SARASWOTI CHAUDHARI “RACHANA”

Photo source: google

On the Other side of Lakshmanrekha¹

I know the risk

Of crossing lakshmanrekha

Drawn by our ancestors

At the door of the house

But my saviour-Lakshmana-

Who went in search of Rama

Probably has lost his way.

For several decades

There has been no attempt

To undo the effects of the line

To let me free!

Confined in the captivity

I am evaluating

The reasons of my weakness

And is growing frail.

But how long?

The wait is over

For Rama or Lakshmana;

Leaving me confined within the lines

It is likely they are busy chasing the golden deer

Huffing and puffing

They have probably forgotten

A helpless woman

Whose protection was their obligation!

Even after knowing the threat from Ravana

Who was standing in the disguise of a sage

On the other side

I crossed the lakshmanrekha

To live with Ravanas.
(Translated from Nepali by Keshab Sigdel)

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¹ In the epic Ramayana, Lakshmanrekha is a line drawn by Lakshmana around the dwelling he shared with his brother Rama and Rama's wife Sita while they lived in the jungle. Sita was warned not to cross the line, as it would bring risk to her security. Ravana abducted her once she crossed the line.

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प्राज्ञहरु आफैं राजनैतिक नेतृत्वको दास हुने बाटो रोजेका छन्

केशव सिग्देलसँगको युगबाणी सम्बाद प्रकाशित मिति: २०७५ फागुन १८ नेपाली साहित्यको वर्तमान अवस्थालाई कसरी मूल्याङ्कन गर्नु भएको छ? नेपाली साहित्यको सिर्जनशिल फाँटले व्यापकता पाउँदै गएको छ। समाजको विकाससँगै जुन नयाँ मुद्दाहरु हामीले पाएका छौं, त्यसले विषयवस्तुको व्यापकतामात्रै बढेको छैन, नेपाली लेखकहरुको विश्वसाहित्यसँगको अन्तरक्रिया पनि बढेको छ। कम्तिमा हिन्दी र अङ्ग्रेजीमा उपलब्ध विदेशी साहित्यको अध्ययनले हाम्रो लेखनलाई विषय र प्रस्तुतीको हिसाबले अझ सम्मुनत पार्दै पनि लगेको छ। लैङ्गिक समानता, पहिचान, विज्ञानप्रविधिको प्रभावजस्ता विषयहरुले नै लेखनको संरचनामा नविनता माग गरिरहेका हुन्छन्। र सचेत ढङ्गले नयाँ पुस्ताकोको हस्तक्षेप बढेको छ। पछिल्लो लेखनमा साधना कम भयो भन्ने आरोप पनि छ नि? त्यो स्वाभाविक छ। सबै लेखकहरु उत्तिकै गम्भिरतापूर्वक लेख्न सक्छन् भन्ने छ्रैन। सबै यसमा टिकिरहन्छन् भन्ने पनि छैन। अथवा टिकिरहे पनि राम्रा सिर्जना आइरहन्छन् भन्ने पनि होइन। तर साहित्यमा जुन सचेतताका साथ काम भइरहेको छ, त्यो सकारात्मक छ। साधना गर्नेहरुका सिर्जना दीर्घजिवी हुन्छन्। अरु केही समयपछि ह...

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