The poem ‘New Nepal’ written by Siddhicharan
Shrestha is translated by Shreedhar Lohani. It is a political poem that voices
a strong call for Nepalese to rise above the inequalities of the past and bring
a resurgence of freedom and human dignity.
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About the poet Siddhicharan Shrestha
Siddhicharan
Shrestha was a revolutionary writer of his time. He was sentenced to life in
jail for 18 years as he wrote against Rana's rule. He was a political prisoner.
It is a political poem that suggests to raise the voice against any type of
oppression and suppression.
About the poem New Nepal
The poem addresses
Nepali people to raise their voices against the inequalities of the past and
brings in a revival of freedom and self-respect. In the poem, the poet has
expressed the feelings, problems, and pathos of common Nepalese people.
In the history of
Nepal, political systems have been changed many times. However, in our society,
still there is a ditch between rich and poor people. Similarly, people still
believe in superstitions, and there is the problem of discrimination and
corruption.
The dreams and
hopes of common Nepalese people are changing but the economic condition of our
nation is the same. Only a few people are grasping the opportunity. Through the
poem, the poet tells the reader to wake up from the ignorant and encourages us
to arise up. He tells us to speak the truth.
He advises us not
to follow distasteful rituals, heartless class divisions, false beliefs,
untouchability, and a chain of discrimination. He inspires us to change our
Nepal by transforming it from old Nepal to New Nepal. It can only be possible
if we unite. If we want to make awake the nation in New Nepal, it is essential
to change our social, economic, cultural, religious, and political conditions.
New Nepal by Siddhicharan Shrestha [question answer]
Who
is the intended audience of the poem New Nepal? Who is the speaker?
Ans: The intended
audiences of the poem “New Nepal” are those Nepali who are poor, oppressed,
suppressed, and innocent. The speaker of the poem is a political rebel and
freedom fighter.
What is the general context of the poem New Nepal?
Ans: The general
context of the poem is Ranas' rule and their atrocity upon innocent people. New
Nepal
Why
is courage stifled? What is the effect of such a stifling?
Ans: Courage
is stifled by Nepali people because they are exploited and oppressed by Rana.
Due to the massive domination of the past, they could not resist their voice
against Rana's cruelty.
In the poem “New Nepal” what does the poet call for and who does he call?
Ans: The poet
calls for Nepalese to raise their voice above the inequalities of the past and
brings a resurgence of freedom and human dignity.
What is the theme of the poem New Nepal?
Ans: The theme of
the poem ‘New Nepal’ is political protest.
What are the evil elements referred to in the poem ‘New Nepal’?
Ans:
Distasteful rituals, heartless class divisions, false beliefs, poverty,
untouchability, and discrimination are evil elements referred to in the poem.
Write
a character sketch of the type of person the speaker is based on what he says
in the poem.
Ans: The speaker of
the poem is a political rebel and freedom fighter who does not want us to bear
any types of cruelty, atrocity, and ill-treatment. He does not want to see the
exploitation of poor Nepali. He wants to raise the voice of poor Nepali people
against Rana's atrocity and domination.
What is the tone and mood of the poem New Nepal?
Ans: The tone and
mood of the poem are revolutionary and reformational. In other words, the poet
wants us to fight for our freedom and does not want us to bear any types of
oppression and suppression.
What
do “Heartless class divisions” refer to?
Ans: Heartless
class divisions refer to the bad impact of class division (upper and lower). In
these divisions, the speaker finds cold and heartless pathos and ethos between
poor and rich. In such class divisions, there is a lack of brotherhood and
fraternity. Upper-class people aim to exploit the poor in the name of their status,
name, fame, and wealth.
Find
examples of alliteration (repetition of the same consonant sounds) in the poem
new Nepal
Ans: Examples of
alliteration are:
(a) cleanest
current consciousness
(b) courage caution
(c) bring bright
(d) barebacks
(e) evil elements.
What
wrongs of “Old Nepal” does the poet want “New Nepal “to amend?
Ans: In old Nepal,
the gap between richer and poor had increased. Superstation, class division,
and oppression were rooted deeply. Dreams and hopes of common people were
shattered. There was social injustice and inequalities all around Nepal. People
were conservative and uneducated. So, in new Nepal, the poet wants to amend
those old Nepal's prevalent negative aspects. He wants people to fight against
inequalities and injustice. To end such negative aspects of old Nepal, people
should unite.
The poem ‘New Nepal’ reads like a prayer. Do you agree? Give reasons.
Ans: It is like a
prayer because he prays all Nepalese to have a strong heart to resist
ill-treatment and to have self-respect. He also encourages people to arise and
to wake up from their ignorant status.
Read
the poem “No Smoke from the Chimneys, " translated by Michael Hut, and compares
its theme with the poet's "New Nepal”.
Ans: Like in the
poem, 'New Nepal', 'No Smoke from the Chimney’ is a political poem against
Rana's rule which was full of despotic. The speaker seems a political rebel who
is all saying for the sake of Nepalese people's rights, freedom, and pursuit of
happiness. Like in the poem, ‘New Nepal', the speaker is fighting against
domination, injustice, and so on. So, he wants death not to call him because he
has many things to accomplish before his death. He has a busy life. He does not
care for himself and does not have time to wipe his blood from a broken head.
It means that he is thinking for all people but not caring for himself.
His wife does not want the speaker to raise her voice against Rana's domination. She wants so because her husband may be killed or sentenced to jail for a long time but the speaker does not want to hear her blandishment words because Nepalese people have canceled their meals and struggle for their freedom.