Chandra Gurung poems Intro

     Fragrance of himalayan poems

 

         Chandra Gurung is a poet of repute in Nepal. He is also a translator and has translated many poems from different languages into nepali language. This present anthology of poem are his nepali poems translated into english language by an ace translator Mahesh Poudyal. The translator has been successful in retaining the flavour of original poems.

       The distinctive features of nepali poems are  that they are more rooted to their nation, culture and the absurdities of life in mountaineous country. Nepal is a multiethnic and multi language nation. But ofcourse the dominant religion and the majority group is from hindu group. The poets from hindu ethnic group derives images and inspiration largely from hindu mythology and the local myth or folklore find less space in their writings.  But the writers from non hindu tribal and original inhabitants usually draw their myths and images from their own ethnic culture.  Chandra Gurung comes from the mongoloid ethnic group of Nepal who are amongst the earliest inhabitants of Nepal. This ethnicity draws him closer to his country Nepal and draws inspiration from his own culture and tradition.  This is the reason we do not find mythical references or any adaptation or inspirations of Ramayana, Mahabharata or any other puranic instances which otherwise can often be seen amongst the poet from hindu ethnic group. The poet here appears to be more concerned with his country's plight, diaspora, his loved ones and absurdities of life.These infacts are also the predominent themes of contemporary nepali writings. Experimentation, philosophy, internationalism are not the subjects which attract nepali poems to delve upon. Most of poems are also not self reflexive.  But what I find very charming and notable  in the poems of Poet Gurung is his approach of satire and without  overtly being satirical. Although his poems are not replete with local myth and images but his writings are contemporary. The devastating earthquake that occurred in Nepal and its affect ( On Earthquake and Flowers), modern development and the various undesirable that comes with it (Vehicle on the village ), people disappearing from villages and the trail of tragedies it leaves behind to all his beloved( When a Man Goes Missing)  are some of the poignant themes on which the poet has  beautifully designed his words to create poems. Nepali poetry in general is still enamoured of romanticism as the great nepali poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota has towering influence even amongst the modern generation poets. After the advent of leftist movement in Nepal many nepali poets did write revolutionary poems but as in the case of other Marxist poems these poems were also content oriented and anything regarding the form of poetry one could see little experimentation. Poet Chandra Gurung has been able to create a niche for himself on this score as he has carefully avoided being labelled under any of the specific category or ideological mooring. His poems are postmodernist as they search for meaning in the marginality, subversion, and subalternity. There are poems on nature but the characteristic unity is deliberately broken down which make his poems post romantic.

         Number of poems in this collection are dedicated to his motherland Nepal. The nomenclature motherland requires some explanation as the idea of motherland is alien to non hindu indigenous people of Nepal.  Most of these indigenous people used to live in kipat stage which actually is pre state formulation. They used to identify themselves with their kipat land and not with the country or nation as such. It is owing to this reason that  none of poems dedicated to his country come up with an epithet of motherland. But now many of these indigenous poets do use motherland to describe his country of origin which in fact is the influence of majoritarian  poets of Nepal. The poems which are dedicated to his nation  are not paeons of his country as such but they are more for highlighting the plight and the mismanagement which has pushed his country into darkness and chaos. Poems like "Nation, Bones and the Dogs", "Face of the Nation", "Hunger and Impotent State", "Patriotism" are some of the them.

    This country passed through a decade old bloody revolution. "Ill Omens" poem is about this time and age when the ordinary people were terrified and didn't understand the force of changes that taking place. For common people it was a riot and not a revolution.  We do not find any other poem related to this revolution but there are poems which reflect the changing scenario the country has gone through. The poet is disillusioned with the political leadership who collectively were unable to bring about  much needed relief to its suffering people. He writes

"At this ghastly hour

The nation appears like a piece of bone

On the tattered map that hangs on the wall"

In another poems he bemoans

" Lustre has been robbed of the nation's eyes

The way light is erased from the sky

After the stars die out in a silent night "

As in India castism is a issue in Nepal also. It is still prevalent among the hindu society. The constitution do not recognize theocracy and castism as it has adopted secularism but the people and society are yet to come to terms with the new reality. The poet registers his anger on this social discrimination in his poem "An Untouchable Man". These socially backward classes are referred as Dalit in India and Nepal. Majhi is another caste group of people who are also placed on the same footing as Dalits. But Majhis are a distinct caste ethnic group as they have their own language and tradition. In fact they do not come under caste hierarchy of hindu ethnic group. But still in Nepal they are place at a lower rung in the hierarchy.  These people are boatmen as they ferry people while crossing the rivers. They are fisherman too. Gurung has dedicated a poem on this class of people " Land of the Old Boatman".

        A man finds poetry as the preferred medium to keep his memorable memories and ageold wisdom. The famous British literary theorist I.  A. RIchards says that poetry saves us from chaos of the world. Gurung like an old muse says that life itself is a poetry as it is beautiful and memorable.

" Life is a poet

One day, it sets out on new voyage

And departs

Leaving behind

Sweet memories, like poems"

 (Life Keeps Writing Poems)

 

       In another poem Gurung depicts the conciousness of constant change and the appearance of recurring seasonal changes of nature which are though perceived as unchanging. A man's life is also like nature as it has to follow the flow of his life. He has no control over it.

 

"Waves are emanating in the pool of thoughts

That the life is not to get stagnated

Let's flow "

(The Rain Showers' Torrents of Flames)

 

      Poetry is an art and by its nature it is fiction. A poet uses his skill to create imagery by smart use and application of words. But words are not empty as they come with meanings. By subtle play of seemingly empty words and the meanings the poet creates beautiful images.. Poetry therefore will have autobiographical insertion which are translated into cathartic experience for the readers. Gurung has written poem which are cathartic in nature. The poem exhibits a sense of hope and future of the mankind. He has firm hope that it is love and not hate which will triumph in the end.

"One day

Worries shall take wings and soar away

The ocean of deed gashes shall heal

The long river of tears shall go dry

And that ancient scream of agony

Shall disappear around the dark caves of life

For ages

Only the fragrance of live shall emanate

From every heart"

(Fragrance of Love)

 

          The poet Gurung has traversed on many themes touching on emotions of different hues. Surprise elements in fiction is replaced here in poetry with change of narrative style and multiplicity of themes. Every other poem throws a new challenge and problematic. This collection of poems do not embrace a single leitmotif rather they present a mosaic of different structure and texture. Gurung questions the very idea of nation as they have failed to address the issue on the basis of which it came into existence. The modern man is in existential crisis but somehow he believe in innate goodness of  human nature and he thinks happiness will come to him. This constant shifting of theme is the hallmark of Gurung's poetry.

 

Pempa Tamang

Sikkim