Chhetri's 'Ko Ho Tyo Manchhe ?' released

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Aug. 29: Ko Ho Tyo Manchhe (Who is the man) ?, an anthology of poetry by  LB Chhetri was released amid the presence of a large number of poetry lovers in the capital.

Chancellor of Nepal Academy Bhupal Rai, authors Bhuwan Dhungana, Mahesh Paudyal, Bhuwan Hari Sigdel, Pratik Dhakal, Mina Lamichhane and poet Chhetri himself made the book public.

“My poems are thought-centred, the same as I am and such poems centre on the content,” Chhetri said in a confessional tone at the programme organised by the publication house, Page Turner. The poet, who is also an ex-English Professor, compared the tendency of Nepali and the world poetry. 

Bhuwan Dhungana found Chhetri's poems very lucid and crystal clear in thoughts while young critic Mahesh Paudyal termed them as the warriors of truth.

“Is it possible for a poet to stand for truth? Difficult, but not impossible,” Paudyal said. He opined that Chhetri's poems dare to speak truth. 'To write poetry means to take the oath of speaking truth itself,” he added.

The title poem 'Ko Ho Tyo Manchhe ?' centres on the struggle of a poor shoemaker while “Sapana Dekhne Manchhe (The Dreamer)’ mentions the poet's mother's interpretation of dreams. ‘Din Dayal Sharma Dado Dayalu Chhan  (Din Dayal Sharma is very kind)’ describes the contrasting lifestyle of a hypocrite. ‘Ardha Satya’ pleads that the semi-truth is more dangerous than a lie. 

Chhetri's poems are easily communicable and finely structured. Published by Page Turner, the book consists of 35 poems of miscellaneous flavours. The book costs Rs. 275. 

Chhetri, the author of books like Trisanku Ko Desh Ma, Bhind Ma Harayeko Manchhe, Indra Mayako Deshma, Bratabhanga, and Corridor of Senses, is the chairman of Kabidanda Literature Society of Chitwan.