Friends,

I am using this space for making a personal announcement that is very much a part of my Sajha life and which my well-wisher Sajha mates have been inquiring for several months already.

Well, my mini-novel Chaytna Nasakeko Chithiis finally published and a website dedicated to promote it is up and running.

- http://www.dkhadka.com/chithi

I have a long list of Sajhaites to thank. First and foremost, Echoes for an excellent web design and Shree for valuable guidance to web-illiterate person like me. Gokul-jee for a wonderful preface for the book which, let me give a preview, starts with the story of how it all started right here in Sajha some years ago.

I am donating the proceeds from the book to Help Nepal Network. And I have to thank Shirish for making that possible and helping me out in too many things.

I am also grateful to anonymous Sajha artists and models for their precious cooperation during my initial search for a design for the book.

Then all initial readers of the story for their encouragement and following up inquiries regarding its publication.

So, basically, in Sajha had my book it's birth pang and it would not have seen this day without Sajha.

I have been telling to all that Sajha has been a rewarding experience for me. This book is a living proof among many others I can produce.

Thank you Sajha mates ! Thank you Sajha !

Nepe

- http://www.dkhadka.com/chithi

Nepe Dai Namaskar...
Proud of you.....keep the good work goin..

aba yo book kinna ma ratna pustak bhandar janu parne?haree !!!:(

Thank you, Jyotsna, world_map, revival and gazzab for your support.

Nails, which Nepali writer wouldn't want his work to be translated into English ? I sure have this dream. However...

Shefali, One should never say Harey to go to a book store. A visitor to a book store always ends up buying good stuffs. Imagine the choices you'll have there.

********** **********

To visitors to the website,

We have reviewed and added options for regular (First Class/Air Mail) and faster (Priority Mail) shipping.

Old customers have been offered compensation for overcharged shipping cost.

********** **********

Shirish,

Thank you for your precious review, best wishes and advises.

I do not know how accurately have I succeeded to portray a woman character. However, I have tried to give my best. When I was writing, I was her. Her existence really ran through my blood. She was so real to me. She was never a fictional character. I was living her.

One of the commentators on the book has written an interesting paragraph expressing very similar feeling. He also strongly felt her presence. He writes that when he finished the book he felt like taken by the life of Kusha.

"अन्तमा, 'कुशा' नारी भएर पनि मभित्र एक मिथक भूत-प्रेत आत्मामा बसेजस्तै पसेकी छे र स्वयम् म 'कुशा' बनेको छु । त्यसैले, जीवनको वैध र अवैध सबै संक्रियाको कन्फेसनसित अगाडि बढ्न म चाहन्छु । दायित्वबोध 'कुशा'मा नभएको भए 'कुशा' सञ्जीको ढोकामा पसारिएर कुहुन्थी, तर ऊ एक जिम्मेवार नागरिक पनि हो त्यसैले, उसले रविकान्त लिन आए पछि रविकान्तसित उत्तरकालीन जीवनको अर्थ खोज्न सहर्ष नागरिक समाजको पथलाई अंगीकार गर्छे ।

... तर यस्तो प्रेरक रूप मात्रै चाहिँ पक्कै होइन, मभित्र पसेको कुशाको भूत । मलाई कताकता त्यो भूतले एउटा अतृप्त आत्माको झलक पनि दिन्छ । कुशाले सबैलाई दिएर त गई । तर ऊ आफैले चाहिँ यो दिनुको तृप्तिबाहेक के पाई ? उसले आफूलाई जितेकी हो कि आफूसंग हारेकी हो ? अथवा यस्तोखाले युद्धभन्दा माथि उठेकी हो ? कि पुरानै मानसयुद्ध जारी छ, नयाँ रणनीतिका साथ ? यसलाई उत्तरको रूपमा भन्दा प्रश्नको रूपमा प्रस्तुत गरेका छन् लेखकले ।

शैलीको दृष्टिले एउटै पत्रभित्र जीवनका शाश्वत प्रश्नहरू जो प्रेमसित सम्बन्धित छन्, तिनलाई समन्वित गर्न सक्नु लेखकको शैलीको विशेषता हो । उपन्यास यति गहन छ कि यसका एक-एक पक्षलाई केलाउन थाल्यो भने छुट्टै एउटा अर्को ठूलो उपन्यास तयार हुन सक्छ ।"

Okay, that's an exaggeration by an overwhelmed friend. However, it is true that story leaves a lot of fascinating questions for the readers to ponder. Readers will always wonder how Kusha might be doing now.

Sorry, I am in my promotional mood, rey kya. But I will stop here.

Nepe

किताब कहिले हातमा पर्ला भनेर पर्खिरहेको बेला यो के जाती regular/priority mail को लण्ठोले गर्दा ढिला हुने भो भनेर नेपेजीसंग गुनासो गरौँ भन्ने लागेको थियो, यता नेपेजीको बयान पढेपछि चित्त बुझ्यो। छिटो छिटो तात्तातै पढन भनेर ब्यग्रताका साथ प्रतीक्षारत छु।

Dear Nepe jee,

What a delightful news. Very many congratulations. I look forward to reading the book in due course, and I am sure, it is an edifying read in every respect . I think, the novel has been long time coming, given Sajha's obvious familiarity with your formidable grasp of the Nepali language and literature over the years. The venture must surely be one fitting way to close the loop in your readers' expectations but much more than this is the realisation that the book should now pave the way towards more insigtful, colourful literary openings that lie ahead for you. My best wishes.

Very many congratulations .

Yours aye,

So Nepe why can't you get it translated into english so i could read it?? :) :)

Nails,

Why don't you learn Nepali rather than Nepe translate the book into English?
;)

nepal ko chora - you know it's not that easy to learn a whole new language and plus there's no one who could teach it to me unless you decide to be my teacher! ;) :)
and i tried to learn it like 4 years ago but at end i just gave up! :(

Nepe ji,

First and foremost, let me congratulate you for getting your mini novel published. Second and more importantly, for being considerate enough to use it to good cause for children who are negatively affected by the on going conflict. I humbly applaud this constructive proactive gesture.

I, in the spirit of Sajha, would definitely make it a point to order my copy.

Kudos for your benevolence! I wish you much success in these positive social causes. I hope this is merely a begining of a journey, rather than an end to it.

Best wishes,
Indisguise. :)

P.S: I hope I/We would not have to wait much longer for Sitara's considerable expertise and creativity in "pandulipi." :)

Yo priority mail / first class mail ko hisab ke ho maile bujhna sakina. Pahile guru ko Paypal account nai business verified raina chha.. pathaye ko paisa bujhi lina sundhara ma sajha bus ko ticket katda jastai dukha bho.... Ani kheri kitab mail bho hola, aaja ta aai pugchha hola bhanya belama "hajoor ko order garya kitab priority haina first class mail gari patha'ko chhu bujhi linu hola" bhanne suchana po aaunchha ba...

Lau bhaigo amrican publishers le pani testai garchhan - text book magaunda ta char hapta kuriyo bhane yo dissertation defend garne bela ma guru ko kitab arko 2 weeks parkhanda ke ta hola bhani basen... tara email ko arko line le bhane chitta dukhayo... aba tyo difference in shipping charge $1.50 phirta paun bhanera nibedan dinu parne re nabhaye chanda chhodnu parne ra... Yahan nera chain alli chitta bujhena... hisab kitab pahile nai clear garnu parne haoina ra? Aba maile tyo $1.50 claim garnu ki nagarnu? Claim garam afno paypal business account hoina... nagaram hisab ra nisaf ma ek paiso tala mathi nagarnu bhanchhan. Aba tyo $1.50 ko chanda pani ke chanda diaai bho ra testo ramro organization lai. Tyo khabarai nagari sojhai S&H $2.50 charge garera bacheko paisa afai chanda haldya bhaye malai sakasai naparne thyo...

Kitab bholi parsi aai halla... padhera comment garamla...

Thank you for information about "Help Nepal Network". It's wonderful to know how HeNN is working. Where else the 100% of donations go to intended beneficiaries? Let's donate with open heart.

Indisguiseji,

Thank you for your kind support and compliments.

>P.S: I hope I/We would not have to wait
>much longer for Sitara's considerable
>expertise and creativity in "pandulipi." :)

The work tells a story of some "Sitara". So I would say, readers are probably going to find a shadow of Sitara in it ;-)

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Nails,

It will depend on Nepali readers affirmative responses. Even then, you will have to wait for several months, if not years. But thank you for your interest.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Gunaraj,

Thank you for your support to a good cause of HeNN and also for your earlier remarks in a good humor on our initial confusion about shipping thing. Thank you for your understanding regarding our inexperience. Everything is now taken care of and they are going smoothly. Thanks for the support.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

गौतमजी,
व्यग्रता यता पनि उत्तिकै छ हजुर । दोनो तरफ आग है बराबर लगी हुई ।

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Lahure-jyu,

You are so adorable. Thanks a lot for your delightful note.

I have had chance to read your remarks to Samrat Upadhyay's works. So I am both scared and curious about how your cogent readership is going to find my humble work.

I gathered you particularly look for a depth in character building and complexity of characters.

One of the commentators on the book has made a special point about that. He writes, although the story, a monologue of the protagonist, flows in one direction, there are more stories than one developing and they move ahead in parallel.

One is told and is meant to be obvious. The other is untold and subtle. One is based on what the protagonist says or tries to believe. The other is based on what protagonist says do not mean or what there actually are. One is about chemical medium- the substance that facilitates the reaction but does not get changed itself. The other is about the reactants and the chemistry building up. One runs amok on ad hoc assumptions. The other moves patiently as an undercurrent.

These parallel stories meet at one single point at the end of the story as a grand encounter of two fierce opponents. These two opponents, however, face and look at each other and go to two different directions quietly without a fight.

Did they not really fight ? Who is the winner ? These are questions left for readers to decide for themselves.

Okay, not everything was the commentator's words. I spiced it up a little bit. I hope that's fine.

Happy reading to all customers who are going to get the books in a few days.

Nepe

हेरी हुने बिरुवाको सेउसी पात नहुने बिरुवाको खाक्सि पात भन्या यही होला।

बधाई छ, नेपे सर।

धन्यवाद दीपजी, यो सेउसी पातको कथा भन्दा पनि "जिस तरह सुखे हुये फूल किताबो में निकले" भन्ने फूलको कथा पो मानिचु ।

While I am in the thread, could help post what a nice reader wrote to me after finishing the book yesterday. Here it goes,


"...I could relate every moment but [in a version of] a male participant. Scenes like lab, India trip, etc were so real [they] looked like [happening] right next to my eyes. Excellent piece of art. Very versatile outlook from a woman's perspective. Looks like you were a girl in your previous [life] (just kidding..). ...Anyways - it took me 1.5 [hrs] ... to finish it but amazing experience. I almost got ecstasy...in the train being Kusha - he he ! Not kidding."

:-)

Nepe ji,

First of all, congratulation to you for the publication of your mini novel.
And, I also thank you being so considerate to donate the income from the novel to the charity. I would definitely order my copy soon via the website since Ratna Pustak Bhandar is very far from my place.

Nails, if you are looking for Nepali teacher, I will be more than happy to be your Nepali teacher and teach you Nepali. :)

really Nepal ko Chora?? (wink,wink) hmm..:P :P

Got the book yesterday and read it all! Funny that it grabbed my attention till the end as this is probably the first complete nepali upanyas I have read after 10 + years. I struggled with some of the 'sahityik' words here and there but was overall quite surprisingly easy to read.

Keep up the good work and hoping for another book in the future.

Rev

Congratulations to Nepe ji. I have ordered the book online and would like to highly recommend all Sajha folks to order and read Nepeji's writing. I am sure this will be well worth of your time and money. This is second copy I am ordering as someone very close to me took the first copy after I read half of it and would not return. Now I am desperate in reading rest of the story :-)
I am eagerly waiting for Nepe ji's Gajhal collection as well. Lets join hand to encourage him to publish that soon too.
-ViV

Revival-ji,

I was holding my breath to hear from the readers. You let me breathe a little. Thank you.

With encouraging comment like yours, I sure feel energized for the next venture.

***** ***** ***** *****

Nepal Ko Chora,

Thanks for your support.

Viv-jee,

"आधा पढेको चिठी" पो भएछ । किताब पैंचो दिएर आफु चाहि फेरि किन्न लाग्नु भएकोमा साधुवाद !

अनि शुभेच्छाको लागि धन्यवाद पनि ।

Nepe