Kathmandu:

Kismisko Biskun is the translation of A Raisin in the Sun, a popular play that gave a new direction to American drama. The book was penned by African-American author Lorraine Hansberry in 1959, the time when rights of African-American and women were non-issues for the mainstream American society. The book also brings to light sporadic inter-general clashes (non-fatal ones) within the Younger family.

Through this novel, Hansberry shook the conscience of the American society. Though the Youngers have been living here for six generations, they still feel rootless. That is why they are not welcome in a white-majority settlement.

That is why Binitha puts on Nigerian dress and listens to Nigerian tunes and feels close to Nigeria. That is why she longs for Nigeria and wants to get married with Ashagai.

This novel seeks justice for the African-American people and advocates women’s rights. The American society of the 1950s and the contemporary Nepali society have striking similarities. African-Americans were discriminated against in the US during the time when this novel was written. Even in this age of modernity, Dalits are discriminated against in our society. Democracy has dawned, vanished and dawned in Nepal again, but the plight of Dalits has not changed. They still cannot enter temples, cannot fetch water from public taps. Even in this age, they have to change their last names to rent apartments.

The translation flows smoothly. Some errors could have been avoided. (For example, playing

piano is not like playing a game.) The price (Rs 250) is a bit offensive.

A free advice to all publishers: Please bring down the prices of all books to discourage the culture of borrowing books. Who knows? This move may encourage readers to buy books instead of borrowing them for a read.)

Translator Padma Devkota, Nepal Academy and the American Embassy deserve thanks for offering us this American sweet pie.