KATHMANDU:

Satya Mohan Joshi’s play Baag Bhairab was lauched as a book at Gurukul on July 2 at Gurukul. The book which has both the original Newari and translated Nepali version has been published by Aarohan and Mandala Book Point.

The launch was attended by prominent figures from the world of literature and theater. Eighty-nine-year-old Harka Narayan Maharjan, who played the main character of the king Roop Mangat in Khat Daboo in Kirtipur, a form of theater almost six decades ago, was the chief guest, who launched the book. Translator Ramesh Kaji Sthapit and critic Govinda Raj Bhattarai were also present.

“In ancient times, Kirtipur held a lot of importance and the starting of civilisation in the Valley can be traced to this place. In this book I have incorporated the political influences prevalent at that time as well as spiritual and revolutionary aspects,” said Joshi about his book. He congratulated Aarohan in giving life to his play and bringing out the true spirit of the play.

Sthapit said the play was significant as the subject was evergreen, which would interest many generations to come.

Bhattarai stressed on the strong symbolic representations and the underlying meanings that need to be understood which signifies political happenings in our country. He also magnified the impact the book will have in the Nepali literary scene so as to encourage writers from other ethnic groups to get their works translated and published in Nepali and bring out their culture too.

Clips of the play which had been staged by Aarohan was also shown during the

programme. — HNS