New Nepal
Shiddhicharan Shrestha (1912 - 1922)
This poem is composed by Shiddicharan Shrestha. The poet spoke for the hopes and frustrates of a politically suppressed people who were struggling for democracy. For writing revolutionary poems he was jailed for eighteen years. In this poem also, he prayed Nepalese people to speak up for their rights.
It is a political poem translated into English by shreedhar Lohani. The poem encourages Nepalese people to rise above the inequities of the past and bring in a revival (resurgence) of freedom and self-respect.
This poem was written during Rana’s rule. People were not able, courageous enough to speak anything against cruelty. If anyone tried to speak, that person would be punished. A lack of courage resided in the heart of public due to massive domination of the past. They could not bring new thoughts. Through this poem, the poet wanted to inspire innocent people, who had been suppressed by Rana’s rule and their atrocity as well as suffered from racial, political, cultural economical discrimination and ignorant.
He prayed to
wake up, raise their voice against such ill-treatment, answer their injustice.
He told the reader to speak truth, show bravery, and move forward to bring a bright
day. He requested mother Nepal to bless us with courage and caution, bless us
with power and union. Our unity can make it possible. He advised us not to
follow distasteful rituals, heartless class divisions, and chains of
discrimination. And to eliminate (remove) completely such evil elements to
change our Nepal into a new Nepal.
Looking for a Rain God by Bessie Head summary
