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Michael
Hutt/Ideal Nepal and the voices of Nepali writers
Prefacing
his presentation with the rider that he thought
it was inappropriate for foreigners to be in Kathmandu,
criticising the system in Nepal and positing solutions
found in foreign contexts, Michael Hutt said he
had chosen to examine “how Nepal speaks
to itself and presents itself to the outside world”,
rather than how others speak of and to it. Thus,
Michael Hutt traced the history of literature
in Nepal, delving into its comprehension if its
own world, primarily focussing on the poetry of
the 20th century poet, Bhupi Sherchan.
Commenting
on the importance of literature in Nepal, Hutt
observed that while literature was given its due
importance as literature, there was a disjuncture
between what were deemed literary writings and
the discourse in other spheres of thinking on
socio-political issues. However, he pointed out
that there are signs that this is changing, as
literature comes out of its ghetto with authors
such as Manjushree Thapa (The Tutor of History)
maintaining regular columns in newspapers such
as Nepali Times. Hutt also referred to the essays
of Laxmi Prasad Devkota, some of the most important
commentary available on Nepal and his imaginings
of an ideal Nepal. Laxmi Prasad Devkota is not
commonly read out of choice, however, in spite
of his historical relevance.
Hutt
traced the evolution of Nepali literature’s
references to the country from the classical ideal
of 20th-century poetry, where notions of reclusion
and purity were cherished, through the romantic
trend informed by an ideological streak, to the
discussion of Nepal as imperfect but reparable.
In modern times, Nepali literature has been remarkably
revolutionary, expressing a need for social churning
and overturning the status quo. However, such
writings have tended to be unspecific about the
future ‘dawn’, without a definite
picture or ideal of post-revolution Nepal. From
the 1960s onwards, literature been more individualised,
and currently, it is gaining in nuance.
Pointing
out the shortcomings in the sphere of literature
in Nepal, Hutt said that there is a problem of
channelisation; certain writers become prominent
because they are read by certain readers, and
so are predominate in discussions about literature.
This channelling starts with the school syllabus,
which highlights some works and not others.
There is also a disconnection with reality in
much of Nepali literature, which is reflected
in the paucity of autobiographies and biographies.
Returning
to Bhupi, Hutt read out an extract from the poem
Mero Chowk, in which Bhupi speaks of poverty and
the misrepresentation of history. Bhupi also wrote
about alienation, on the issue of the lahurey
or migrants, and spoke of Nepalis being brave
but not wise. Hutt said that such writing needed
to be heard outside of the literary sphere, for
its value and potential to be socially and politically
enlightened.
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