On Emotions and Recollections

MK Limbu’s novel describes life, love, death and rebellion in eastern hills of Nepal

By A CORRESPONDENT

Following publication of number of books on Tibetan Buddhism, Vajra Publication, which specializes on this subject, chooses a new venture to bring English novel written by a Nepalese.

In the short period of time, Vajra Publication has published a new novel called Fragile Mountain. Written by MK Limbu, the novel talks about love, death and rebellion in the eastern hills of Nepal. Based on the culture of largest ethnic group of eastern Nepal, the Fragile Mountain is a story of three generations of a family – their hopes and dreams and depicts, generally, the life as it comes until they find themselves trapped in the midst of a bloody Maoist rebellion.

Fragile Mountains By M.K.Limbu Published by: Vajra Publications, Jyatha, Thamel Phone 977-1-4220562 Price: Rs.450 Pages: 536

From difficulties of hilly life to conflict in society, MK Limbu also explains the culture of the people living in the eastern part of Nepal. “It’s also about the tradition and culture of the Limbu people, an ancient and proud race of Mongoloid stock who have made the eastern hills of Nepal their home for countless centuries,” writes author Limbu.

Living in the high hills and barren land at the southern slope of great Himalayas, the life of Limbus of eastern Nepal is full of pleasure and difficulties. Whatever the challenges and difficulties this group of people had to face, they have been living there for centuries with a pride and hope.

Along with high hopes, dreams and aspirations, there are frustrations among the people. The beautiful land and nature provides some sort of healing to their life. Only a fortunate few get to live their dreams and those who cannot afford to go outside their villages have to spend their entire life in difficult terrain.

Divided into four chapters, the book highlights the importance of river in the life of Limbu community. As all other communities the river is everything to them. Author Limbu correctly describes beauty of rivers, which originate in the Himalayas and passes to mountains before moving to south. The mighty rivers converge with the Ganges in the plain and has very important role in shaping the culture and life of people.

The second part of the book is about destiny. In this chapter, author Limbu explains how the life begins in the mountain and how it selects its destiny. By describing historical perspective of Limbus and their cultural and territorial parts, MK Limbu’s novel gives all-important aspects of this oldest ethnic group of Nepal.

Although this novel is a part of literature, it helps to understand importance of religious, cultural and social aspects of Limbus of Nepal. In the chapter of destiny, the author also describes the life of people who work in the British and Indian army.

In the third chapter about the Depth of Sorrow, the author carefully describes the painful stories of Nepalese migrant workers who return to Nepal after spending couple of years. How their hopeful journey ends in a painful story. Although the book narrates the life in the eastern hills of Nepal, it explains the difficulties of all people living in the hills. In depth of sorrow, the writer describes all about the sorrow of breaking families and social values.

In the final chapter the Reign of Terror, the author describes added difficulties in the life of Limbu communities. With the intensification of insurgency, the life of hill population has become painful and difficult.

“One of the aims of my publication is to encourage Nepalese literature writers to bring more books in the market. I have already published a couple of novels,” said Bidur Maharjan, proprietor of Vajra Book Publication.

From nature to culture of Nepal’s prominent ethnic group Limbu, Fragile Mountain is worthy to read to understand Nepal’s rural life particularly that of ethnic groups of Nepal.