A Literary Review of Ravi Nepali's Poetry Collection 'Dhanyabad Jindagani'

I have just finished reading the poetry collection 'Dhanyabad Jindagani' (Thank You Life) by Ravi Nepali. I have known Ravi Nepali as a poet since 036 BS. I have witnessed the ups and downs of his life from very close quarters. It would not be wrong to say that the turbulent fluctuations of his life form the foundation of his poetry.

The personal and poetic characteristic of Ravi Nepali is to accept every negative and positive turn of life with a neutral attitude and to remain optimistic about the future. Although he remains neutral about the past, he is not neutral about the future. He dreams of a beautiful future not for himself but for all of humanity and nature, and he strives hard to achieve it, both in his personal life and in his poetry.

However, Ravi Nepali has no complaints about the things he did not receive during his life's journey. He is equally grateful to life. Perhaps that is why he titled the poetry collection 'Dhanyabad Jindagani'. With few exceptions, there is no permanent tone of despair in his poems. Each poem conveys a positive message of hope and trust. For example, in the poem 'Euta Tara Bihanko' (A Morning Star), he writes:

Watching the morning star

I wish

For a bright morning

For the sweetest birdsong

And perhaps, for a happy future.

In this poem, the poet describes the darkness of the night and does not fail to hope for a bright morning and a happy future after the deep night. Another special characteristic of Ravi Nepali is that he is a worshiper and lover of nature.

As Ravi Nepali himself says in the introduction to the poetry collection, 'Nature is his beloved, his mother, and his closest confidante.' Whenever his soul is hurt or he feels extremely lonely, he goes near the solitary nature. He dissolves into nature. As a result, beautiful poems capturing the many colors and forms of nature erupt from his soul.

As an example, in the poem 'Mabhitrako Ma' (The Me Within Me), the poet has described nature wonderfully. He writes:

There is silence all around

Inscrutable stillness

The earth is calm

The air is calm

Before my eyes

Phulchoki hill

In the moonlit night

Is stretched out.

In addition to the love of nature, this poetry collection includes poems written on various subjects such as life philosophy, love and romance, politics, and the motherland. Poems like 'Euta Tara Bihanko', 'Rato', 'Jharipokhari', 'Prakriti ra Ma', 'Sundar Simikot', and 'Karnali ko Kinarma Ek Saanjh' provide a vivid, rare, and unique description of nature.

Poems like 'Euta Udas Chitra', 'Nissar Jindagani', 'Kehi Gari Ma Marihale bhane', 'Andhyaro Raat', 'Manab Jivan', 'Jivan Dhun', 'Jivan Chakra', 'Ma Mukti Chahanchu', 'Dhanyabad Jindagani', 'Buddha ko Banshaj', 'Mabhitrako Ma', 'Aatmabanchana', 'Aashu', 'Mero Yatra Ajhai Tuggiyeko Chaina', and 'Itihas Chakra' reveal the poet's deep contemplation and perspective on life and the world.

In fact, these poems express the poet's philosophy of life. These poems attempt to portray the poet as a deep humanist. Similarly, poems like 'Bishweshwor Prasad Koirala prati', 'Swatantrata ko Prateek', 'Krishna ko Pheri Janma Huncha', 'Manau Shamshan ma Chau Hami', 'Ek Din Timiharu Karagar ma Hunechau', 'Aadhi Aaunu Purvako Chakmannata', 'Naulo Bihani Sanghar mai Cha', and 'Pagala Pralap' are political poems. These poems reflect the poet's deep faith in democracy and humanity on one hand, and on the other, they express deep anger against the country's current political plight, appearing to prepare the ground for a mass public uprising directly or indirectly.

Therefore, these poems present the poet as a rebel. Especially in the poems titled 'Krishna ko Pheri Janma Huncha' and 'Ek Din Timiharu Karagar ma Hunechau', the poet expresses anger at the pathetic political situation currently existing in the country and warns the political leadership that they will have to face dire consequences for it.

And, there will be your demise too

Dragged

On the streets and alleys

Like the French dictator Emperor

Louis XIV.

000 000

I know

I am certain

Like every corrupt dictator in the world

You too will fall one day

You too will have a demise one day

A tragic demise

A despicable demise.

The upheaval that took place in the country on 082 Bhadra 23 and 24 has proven the poet's prediction to be true. The poems 'Aama' and 'Matribhumi' express the poet's immense love for his mother and motherland. In the poem 'Aama', the poet appears very emotional towards his mother.

In this poem, poet Ravi Nepali considers the mother greater and more capable than God. Poems like 'Euta Chara Eklo Chara', 'Maya ko Mahasagar', 'Jun ra Timi', 'Timro Muhar', 'Timro Dibya Muhar', 'Mayalu Najar', 'Nirantar Pratikshya ma Chu', 'Aasha ko Jyoti', 'Mero Man ko Bhitta ma', 'Maya ko Parawar', 'Hijo Raati Sapana ma', 'Kunai Din Malai Samjhyau bhane', and 'Hardik Kritagyata' express the poet's emotions related to love and romance in a poignant way.

In poems titled 'Jun ra Timi', 'Timro Dibya Muhar', and 'Hardik Kritagyata', the poet has shown deep emotion towards his life partner. Similarly, poems like 'Naya Barsha 2022', 'Ma Kabi Hu, Kabita Lekhchu', 'Teen Tukra', and 'Koili le Pheri Geet Gaunecha' address various topics.

Especially the poem 'Koili le Pheri Geet Gaunecha' advocates for the right of a small nation to live and its sovereignty, and strongly condemns the oppression of small nations by large nations. And, ultimately, there is a firm belief that truth will prevail.

Poet Ravi Nepali has called poetry a soliloquy with oneself, the worship of truth, and the adoration of God, that is, the spiritual realization of Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram. Similarly, the influence of locality is seen in his poetry; especially the natural background of his birthplace Jaleshwar is scattered in many of his poems; for example: 'Jharipokhari', 'Rato', 'Jaleshwar ma Naya Barsha', etc.

Beautiful wordcraft has been used in the poems of this collection, which has made the poems even more beautiful and compelling to read. Similarly, the poet has used symbols, imagery, and metaphors in these poems in sufficient quantity. Many poems, especially those related to nature, are pictorial, meaning that when reading the poem, the picture of nature comes clearly before the eyes.

Most of the poems are simple and understandable, while some poems are also multi-layered; for example, 'Euta Tara Bihanko' appears to describe nature and optimism in a general sense, but when analyzed deeply, a deep color of politics is also seen in the poem.

Similarly, the poem 'Timro Khoji ma' can be interpreted in three ways: the search for God, the search for democracy, and the search for a lover. Tatsam words, especially Sanskrit and Hindi, have been used naturally in the poems. The use of these words has not only made the poems more beautiful but has also enriched the language. However, the excessive use of Tatsam words can also be reviewed critically.

The poems seem a bit weak in terms of rhythm, as not everyone can easily recite these poems rhythmically. The use of beautiful, relevant pictures in each poem has brought the poetry collection to completion. On one hand, these pictures are very attractive in themselves, and on the other, they have helped in understanding the context of the poems.

Although this is the first work of poet Ravi Nepali, one feels that the poet is very mature when looking at the diversity of subjects, the depth of emotion, and the use of imagery in this poetry collection.