How Majhitar inspired Bikal to write 'Abiral Bagdachha Indrawati'

By Avaya Shrestha,Mandan Deupur (Kavre), Dec. 30: Majhitar might be an unfamiliar place to many. However, for those who have read Ramesh Bikal’s novel 'Abiral Bagdachha Indrawati' or watched the television series based on the same novel, this place holds special significance. This location, the setting of the novel and the shooting site of the television series, is in Mandan Deupur Municipality-4 of Kavre district. It is also near Jogitar, the village of Bikal’s in-laws. 

It was where Bikal studied the lifestyle, struggles, exploitation and oppression of the Majhi community in 1979 AD and wrote the novel in 1982 AD, which later became a masterpiece in Nepali literature.

On Saturday, the Ramesh Bikal Literary Foundation in Kathmandu and the Arjun Radha Foundation in Jogitar organised a book launch programme in the same area. The book, 'Lekbensika Sugandha', is a travel memoir by Mahendra Chalise, Bikal’s youngest son. 

In the event, attended by literary figures including Ramesh Bikal’s colleague Rochak Ghimire, journalist Bijaya Chalise, and critics Thakur Sharma and Gopi Mainali, the setting of Bikal’s novel became a central topic of discussion.

'Lekbensika Sugandha' contains 22 travel memoirs exploring various religious and touristic sites. Sharma and Mainali presented critical reviews of the book while others, including Arjun Nepal, Suman Nepal, and Alok Chalise shared their thoughts on it. During the event, Rochak Ghimire, editor-in-chief of the literary bimonthly 'Rachana' and a colleague of Bikal, along with Vijay Chalise, Bikal’s eldest son and journalist, recounted interesting anecdotes about the novel’s setting.

Approximately 50 kilometres northeast of Kathmandu, this place used to be a two-day walk for Bikal and Ghimire, who often spent months there for social studies and reflections. According to Ghimire, this area also served as the setting for two of Bikal’s famous stories, 'Lahuri Bhainsi' and 'Bhanjyang Chautari'.

“Most of Bikal’s stories were based on true events. He chose characters from real-life people he encountered, skillfully embellishing them with imagination,” Ghimire said. Vijay Chalise reminisced about his childhood experiences in the birthplace of his mother, Sushila Nepal.

"Following Bikal's legacy, his sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren are involved in writing," Chalise disclosed.

Although the main event was the book launch, for the nearly 100 numbers of writers, including Amar Pradhan, Tej Prakash Shrestha, Viplov Dhakal, Padhma Aryal, Shree Om Rodan, Mandira Madhushree, Nirupa Prasun and others, from Kathmandu, the visit turned into a literary pilgrimage. Throughout the journey, they discussed Lalgedi, the Majhi girl from 'Abiral Bagdachha Indrawati', her brothers, and the feudal lord of the village. 

“The feudal lord’s son, portrayed as the villain in the novel and the TV series, was reportedly a notorious Panchayat-era leader,” revealed Pratik Ghimire, editor of 'Rachana'.

Pradeep Sapkota, editor of E-Khabar Net and a writer from Kavre, shared an incident where, after the TV series aired, some individuals attempted to attack artiste Rabi Giri, who acted the role of the feudal lord’s son, Sana Kaji.

Caption: Literary journalist Rochak Ghimire and others releasing 'Lek Bensika Sugandha', a travel memoir written by Mahendra Chalise in Mandan Deupur Municipality-4, Kavre, on Saturday.