Sawai of Sudurpashchim Province disappears

By Gokarna Dayal,Baitadi, Jan. 14: Sawai, known as original literature of the Sudurpashchim Province, has now become extinct in lack of conservation. 

People of Bhattarak (Bhattarai) caste of Baitadi used to sing Sawai

Experts of Sawai claimed that as the government failed to protect the original literature of the Bhattaraks, Sawai has now become a thing of past.

The Bhattaraks living in Sakar of Patan Municipality of Baitadi district used to sing Sawai in big functions held in the palace and society. 

It is said that Pandit Narayan Bhattarak, who came to Doti from Kumaon, Garhwal during the time of the then King Nagi Malla of Doti Kingdom, was a scholar and a connoisseur of Sawai literature. 

Later he stayed permanently in Baitadi after king Nagi Malla gave him land.

Hari Bhattarai, an expert on Sawai literature, said that scholar Narayan Bhattarak used to exchange news between the palace and public by singing Sawai then. 

He said that the original literature of the Bhattarak (Battarai) caste, which has a population of about 4,000 in Baitadi, has disappeared as  no initiative was taken from any government agencies to preserve 

the Sawai.

He said that during the reign of King Nagi Malla, the Bhattaraks used to get salary and honourable title for singing Sawai, but now Sawai literature has disappeared because no one can earn a living by singing Sawai.

Ganesh Bhattarai, another expert in Sawai, said that there was no information regarding Sawai literature even in the academics established for the preservation of language 

and literature.

At the meantime, the custom of singing ‘Mangalacharana’ (mantra) by the Bhattaraks  in weddings is also on the verge of extinction.