Gandhi Raj Kafle

Jagat Bahadur KC, a retired chemistry professor of the Tribhuvan University (TU), has some memorable impressions to share with readers. This is the reason with which he has written the under review book 'Prabhav' (Impression) to gratefully accept the role of inspiring personalities who helped to shape the meanings of his life.
Human life is a store of impressions. However, there are some differences, too. Some people value such impressions and go on mentioning how they have benefited in life; and, similarly, many like to ignore this feature and love to keep mum because they think – it is they who struggled and gained success.

However, here author KC genuinely admits to the fact that the impressions which he received from model persons in different stages of life are always precious to him. That is why he remembers the names of these distinguished personalities and also admires their inspiring works and opinions from context to context in this book.

If we make a good impression in a good sense, it happens to be a life-reforming element to an individual. We have plenty of such examples even in our society. But, in the context of Jagat KC's this book, we can remember the widely quoted World famous philosophers like Plato and Aristotle and Ramkrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda in the relationship of Guru and Chela (teacher and student).
Now, coming to the themes of this under-review book by KC, he has three fundamental pillars to discuss his writings under the title theme of 'Prabhav'. The foremost subject for him is the 'nation' and he has admiringly written biographies of Lord Buddha, Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great, King Mahendra and King Birendra. They are impression providing national personalities for him and he has his logic to admire them in this book.
The second main theme the author has discussed in a chapter on 'Nationality/Education' is about noted persons. There are six persons whom he has been impressed with and written biographical pieces about them in the book.

The first one is none, but Bhanubhakta, the Adikavi (Pioneer Poet) himself. The other inspiring persons about whom he has written biographies are Amrit Prasad Pradhan (his Guru and founder of today's Amrit Science College of the TU), Dr Suresh Raj Sharma (his Guru and founder of the Kathmandu University), a popular singer with sobriquet the 'King of Melody' late Narayan Gopal Gurubacharya and Padhma Narasingh Avatar (One of his respected forefather) and his one of beloved Gurus Surendra Singh KC.
The third part entitled 'society' of the book deals with nine themes which personally are the matters of impression for the author. This is a unique combination of subjects, where readers can read contrasting views and experiences in the form of biographies from the author.

For Jagat KC, the demise of his mother is personally a powerful experience of 'death wish', similar to a divine death wish, which sages in Vedic mythologies are described to have achieved. According to KC, the departure of his father, Sala Bahadur Khatri to the heavenly abode, too, is unique. The role of father and mother and the struggle of forefathers, which builds a strong legacy in shaping the values of family, is a precious thing in any individual life. The author has described this part as a litterateur in this book.

Furthermore, it is not only the family history of the author, which has made the third part of the book unique. It also covers experiences and knowledge from inspiring figures of the societies of the author. In this category, the author has presented biographies of Prabhu Ram Karki, educational philanthropist Devi Prasad Upreti, Lalit Bahadur Tumbahamphe, Harkajung Khapung, Krishna Bahadur Khatri and Tek Bahadur Karki.
For many readers, some of the chosen personalities in this book are nationally known and praised, but there are quite a good number of persons in this book, who have been from the author's special choice and they represent impressions even from the roots of the author.

In a nutshell, what can be said about this book is author Jagat Bahadur KC has rightly focused on inspiring personalities from the very foundation of his life. We can relate this example even to our life. Are not there good members in the family – mother and father, teachers from schools and colleges, some inspiring persons in our villages or persons whom we know for their philanthropic works like KC in this book?
We need to applaud author KC for showing high regards to the model persons right from his childhood to his adulthood.