Gauri Tamu brings out 'Saiprol'

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Dec. 22: Gauri Tamu  has brought out a collection of poems titled 'Saiprol'. 

Former Chancellor of Nepal Academy of Music and Drama, Sarubhakta, released the book amid an event organised by the Gurung Literary Forum in Pokhara on Saturday. 

Presenting his reflections on the book, Sarubhakta stated that Gauri's role was significant in introducing the customs and culture of the Gurung community into the Nepali poems. 

"Poets need to bring the ethnic images of Nepal's indigenous peoples as Gauri has done," he said. "The ideas raised by 'Saiprol' would guide Nepali society in a good way and inspire many more poets from different marginalised communities."

Novelist Tirtha Gurung said that Gauri's creative activism is captivating. 

"She has succeeded in advancing institutional activism, academic work, and creative work simultaneously," Gurung said. He stated that the book will have special importance in the field of Nepali poetry.

Reviewing the work, writer Ganesh Poudel considered 'Saiprol' to be a standard work of identitarian literature. 

"The book is excellent because it is a simple yet profound presentation of the beauty of the Gurung community," he remarked, stating the work can also be considered excellent from the ideological point of view. 

Writer Tamu shared her experience that she began writing poetry while searching for the answer to the question 'Who am I?' 

"I have tried to raise some Gurung myths and rituals in Saiprol," she said, stating there are many myths in the cultural and religious texts of the Gurung community. 

Saiprol is the name given to a female shaman in the Gurung community. The poet has expressed her anger against the attacks on the culture and geography of the indigenous people by the government in Saiprol. 

In the programme, chaired by the chairman of the Gurung Literary Forum, Tej Bahadur Gurung, writers Jasu Gurung and Roshni Gurung also spoke.

Founding president of the Gurung Literary Forum and vice president of the Random Readers Society, Tamu has previously published a collection of muktaks titled ‘Samain Darbani’. 

The book is published by Indigo Ink, Kathmandu.