Bhimsen Thapa

Genre: Historical Novel

Author: Shree Krishna Shrestha

Published by Modern

Printing Press, Kantipath

Price: Rs 225

Kathmandu: After reading Bhimsen Thapa by Shree Krishna Shrestha, you will reach the conclusion that this book is successful in creating a complete reversal of recorded history. With thorough explanation of even the minutest details of historic-political undercurrents, the author has foregrounded the power games of the then period through authentic characters. The history written so far represents the voice of power holders, but with perfect fictionalisation of history, Shrestha has made an attempt to re-map historical constraints thereby presenting the darker side of our historical bibhuties and ‘celebrities’.

A novel revolving around the story of the rise and fall of historical figure Bhimsen Thapa, this book presents a grim picture of mainstream heroes. Bhimsen Thapa is presented as an unforgiving, over ambitious and revengeful sycophant who leaves no stone unturned to capture state power. He takes advantage of every situation or person — be it a chicken-hearted king or an ambitious queen. Thapa’s obsession for power makes him eliminate his opponents in horrific ways. Instead of abolishing abominable custom of sati, and ‘caste system’ the ‘historical figure’ deliberately uses them for his advantage as a means of achieving absolute power.

Similarly, readers will realise the contribution of Damodar Pandey and Amarsingh Thapa, who lack due space in linear history. Shrestha has been able to depict them as sympathetic characters — victims of whims of impulsive rulers. Readers will sympathise with Pandey, victim of Thapa’s conspiracy and Sher Bahadur Shah, murderer of king Rana Bahadur Shah, another ‘celebrity’ of our ‘glorious’ history. Rana Bahadur Shah’s murder seems justifiable and the character fails to gain sympathy from the readers.

The only difference between reading recorded linear history and reading this book is that the author has very powerfully used his creativity to foreground the darker side of historical figures whom historians have uncritically glorified in historical texts.

The time and coincidents seem much more powerful than heroes’ attempts to control the situation. Thapa who forcefully sent a number of wailing women to sati or physically disfigured and humiliated his rivals, finally comes to the conclusion that time and situation has led the end of his life to justice by not even providing him an opportunity for a decent suicide.

On the other hand, the episodes of war between Nepal and East India Company makes the readers realise that Nepal was politically and psychologically under colonisation. It was not because of bravery of Nepali heroes that the British were discouraged to swallow invaluable parts of Nepal, but myopic vision of our kings that led Nepal to lose her land.

All in all, the author has successfully brought forth the silenced and hidden facts of our history through this novel. A complete reading of this book will be fruitful since the book contributes to furnish away confusions regarding historical facts. Readers will be able to analyse history on their own thereby relating with every detail and event to the play of power and conspiracy. Yet the fictionalisation is so historical that readers will forget that they are reading a novel. It looks like a new version of genealogical history. The story advances with a simple flow of the main plot. The book is episodic yet the events are inter-connected. In most occasions, readers will be thrilled and curious to know the event that follows. Though the events are predictable, readers will be attracted to know how the incidents take place rather than to know what happens.