Abhilashi's 'Dahad' unveiled

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 29: A short story collection titled 'Dahad', penned by Nabin Abhilashi, was launched amid an event in the capital.

Litterateurs Narayan Dhakal, Rajkumar Baniya, Kumari Lama and author Abhilashi himself unveiled the book. 

The collection comprises 12 short stories that depict the lives of ordinary people who endured inequality and discrimination during the Panchayat system. It deeply explores social distortions and anomalies, the Panchayat period, human sensitivity, social structures, injustice, oppression, and the suffering of everyday life.

Each story in the collection reflects poverty, pain, lamentation, and anguish in one form or another. The narratives attempt to portray the realities of deprivation and hardship. They also address political disorder, social anomalies, scarcity, pressure, as well as issues related to education and healthcare.

"History must be written," Abhilashi said. "These stories belong to history." 

He expressed need to write history since its impulses has shaped the present. "Where we stand today is the result of those historical forces and investments," he said.

He added that the collection has elevated his stature as a writer and expressed his enthusiasm about it.

Noted writer Narayan Dhakal opined that the stories have depicted the agony and suppression suffered by people during the Panchyat era. "The stories will hold your scruff until you finish reading them," he claimed. 

Similarly, critic Rajkumar Baniya stated that Abhilashi has told the stories of characters from the lowest strata of society. "The writer has succeeded in becoming a skilled craftsman who reflects past realities through the mirror of the present," Baniya said. "There is a distinct rhythm in Abhilashi’s writing, it is poetic."

According to Baniya, Abhilashi does not indulge in lengthy philosophical discourse, yet he conveys profound messages through small incidents. "His great strength is his language; without resorting to heavy wordplay, he can touch the reader’s heart."

He also noted that the dialogues in the stories feel natural and spontaneous, which enhances the reader’s sense of closeness to the narrative.

Similarly, critic Kumari Lama remarked that Abhilashi's writing is rich and marked by intellectual clarity. She said that all 12 stories in the collection are equally powerful. "In recent times, it has been quite rare for me to read such strong stories," she said. "I say this with confidence, works of this caliber have not been written lately," she stated.

The book is published by Sangri-la Books. Abhilashi has published two books previously, including poetry collections 'Maulama Bandhiyeko Rango' and 'Ishwarko Asthipanjar.'