Journalist Thapa comes up with two books

By A Staff Reporter,Bhaktapur, June 28: Senior journalist Baldev Thapa has come up with two books- the first, titled 'Bako Bam' (My Father’s Leftism), is a historical account, and the second, 'Kurako Sasti' (The Tension of Words), is a collection of satirical poems. Thapa is the former editor of the well-known Panchayat-era weekly 'Saptahik Nepali Aawaj'.

'Bako Bam' primarily centres on the life of his father, Hari Bahadur Thapa of Gundu, Bhaktapur—a social activist with a strong inclination towards leftist politics. HariBahadur was born in 1917 (1974 BS) and passed away in 2001 (BS 2058). He witnessed a series of major political changes in Nepal, including the autocratic Rana regime, the 1951 democratic revolution, King Mahendra’s coup, the Panchayat system, the restoration of multi-party democracy, and the brutal murder of King Birendra, his wife and children.

The book also briefly discusses Padam Bahadur Budhathoki, a peasant movement leader from Sirutar, Bhaktapur, and Hari Bahadur's close association with him. 

At its core, the book focuses on Panchayat-era politics and the farmers' movements. It also touches on the lives and contributions of various figures from southern Bhaktapur involved in politics, literature, journalism, and social service, such as Bhairab Risal, Yuddha Prasad Mishra, Lekhnath Neupane, Ganesh Bahadur Raut, Angiras Upadhyay, Ram Rajthala, Netranath Sharma, Bishnu Bahadur Khadka, and Hom Shankar Dhungel. 

The book is divided into seven chapters. The first, titled 'Parichayma Gundu' (An introduction to Gundu), details the historical and present-day context of Gundu, which once comprised nine wards as a Village Development Committee and is now Ward No. 7 of Suryabinayak Municipality. Another chapter, 'Mera Bako Samayachakra' (My father’s timeframe), reflects on Hari Bahadur Thapa’s personality and his contribution to social service. 

'Parichayka Haraphma Padam Bahadur Budhathoki' (Vignette of Padam Bahadur Budhathoki) explores the contributions of the peasant leader. The final chapter, 'Chorale Anubhuta Gareko Bam' (The left politics as experienced by the son), offers sarcastic satire on the decline of idealism in today's power-driven leftist politics.

Thapa’s second book, 'Kurako Sasti', consists of 38 satirical poems and 28 satirical muktaks. Both books, published by Shabdayatra Prakashan, Banepa, were recently launched at the Akshardham Hall in Banepa by the author’s grandchildren, Ganga Basnet and Umangdev Thapa.

Born in 1950 (BS 2007) in Gundu, Bhaktapur, writer Thapa has been awarded with the Senior Journalist Honour-2069 BS by the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Bhaktapur Chapter, and the Shabdayatra Gopal Pradhan Columnist Felicitation- 2081 BS by the Shabda Yatra Publications.