Discussion on novel Arhat held in Pokhara

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, Dec. 20: A discussion was recently held on the novel Arhat by novelist Shailendra Adhikari in Pokhara.  The novel is based on the life of Lord Buddha.

In the 111th serial of the book discussion organised by the Random Readers Society, essayist cum journalist Deepak Sapkota, as a chief commentator, described Arhat as a work that follows the life of Buddha. “There are very few books that truly understand and explain the Buddha," he said. "Arhat is one of them."

Sapkota said that more stories should be written about the Buddha in the future. “Have we truly understood the Buddha? This book persistently raises this question,” he asserted. He further stated that while it is easy to refer to the Buddha as a deity, we have failed to truly understand and embrace him. “The writer has narrated the Buddha’s biography in lucid language, allowing readers to engage with the society and time of two and a half millennia ago,” he said.

Clarifying that the novel tells the story of how Siddhartha Gautam became Gautam Buddha, Sapkota explained that the novel delves into Buddha, the time he lived in, the tales surrounding him, his teachings, the socio-political conditions, life, and the rise and fall of the Kapilavastu Kingdom. He noted that the book leaves room for discussion on whether the Buddha left his home voluntarily or due to political reasons.

Novelist Adhikari shared that he had incorporated the knowledge gained from studying the Buddhist philosophy and scriptures into his novel. Addressing questions raised by readers, he clarified that he had not advocated for any particular philosophy but had presented the Buddha’s true life story in a reader-friendly fictional format. "The novel captures various facets of Buddha’s life as a historical subject," he asserted.

Renowned novelist Sarubhakta expressed that while it is a matter of pride to say that the Buddha was born in Nepal, “This alone is not sufficient.” He emphasised the need for special efforts to promote activities related to the Buddhist philosophy and to preserve heritage for establishing the Buddha’s legacy. Highlighting the varying interpretations of the Buddha’s life and teachings, he questioned whether we have truly accepted Buddha or not.

“It is often heard that monks sometimes refer to the Buddha as a ‘god’ and other times as a mere human. This duality must end,” he said. He described Arhat as a novel that provides knowledge about technical terms related to the Buddhist philosophy and deemed it a worthwhile read.

Society President Rupindra Prabhavi, Chhabi Subedi ‘Vijayi,’ Bharatmani Bhattarai, Trupak, Samrat Gurung, Deepak Parajuli and others commented on the book. 

Society member Baburam Subedi informed that the Society has been organising discussions on books on the last Saturday of every month.