Ghamkiri

Ghamkiri. A featherlight butterfly. It may have some scientific name. But as a title of the novel, this is a mixture of Neyan Raj Pandey 's make believe world and the dream of the thousands of Rajus, Mukuls, Kailashs, Ratnas and so on. 

While I was reading the novel, I compared  it with Ular and LU. Both novels had given me a  kind portrayed of the writer as a realist and the naturalist. Both novels became able to hook my interest from beginning to the end. This might surprises you why I am giving this reference before talking my point of view on this novel. That is true. But it has a meaning. 

The book has a beautiful cover; a Ghamkiri flying over a golden circle on the white background but not free. It's tail is tied with rope dangling around the book. First, I thought this book might be on ecology or ecosystem since this issue has been a hot topic in literature and criticism.  Then I took a sip of tea and turned the first page. I saw two lines " Sabaile Bhane Prem Nagara, Maile Terina" . In English, everyone advised me not to fall in love, but I didn't obey. Then my speculation on the book changed. I thought, it was a real love story of the writer.

In the beginning pages, I couldn't track the lines of the plot. Without  talking much about background, the writer sails on the fantasy and myths. Ghamkiri seems as a metaphor of Yogmaya's life who gets married at age of five and her whole life has been tied as tightly as the tail of Ghamkiri. Then, a myth of the ancient king Bhatrihari and a story of Aghori Baba and an apple of the Eden add postmodern taste to the story. This is a love story of Raju and Padmini on surface; an experiment on fantasy and stream of consciousness. An adolescent boy Raju travels through fantasy, deception, poverty in search of his dream girl Padmini. On his journey, he encounters several obstacles like the hero of Milton's Redcross Knight in Faerie Queene to meet his dream girl. The narrator of the story not only narrates his love story but the stories of many couples whose stories have long been blown off. Myth of Maina Bhir, Kag Bhusundiko Katha prepares the background of the story. His plan of going to Mumbay, fantasy of fake kidnapping and his friendship with Salim add color his imagination. The billboards of Limka, Lux, and Bunvita are often used in the story which sometimes lack objective correlative. But these are the images of Padmini, the narrator's dream girl. Padmini is an actress of the film and also model of such advertisement. She lives in Mumbai and often appears in the make believe world of Raju. Chandra and his learning from Preamrog give comic sense to the story. But his death touches the heart of the reader.

As soon as arrives Lakhnow, he buys a t-shirt and a blue jeans thinking that he will were while meeting Padmini. Then at the station, a man asks him 100 rupees for confirming reservation to Delhi, but at the mean time a woman comes and informs him that the man is thug. He thanks the lady. But later the same lady takes 100 rupees and runs away. It shows the everyday reality of railway station. This is the story of millions of Nepali who work in India. It also reminds me African novel Cry the Beloved Country in which a Stephen Kumalo is deceived by another black boy at the station. When he arrives at Delhi station, he  sees the sea of people running everywhere as if something terribly important is missing. There he meets Raju, a tourist guide. He takes a letter for Rajiv Goshwami from Raju and travels to Mumbay. This letter later helps him to stay with Rajiv in the slums of Malad East, Mumbay. While travelling by the train, he takes his flight on fantasy. He thinks as if many people are waiting him at Central station to welcome him because he is the hero of Padmini, a celebrity of the Bollywood. But when awakes of his dream, he senses bitterness. Mumbay is such a place where thousand of people sleep at the station. 

When he has no way to survive in Mumbay, he forges the handwriting of Raju and adds a few words at the bottom of the letter telling his to keep Raju with him. 

The narrator goes to Andheri in search of Rajiv and afters rajiv's duty is over both of them go to Malad East, a large slum area. In a small slum, three boys live and now becomes four with Raju. The slum unfolds the stories of millions of Indians. In "Slumdog Millionaires" many activities of this slum are shown. It was also nominated for Oscar. The writer is able to describe the lives and predicament of slum people. Mulk Raj Anand, Arbind Adiga have already written the stories of Indian marginal groups and their miseries. However, they have not shown in relation to Nepal. Pandey has linked this as a black hole for Nepali as well. Jagat Bahadur is one of the representative character who has already forgotten what an honesty is being the product of Mumbay. 

Mukul and Shenha's love story and their death gives the taste of Muna and Madan. Friendship with Tinku and birthday party at the temple with smoke is a heart touching.

There are many Ratnas in the Slums of Malad, Khar, and Danda who are swimming in the pool of their tear. Rohit and his love with Charu, an ugly girl challenges today's love of flesh.  There are many Kailashs in Mumbay still who get their hands cut in the machine. The narrators fantasy of Palihill and Film city deviates the story line. When he realises that the dream of love and ticket of lottery are the same, he plans to return Nepalgang. 

After he comes to Delhi , he meets Raju with great difficulty. But Raju was in the hospital and as he tells him that he has sold his Kidney for 20000. This means that's are thousands of Rajus who are compelled to sell their kidney. There he stays with Pandit ji for sometime, but Pandit ji attempts sodomy with him. Later he works with his son at a tea shop. At day of his return to Nepal, he comes to know that Shivanath has been arrested by the police in a gang fight.

Finally, he enters the borders of Nepal distributing his shirts, pant, bag to the baggers and let's say the poor. He is like the narrator of James Jyoce's Araby. 

The novel gives voice to the voiceless breaking the tradition of writing novels only about the privileged groups. This trend of writing gives postmodern flavour. 

Using the names of renowned Nepali writers for a trivial subject matter lacks objective correlative in the novel. The repetition of Limka, Lux, and Bonvita  irritates the readers. There are also other repetitions which the writer should brush up in the days to come.

In conclusion, the piece of work is informative, entertaining and ejaculating.

Congratulation!  Nayan Raj Pandey .