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Summary
The poem “New Nepal” is written by Yugakabi Shiddhi Charan Shrestha (21 May 19124 June 1992) and it was translated by Shreedhar Lohani. He was one of the revolutionary and well known writer of Nepali literature. He contributed to the struggle against the autocratic Rana regime (1846-1951) through his writings. He started writing poetry from around 1930 and his revolutionary poetry aroused freedom fighters, and he was sentenced to 18 years in jail for his literary activities. Although Shiddhi Charan Shrestha was from a Newari family, he is one of the many non-native writers in Nepali who has contributed significantly to the development of Nepali literature. It is a political poem that voices a strong call for Nepalese to raise above the inequalities of the past and establish freedom and human dignity. He says that new Nepal is possible only after eliminating Rana’s ruling system and distasteful rituals which are existing in the society.
The poet appeals to all the suppressed Nepalese people to wake up and reveal the hidden courage against autocratic ruling system of Ranas. He further says to speak truth without any fear. He says that the current (movement) of consciousness should gush (rapid flow) vigorously inside the heart of every suppressed Nepalese people and their advancing feet should be directed towards the black uphill precipice (steep cliff). Here the black uphill precipice means the black autocratic ruling system of Ranas. He says to set the courage freely which is stifled (make unable to breathe) with age-long persecution (ill treatment) of Ranas. It is possible to bring the bright day only by taking the new step. The poet wishes to bless the people with courage, caution, union and power.
The poet also criticizes the distasteful rituals and heartless class divisions which are existing in the society. People’s minds should be filled with resplendent (attractive and impressive) thoughts. Finally the poet request the people to annihilate (destroy) all evil elements even with hungry stomachs and bare backs.
Questions:
1. Who is the intended audience of the poem? Who is the speaker?
Ans: All the suppressed Nepalese people of autocratic Rana regime are the intended audience of the poem. The poet himself is the speaker.
2. What is the general context of the poem?
Ans: The context of a poem is the background against which it is written and which influences its writing. The context also refers the setting in which, poem or other literary work is situated. “New Nepal” is the poem written by Shiddhicharan Shrestha and its general context is autocratic Rana’s ruling system and distasteful rituals which are existing in the society. The poet says that people’s freedom and dignity are seized by Ranas.So, all the suppressed Nepalese people should wake up and reveal the hidden courage against autocratic ruling system of Ranas. The poet also criticizes the distasteful rituals and class divisions which are existing in the society.
3. Why is courage stifled? What is the effect of such a stifling?
Ans: Courage is stifled due to the ill treatment of Ranas. There are many effects of such a stifling. If the courage of people is stifled, they are compelled to live with their seized freedom and dignity. They can’t speak truth and they don’t dare to revolt against Rana regime.
4. What is the theme (main subject or point) of the poem?
Ans: “New Nepal” is the poem written by Shiddhicharan Shrestha. The main theme of the poem is to wake up against autocratic ruling system of Ranas and to destroy evil elements of society. The speaker requests all the suppressed Nepalese people to reveal the stifled courage and soar to black steep cliff. Their advancing feet should be directed to bring the bright day. He also says that all the evil elements such as distasteful rituals, class divisions etc. should be destroyed at any cost.
5. Write a character sketch of the type of person the speaker is on the basis of what he says in the poem.
Ans: The speaker of the poem is political rebel and freedom fighter who does not want us to bear any types of cruelty, atrocity and ill treatment. He does not want to see exploitation upon poor Nepali He wants to raise the voice of poor Nepali people against Rana’s atrocity and domination.
6. What is the tone and mood of the poem ?
Ans: The tone and mood of the poem is revolutionary and reformational. In other words, the poet wants us to fight for our freedom and does not want us to bear any types onpression and heartless pathos and ethos between poor and rich. In such class divisions, there lack brotherhood and fraternity. Upper class people aim to exploit the poor in the name of their status, name, fame and wealth.
7. What wrongs of “Old Nepal” does the poet want “New Nepal” to amend?
Ans: In old Nepal, the gap between richer and poor had increased. Superstation, class division, oppression were rooted deeply. Dreams and hopes of common people were shattered. There was social injustice, inequalities all around in Nepal. People were conservative and uneducated. So, in new Nepal, the poet wants to amend those old Nepal prevalent negative aspects. He wants people to fight against inequalities and injustice. To end such negative aspects of old Nepal, people should unite.
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