New Nepal by Siddhicharan Shrestha
1. Poem: New Nepal by Siddhicharan Shrestha
About the Poet
 |
| Siddhicharan Shrestha |
He also
worked as a journalist. He was the editor of Nepal's first daily
newspaper , Awaj which was launched on 19 February 1951, a day
after the Ranas were overthrown in a revolution. A highway in eastern Nepal
that leads to Okhaldhunga has been named Siddhicharan Highway. The place
where he was born was also renamed Siddhicharan
Municipality by the Nepal Government.
The theme of the Poem
This
poem was written during Rana’s rule. People were not courageous enough to
speak out against cruelty. If anyone tried to speak, that person would be
punished. A lack of courage resided in the hearts of the public due to the
massive domination of the past. They could not bring new thoughts. Through this
poem, the poet wanted to inspire innocent people who had been suppressed by
Rana’s rule and their atrocity as well as suffered from racial, political,
cultural, economic discrimination and ignorance.
He prayed to wake up, raise their voice against such
ill-treatment, and answer their injustice. He told the reader to speak the
truth, show bravery, and move forward to bring a bright day. He requested Mother
Nepal to bless us with courage and caution, bless us with power and union. Our
unity can make it possible. He advised us not to follow distasteful rituals,
heartless class divisions, and chains of discrimination. And to eliminate
(remove) such evil elements to change our Nepal into a new Nepal.
Summary of the Poem
Furthermore, the poet
also says to climb up the black hill of suppression and fight against the
persecution with great courage and furious anger. Further, he says if Nepalese
people take a new step of advancing foot with courage, caution, power, and
union, they can bring forth a bright day. Currently, in Nepalese society, there
are disgusting rituals and cruel class divisions that divide Nepalese people
into different categories and classes. Against it, the poet says, we have to
open up our hearts and kindle big hope, courage, and equality. According to
the writer, Nepal is suffering from a disease of inequality of wealth; people
are living miserable lives with hungry stomachs and bare backs. At the end of
the poem, the writer calls on all the Nepalese to act without any desperation, and he also says that we have to destroy all the evil elements of that time,
i.e., the Rana Regime. The mood of the poem is revolutionary. It reflects the
revolutionary spirit of the Nepalese people against the autocratic rule of the
Ranas.
In this poem, the poet
emphasizes liberty, equality, and dignity against injustice, oppression, and
dictatorship. The poem also captures the devotion, dedication, and
determination of the Nepali people to uproot the Rana Regime from the soil of
Nepal.
New Nepal Stanza-wise Summary
In
the first stanza, the poet appeals to all the Nepalese to speak the truth. He
urges us to unfold the hidden miseries and rebel against the prevalent
domination, discrimination, and injustice.
In
the second stanza, the poet energizes people to rebel like an unstoppable and
continuous stream /river and challenge all the obstacles of their journey
/struggle. He asks people to overcome all those obstacles with joint effort, and
that way, it becomes easier to overthrow long-rooted cruelty and injustice.
In
the third stanza, the poet asks people to set free the long-suppressed courage
to fight against age-long persecution. Bravery, courage, and fearlessness
should come forth to enlighten people to overthrow worn-out social disorder.
In
the fourth stanza, the poet pleads not to stop the newly begun struggle
(advancing steps) to remove the social evils. Those advancing steps require
support and energy to accomplish the targeted goal. The poet requests the almighty to bless them with courage along with caution. Caution is required to control
overwhelming feelings, emotions, and anxieties.
In
the fifth stanza, the poet talks about long-practiced distasteful rituals such
as untouchability and casteism. He adds that untouchability and casteism are a
hindrance to social progress and, thus, are required to be eliminated forever
from every society. Not only those social evils but also the social hierarchy,
injustice, domination, and dictatorship should be abolished. That is how
socially exploited, marginalized, and minority people's social status can be
uplifted. The poet thinks that there should be an intellectual discussion to
abolish such an inhuman tradition.
In
the last stanza, the poet takes a rather serious issue. He says that a hungry
and bareback person cannot contribute to amending social disorder. They are
concerned with quenching their hunger. A hungry person can go to any extent to
fulfill their basic needs, i., food, shelter, and clothes. He/she can't
distinguish right and wrong while being hungry and thus, they disregard all
sorts of morality. So, in New Nepal, hungry stomachs and bare-backs cannot
survive. To live a decent and respectable life, every person needs food,
clothes, and shelter, without which revolution cannot take place, and the dream
of New Nepal can never come true.
Understanding
1. Who
is the intended audience of the poem? Who is the speaker?
The
intended audience is those Nepalese who are poor, oppressed, suppressed, and
innocent. The speaker of the poem is a political rebel and freedom fighter who
urges freedom, self-respect, and equality. The poem is a political poem that
voices a strong call for the Nepalese to rise above the inequalities of the past
and bring a resurgence of freedom and human dignity.
2. What
is the general context of the poem?
This
poem is set in the historical context of Rana's rule in Nepal. During this
time, people were too timid to raise their voices against the Ranas because if
anyone tried to speak, they would be punished severely. People were not
courageous enough to revolt against the Ranas due to the massive domination of
the past. Since the Ranas maintained fear, no one dared to speak against them.
The poem speaks for the hopes and frustrations of politically suppressed people
struggling for democracy. It encourages Nepalese people to rise above the
inequities of the past and bring in a revival of freedom and self-respect. The
poet calls for the Nepalese to raise their voice above the inequalities of the past
and bring a resurgence of freedom and human dignity.
3. Why
is courage stifled? What is the effect of such a stifling?
"Courage
stifled" refers to the suppression or inhibition of an individual's
bravery or boldness. This can occur when an individual is prevented from
expressing their true opinions or desires due to fear of punishment, social
rejection, or other negative consequences. The effect of stifling courage can
be significant. It can result in feelings of frustration, helplessness, and low
self-esteem. It can also prevent individuals from achieving their goals and
potential, as they may be too afraid to take risks or pursue opportunities.
This can lead to a lack of innovation and progress in society, as individuals
may be reluctant to challenge the status quo or speak out against injustice.
In
the context of "New Nepal", "courage stifled" may refer to
the suppression of the Nepalese people's desire for political and social change
during the oppressive Rana regime. The stifling of courage during this time may
have prevented the Nepalese people from achieving greater freedom and equality and delayed progress for the country as a whole.
4. What
does the poet call for, and who does he call?
The
poet calls for change, unity, and the establishment of a new, progressive
Nepal. Shrestha envisions a Nepal that rises above caste, creed, and regional
differences, embracing the ideals of equality, freedom, and social justice. He
also urges Nepalese people to speak up for their rights and to eliminate evil
elements to change Nepal into a new Nepal. The poem is a political one that
voices a strong call for the Nepalese to rise above the inequalities of the past
and bring in a resurgence of freedom and human dignity. The poet urges his
fellow citizens to work together to create a better future and overcome the
challenges that lie ahead. Overall, "New Nepal" is a call for a
better future for the country, where people live in freedom, dignity, and
equality.
5. What
is the theme of the poem?
The
poem "New Nepal" by Siddhicharan Shrestha is a patriotic poem that
celebrates the beauty, culture, and potential of Nepal as a nation. The poet
envisions a new Nepal that is free from poverty, corruption, and oppression,
and where the people live in peace and harmony. The poem captures the
aspirations of Nepali people for a better future, and it emphasizes the need
for unity, hard work, and determination to achieve this goal. The poem's overall theme is hope and optimism for a better future for Nepal and its people.
6. What
are the evil elements referred to in the poem?
The
term "evil elements" is not explicitly mentioned in the poem "New
Nepal." However, the poem references various social and
political issues that were prevalent in Nepal during that time, such as
corruption, inequality, and oppression. The poem emphasizes the need for a new
Nepal that is free from such negative elements and where people can live with
dignity, equality, and happiness. The poet calls for unity among all Nepalese
people and urges them to work together to build a better future for the
country. Overall, "New Nepal" is a patriotic poem that reflects the
aspirations of the people of Nepal for a brighter and more prosperous future.
***
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