Kathmandu:

Five years ago Prakash Sayami, who was then working as a radio jockey at Radio Sagarmatha, came across a book of essays that left him stunned. He could not believe that a Nepali had written such essays and was not read.

This essayist was none other than Shankar Lamichhane, who had already been dead for 25 years when Sayami started his search to unearth the man behind the essays. It was not easy as Lamichhane’s books were not to be found anywhere — not in the libraries nor in the market.

The owner of the book was one Keshab Bahadur Shah (as the flyleaf said) and when Sayami could not contact the person he says he had “no other choice but to make an announcement on radio, which I did on World Book Day (April 23). Then Shah himself called me.”

But Shah could not help him. So his search then took Sayami from one person to another trying to dig up something about this essayist, met Lamichhane’s contemporaries in the hope that they could perhaps shed new light on the essayist and his life.

The RJ was so taken in by Lamichhane’s work that he started reading the essayist’s work during his programme Ajambari Geet Sangeet. Who was to know that his listeners would be as stunned as he himself and that they (the listeners) would on their own initiative start Bhawak Abhiyan (roughly translates to listening enthusiasts).

And this is testimony to the power of human voice — within three month’s of Sayami’s introducing Lami-chhane to his listeners, the Nepal Tourism Board hall was packed with Bhawaks waiting for Sayami to make a special announcement regarding Lamichhane.

That day Sayami announced the Bhawaks had contributed around Rs 100,000 and that Lamichhane’s works would be reprinted and available to all in a short while. Godhuli Shanshar, Gauthaliko Gund, Abstract Chintan Pyaj, Shankarka Nibandhaharu and Shankar Byakti, Kriti and Smriti have been reprinted following this announcement.

Lamichhane is arguably the country’s most innovative writer — he had won the prestigious Madan Puraskar 33 years ago for his first collection of essays Abstract Chintan Pyaj.

“It was his fans and Prakash who brought Shankar into the limelight again,” admits Lamichhane’s widow Ratna.

Renowned litterateur Kamal Mani Dixit rightly remarked, “Lamichhane has been ‘re-christened’ in the Nepali literature by ‘Bhawak’ Abhiyan.”

Lamichhane’s life journey could be inspiring for many, but invariably horrid to all. He worked as a manager of a cinema hall, ran a curio shop, served as a librarian at the Indian embassy, was the first and foremost lyricist at Radio Nepal (Mero aankhabata aanshu bhayer), a pioneer in haiku writing, a science fiction writer (Kantar Ko?), experimented writing a story in the future tense Ma Bholi Janmane Chhu (I am going to be born tomorrow), wrote portrait or visionary essays for the first time in the country.

And to him also goes the credit of raising his voice demanding royalty for write-ups. An adherent Devkota fan, Lamichhane had his distinct style of writing. “I find Devkota’s works are extremely artistic and imaginative, whereas Lamichhane’s works are psychological derived from daily life,” Sayami opines.

“He was my friend, mentor and husband,” recalls Ratna, who spent 30 years with him. But when another woman entered Lamichhane’s life, she was hurt and left for UK to raise her two teenage children. However, today she feels, “It was my fault to ignore him.”

She gives all credit to bringing Lamichhane back from the grave to Sayami and the Bhawaks. “I was just a wife who could do very little for my husband’s career. But I wonder what the academicians of the country were doing then?” she questions.

From a forgotten, almost lost gem to someone so loved and cherished, Lamichhane’s influence does not end here. Shankar Lamichhane Nibandha Kosh (Fund for Essay) was established on his birth anniversary in 2057 BS with Ratna as its chairperson. The Kosh plans to translate his selected works into English.

On March 18, the Kosh honoured senior writer and essayist Krishna Chandra Singh Pradhan with the first ‘Shankar Lamichhane Nibandha Puraskar 2062’ at a function organised to mark Lamichhane’s 79th birth anniversary.

The judges — Manjul and Momila — picked Pradhan for his incessant contribution to the Nepali literature with quality creations for over half a century. The panel evaluated literary works created in the last three years time.

The award consists of a citation and a cash prize of Rs 50,000.

Expressing his gratitude Pradhan said, “It is not a new practice to remember great people, but we should be able to appreciate their work and follow the paths of good deed they have shown us.”