps would have been
more appropriate, I'd think.

2. By giving the prize to Narayan this fast this soon, are the prize committee members (who are anonymous) sending a signal to the market that they seriously consider even the very recent books of first-time novelists?

3. I am confused: Madan Purasakar has this image of being really stuffy, dowdy and too mustily Nepali lit. It usually goes to people with three long names such as . . . Krishna Prasad Parajuli. Is the Prize Committee trying to be hip and young and oh-so-relevant in contemporary times by giving the prize to Narayan? Alternatively, is it trying to piggy-back on the poularity of Narayan's novel?

Just some food for thought.

Once again, congrats to Narayan.

oohi
ashu

Hello Prem_dai, could you please write in harvard english...? Then only this chyaun chyaun Ashu will understands perhaps.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is a reminder that this IS the level of discourse on
Sajha, in Nepal and among various Nepali societies about anything.

And this is our lovely-bubbly Nepalipan.

And so, let us drink (water, coffee or Merlot) to that.

Fortunately, what does not kill you only makes you stronger.

oohi
"finally reading Palpasa Cafe in an Cafe somewhere near the ocean"
ashu

****************

बल्ल पल्पसा क्याफे सिद्दियो। एक साता भित्रका दुई छरपष्ट विदाका विहानीहरुमा मेसो मिल्यो भनौं न। अनि मनमा लागेका कुरा पोख्ने चीरपरिचित थलो यै साझामा फर्किएको छु।

धेरै नेपाली उपन्यासहरु पढेको छुइन। त्यसैले पल्पसा क्याफेमा मदन पुरस्कार पाउने योग्यता थियो कि थिएन भन्ने जाँच गर्ने योग्यता आफैमा नरहेको स्विकार गर्छु सबभन्दा पहिला। साहित्यको सामान्य पाठकका आँखाले जस्तो देख्यो त्यस्तै लेख्छु। पुस्तक समिक्षा कहिल्यै गरेकै छैन त्यसैले आफ्नो व्यक्तिगत विचार हो यो।

पल्पसा क्याफे नौलो शैलीमा लेखिएको नेपाली उपन्यास हो। साहित्यिक ओजका दृष्टिले यसलाई विपी, पारिजात, दौलत विक्रम विष्ट जस्ता मूर्धन्यहरुका सिर्जनाहरुकै समकक्षमा राखेर तुलना गर्नु उचित नहोला। तर यसले नेपाली उपन्यास लेखनमा नयाँ र पृथक शैलीको शुरुवात गरेको छ। एकजना युवा साहित्यकारको पदार्पण भएको छ नेपाली साहित्यको फाँटमा जसको पहिलो प्रयासबाट निश्चित रुपमा नेपाली औपन्यासिक विधालाई आशलाग्दो निरन्तरता मिलेको छ। नारायणका साहित्यिक रुपमा अनुभवहिन कलमहरु तिखारिंदै गएमा उनको मौलिक शैलिले आफ्नै विशिष्ट पहिचान स्थापित गर्न सक्ने छनक पल्पसा क्याफेले राम्ररी दिएको छ। यसको चर्चा परिचर्चा र प्रसिद्धीलाई नारायणको हैसियतसंग जोडेर मूल्यांङ्कन गरिएमा लेखकको मेहनत माथी सर्वथा अन्याय हुन जानेछ। किनभने पल्पसा क्याफेका पाना भित्र चित्र विनै देशको अनुहारको विचित्र शब्दचित्र कोरिएको छ।

क्रमश:

लाग्छ पल्पसा क्याफेका लक्षित पाठकहरु आम नेपालीहरु हुँदै होइनन्। यो उपन्यास निम्न र मध्यम वर्गिय नेपालीलाई साहित्यिक खुराँक पस्किन लेखिएको होइन भन्ने यथार्थ यसको मूल्यबाटै प्रतिविम्वित हुन्छ। २५० रुपैया उपन्यास पढ्ने रहर पाल्ने शिक्षित नेपालीहरु मध्येको एउटा सानो अंशले पनि तिर्न गाह्रो मान्ने मोल हो। यसमा लेखक र प्रकाशक चुकेका छन्। त्यसैले यो उपन्यास विदेशमा बस्ने नेपालीहरु, उनिहरुले पठाएका पैसाबाट नेपालमै स्तरिय जीवनशैली अंगाल्न पाएका भाग्यमानीहरु, समाजको कुलिन वर्ग र नारायण वाग्लेलाई अति मन पराउने उनका प्रस?ंशकहरुका लागि लेखिएको कृति हो। आम नेपालीले त यसमा चित्रित आधुनिक जीवनशैली, भाषा र लवजलाई वुझ्न पनि कठिन हुनसक्छ, नेपाली साहित्यको रसास्वादन गर्न पाउनु त टाढाकै कुरा। तर माथी उल्लेखित लक्षित पाठक वर्गका लागि भने पल्पसा क्याफे एक पटक पढ्नै पर्ने कृति हो। देशको बर्तमान वुझ्न र नेपाली साहित्यको सामान्य प्रवृत्तिलाई आत्मसात गर्न साझावासीले पल्पसा क्याफे पढ्नुपर्छ भन्ने मेरो ठहर छ। किन ?

क्रमश:

पल्पसा क्याफेको कथासार धेरै समिक्षाहरुमा लेखिइसकेको छ। त्यतापट्टी नजाउँ। खासमा यो उपन्यासको सवभन्दा सबल पक्ष भनेको यसले नेपालीहरुका विविधतापूर्ण वर्तमानलाई अतिनै सरल र सरस ढंगले गाँस्ने काम गरेको छ। सानो आकारको उपन्यास भएपनि यसमा धेरै घटनाहरुलाई जोडिएको छ, धेरै विषयवस्तुलाई समेटिएको छ र यसरी समेट्ने काम निपूणताका साथ गरेका छन् वाग्लेले। कथाका केन्द्रिय पात्रका पृष्ठभूमिका कारण निश्चित रुपमा यसको बढि हिस्सा कुलिन र शहरिया मनोभावनाहरुमा केन्द्रित भएको छ तर पनि यसले नेपाली गाउँघरले माओवादी विद्रोहको मारमा वेहोरिरहेको व्यथालाई प्रष्टसंग चित्रित गरेर उपन्यास लेखनको उद्येश्यलाई सार्थकता प्रदान गरेको छ। गाउँ धेरै अघि छाडेर शहर र विदेश पसेकाहरुलाई आफ्नो विगत सम्झिन र गाउँको वर्तमान महसुस गराउन वाध्य पार्छ पल्पसा क्याफेले।

घटना र तिनबाट सृजित मनोभावनाहरुलाई बडो रफ्तारका साथ उनेका छन् वाग्लेले। र त्यसमा दम भरेको छ उनको रोचक, व्यंगपूर्ण र बेलाबेलामा मार्मिक सम्वादहरुले। सम्वादहरु प्रसस्त छन लामा छन धेरै छन विविधतापूर्ण छन् विरोधाभाषपूर्ण छन तर प्राय सबै सम्वादहरुले उपन्यासमा रस र सार्थकता भरेका छन्। सम्वादलाई मेरुदण्डको रुप दिएको पल्पसा क्याफे एउटा उपन्यासमा हुने सबै विशेषताहरुले भरिपूर्ण छ। शहरिया र गाउँले जीवन शैली, सम्पन्नता र विपन्नता, पूर्विय पश्चिमा र मिश्रित आदर्शहरु, प्रकृति, जीवन दर्शन, मिलन र विछोड, हाँसो र खुशी, , सोंच्ने र सेलाउने युवा जोश, वालसुलभता, वृद्ध मनस्थितिहरु, आशावादी सपनाहरु तर निराशाजनक यथार्थ अनि समाज र राजनीति - यि सबैको सरसपूर्ण वहाव भएको छ उपन्यासमा। घटनाहरु धेरै छन्, पात्रहरु विवधतापूर्ण। गाउँमा हुर्केर शहरमा पढेको चित्रकार दृश्य, पश्चिममा हुर्किएर पनि पूर्वले तानेर अमेरिकाबाट नेपाल फर्कएकी फोटोग्राफर पल्पसा, आमूल परिवर्तन गर्न विद्रोहमा होमिएको सिद्धार्थदेखि दृश्यकी सेक्रेटरी फुलन, पल्पसाकी हजुरआमा, गायक किशोर, लाहुरे काका, जनसेनामा जान तयार गाउँले किशोरी, मितिनी भेट्न जान लागेकी ५ वर्षिय वालिका, होटेलकी साहुनी, कलापारखी डच युवति क्रिस्टिनासम्मका पात्रहरुबाट उपन्यासकारले विविधतापूर्ण भूमिकाहरुको समायोजन गर्न सफल भएका छन्।

क्रमश:

geezzzz kati lamo review...:D

http://www.millikin.edu/mr/Entertainment/howto2.html

All reviews should be short and concise. They should be objective and impartial, and should be carefully written. When writing a movie review, make sure to not give the ending away! :P

युवायुवति बीचको दार्शनिक स्वरुपको प्रेम, दरबार हत्याकाण्डपछिको काठमाण्डु, गाउँमा माओवादीको जवर्जस्ति, सिद्धान्तनिष्ठ माओवादीका विचारहरु, विदेश पलायन हुने र नफर्किने प्रवृत्ति, हिंशा विना देशमै केहि गर्ने युवा चाहना, पहाड र गाउँका अथाह विकासका सम्भावनाहरु अनि गोला वारुद लडाईं, विष्फोटन र मृत्युहरुको नेपाली यथार्थता समग्रमा देशको चित्र सरल भाषामा समेटेका हुनाले नारायण वाग्लेलाई मदन पुरस्कार दिइएको हुनसक्छ।

तर पनि उपन्यासमा मिठासपूर्ण साहित्य र सौन्दर्य रसको अभाव खट्किएको छ। मनोविज्ञान, अमूर्त र अलौकिक अभिव्यंजनाहरु, प्राकृतिक सौन्दर्यको वर्णन आदिको अभाव अनि धेरै राजनीतिले साहित्यलाई कुरुप पारिदिएको छ। त्यसकारण कतिपय पाठकहरुले पल्पसा क्याफे साहित्य नभएर घटनाहरुको सिलसिलेवार वर्णन मात्र हो भन्ने जिकिर गर्न पनि सक्लान। तर एकजना नवोदित लेखकको पहिलो कृतिलाई सिद्धहस्त साहित्यकारहरुका उच्चकोटीका सिर्जनाहरुसंग दाँज्नु त्यति मनासिव पनि नहोला।

(जेहोस एउटा साधारण पाठकका रुपमा मलाई चै पल्पसा क्याफे राम्रै लाग्यो हौ। यसको अंग्रेजी Translation ले अझ चर्चा पाउन सक्ला। फिलिमनै बन्न पनि सक्छ क्या हो अलि अलि तोडमोड ग-यो भने त।)

I did say that they were just my thoughts, as I have no idea to write a book review. Long Bhaechha hatterika :D

Here's a short one for Matrixrose.

Palpasa Cafe
-Narayan Wagle
Rs 450 (HB) Rs 250 (PB)

A novel by a noted Nepali Journalist Narayan Wagle, Palpasa Cafe , depicts the picture of the sorry state of affairs of Nepal resulted by the decade long maoist insurgency. It describes the uncertainties sorrounding the country and people, specially- youths and children, caused by the conflict between the government and the rebels. As the chief characters represent educated and western-minded Nepali youths, this might be a good read for those who are away from home since many years, to understand whats going on in their country of origin. There is love, feelings, tragedy, humor, dreams, reality alongside the description of ground realities which makes the book a fun for reading. English translation recommended for all sajhaites.

As the chief characters represent educated and western-minded Nepali youths, this might be a good read for those who are away from home since many years, to understand whats going on in their country of origin.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Uhuh, and what is that sir? And please try to keep it short, few important points woould be appreciated.

thx in advance.

Rs 450 re, closer to 420 huh? Explains all.

Well madam, here is a part of a review in English if you are interested. Unfortunately it's long.


- http://www.nepalitimes.com/issue256/review.htm
----In the first chapter, Narayan Wagle the author and protagonist gives us a hint about why he is writing the book. As he takes dictation from a district reporter about another firefight in the mountains, he thinks: ?Nothing new here. Every day it is the same. Tomorrow?s paper will be the same as this morning?s. The same stories of an army patrol being ambushed, suspected spy executed by Maoists, a bomb going off somewhere. We are just chroniclers of carnage.?

The storyline weaves the fragile and undeclared love between Drishya and Palpasa, a first-generation American Nepali who has returned to the land of her parents after being unable to take post-9/11 racism, into the artist?s reunion with his school friend, Siddhartha, who is now a guerrilla. Siddhartha comes to Kathmandu in the aftermath of the royal massacre to seek shelter in Drishya?s house, the two argue over whether the goals of revolution justify the means.

?How can you ever justify violence?? Drishya asks.

Siddhartha replies: ?Without destroying you can?t build anew.?

?But people are dying,? Drishya pleads.

?The people don?t need peace, they need justice,? says his Maoist friend, ?If there is justice there will be peace.?
?But you are carrying out injustices in the name of justice,? says Drishya one last time but it is clear the two can?t even agree to disagree.

Drishya travels to his home village to meet Siddhartha and finds it torn apart by war. They are all there in these pages: the atrocities, executions, disappearances and people caught in the crossfire that we read about every day in the newspapers. But because they happen to characters we now know intimately the incidents seem more real than the factual headlines.

That is the power of fiction. Not only is this novel as fresh as an open wound, the author?s imagination makes Nepal?s real unfolding tragedy come alive with raw urgency. The plot is rendered in non-linear style that is experimental in the world of Nepali fiction. Wagle?s Nepali is simple, colloquial and his voice is genuine and sincere. Drishya comes across sometimes as being unnecessarily abrasive, but Palpasa is an authentic diaspora daughter caught between love for her motherland and alienation from her adopted home.---

Besides book, I am just wondering, how come he get that humungus publicity before and after his publication.

I saw a picture of around 10/12 years old kid holding his book on the que for his signature on her newly purchased Palpasa Cafe.

Trying not to be skeptical, but sometimes I can not help myself. There most be something enigmatic about Mr. Wagle from publishing his first book to getting Madan Puraskar, especially in the country like us. Does that really sound skeptical???

God dang it, my eternal curiosity never ceases. LOL!!!

RSVP

Nice to see you guys giving the publisher some more free publicity.

Welcome to the world of the hype machine. :D

Khawasa Ashu says: Fortunately, what does not kill you only makes you stronger.

YOu idiot,,, you forgot to quote the refernce to that sentence, or who knows you are trying to impress sajha bashi by writing sentence as if that's your sentence... Ullu kanhi ka... manchhe lai digbhramit parna kojdaichhas ki kya ho?

Next time when you write here you better write name of the philosopher who said that....

And well, please do not forget to write in other times as well whenever you quote/borrow somebody's line.

Got it?

Now you know why I call you Khwasa... !!! Coz you DESERVE IT.

Please don't say that the kid was paid to be on line for picture.
I would like to talk to the girl before saying that someone is using this kid to kiss wagle's ass. It's not just skeptism, it's blind spkepctism. It's like " I don't want to see, neither do i care but you can't be good".

Guys laxmiprasad, sarubhakta, haribhakta katuwal get their part of misfortune because of iour great neplaipan. Now the other nepali pan is winningthe race. jealousy, How can a guy be editor of kantipur, draws salary from indian payroll, gets publicity , appreciation and now a respected award. How can a nepaliblood can accept this. he will die but won't give up the Nepali pride .

Draws salary from Indian Payroll

Hey Khwasaw Ashu... if you are seaching that philosopher's name.. it starts from "N". But don't forget to find that name before you write here next.. !!

SunnyDev... it's hard to imagine how far the conspiracy could go.. even conspiracy theory may not catch the real conspiracy that happening. Just read "Acharya Bishnugupta Chanakya" to know the extent of conspiracy that occurred in Indian History.. and well we are neighbour of India!! So go and figure.

Don't just look straight.. sojho aunla le Ghyu aundaina.

SunnyDev Jiu:

You did not get it what I said about that young kid. I never think about the way you think- paying her to be on that que for Mr. Wagle's signature. I never ever even have a single thought in that way. What I meant was about his so much "Jaijaikaar", which I never happened to see with any new writer.

Oh, you diverted my curiosity to blind skepticism. Well, I don't blame you- We all are different.

I would never ever accuse somebody just because there is a posibility, just because there was a similar history. Do you have any bases on your claims? I think your perception is kinda erroneous stereotyping.