While celebrating the 10th Ghazal Mushayara Event (a poetic symposium) nearly eight months ago, amid an enthusiastic audience in Sydney in September 2024, a special edition titled Ghazal Mushayara: Special Edition 2081 was launched. This book is a collection of 57 ghazals (poems) by 57 Nepali poets from Portugal, Malaysia, Nepal, and primarily from Australia. Notable contributing poets include Adarsh Khatri, Ramesh Adhikari, Binayak Adhikari, Laxman Sanjyal, Maheshwar Sharma, Nimesh Bhandari, Prabesh Paudel, Jitendra Malla, Tulsa Pandey, Nisprabh Saji, Mamata Tiwari, Keshab Sharma, Buddhi Sagar Dawadi, and others.
Most of the ghazals touch upon contemporary issues such as migration, restlessness, and the hardships newly arrived individuals face in Australia and other countries. Themes of social maladies and family issues are also prevalent. Many poems present satirical takes on Nepali politics and its effects on society at large. At the same time, several ghazals and their verses are rich with themes of romance, attraction, and love.
For instance, the opening verse (“matla”) of Rahul Aryal’s ghazal poignantly states: “People are bound to stay far from their country and loved ones, only returning home when a loved one, like a father, passes away.” Similarly, Ganesh Gautam satirically says in a verse: “Neighbouring countries send their rockets into space, while our country sends its youth to Gulf countries for work.” It’s a heart-wrenching reality for many Nepali immigrants, workers, and students.
Another poet, Sumitra Sumi, writes: “Happily, I built a house and imprisoned myself—like a spider entangled in its web. What a strange illusion of a trap.”
In a beautifully written verse, Dhana Jyoti states: “No matter where we live or under what conditions, our Nepali culture should be celebrated and preserved.”
This book stood out as more than just a compilation of ghazals by 57 poets. It is a chronicle of the Nepali ghazal movement and its development in Australia. It is evidence of the growing love and passion Nepali communities abroad have for ghazals.
Historically, the first Ghazal Mushayara—Nepali ghazal recitation program—was organized in 2014 by a handful of writers/poets led by Jitendra Malla. Following that, an informal group called Ghazal Mushayara Pariwar was formed to continue the tradition and movement. Thanks to their dedication, the group has nurtured and trained numerous poets, enabling them to celebrate a decade-long journey and organize the 10th consecutive event, during which more than 45 ghazals were recited by 23 poets.
Nearly 40 pages of the book are dedicated to messages from coordinators, editors, well-wishers, renowned poets, and public figures. Some sections also include facts and documentation. These pages will be especially valuable for students and readers interested in learning about the evolution of Nepali ghazals in Australia—how it all began, the challenges they faced, including financial constraints, the struggle for quality writing and recitation, the effort to organize events every year, and the added complications and opportunities brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. While these sections might not attract casual readers, they serve as a vital record of the proud decade-long journey of the Ghazal Mushayara Pariwar.
Once again, congratulations to the Ghazal Mushayara Pariwar for publishing this remarkable collection and for continuously providing a platform for Nepali ghazal enthusiasts. Best wishes for the upcoming 11th event, to be held in Melbourne in May 2025.
Book Title: Ghazal Mushayara: Special Edition 2081
Editors: Jitendra Malla, Ishwor Paudel, Ashok Sharma and Dr. Keshab Sharma
Language: Nepali
Genre: Ghazal (Poem) collection
Publisher: Color Craft Graphix Pvt.Ltd.
Published Year: 2024
Price: NRs 550
Pages: 100
Comment