It has been exactly a year since I met Ram Prasad Koirala at 2by4 Café on the last Saturday morning of September 2023 in Blacktown, New South Wales in Australia. At that time, I was fascinated by his childhood stories, which revealed some of his family affairs that most people would typically keep hidden. I was surprised by his courage to narrate these incidents and explain why it was important for him to share them with the public. This motivation ultimately led him to publish his memoir Meri Uni ra Ma (2022). He was equally enthusiastic about the progress on the English version of the book. Last month, at the end of August, he launched Colossal Love: My Life’s Journey at his residence in Bella Vista, Sydney. That’s how I came into possession of this wonderful book in English.
The memoir tells the heartbreaking and confronting story of a woman, as a mother, who was forced to leave her young children and family, exiled under difficult circumstances. From the first to the last pages, the book is dedicated to his beloved grandmother, depicting his strong attachment to her and her profound influence on his life. It illustrates how her moral values and guidance shaped his philosophy and how he evolved and grew, even in the absence of his mother. He also acknowledges other women who played pivotal roles in shaping him into the person he is today—his mother, wife, and two daughters—later recognizing the same strength in them that he had seen in his grandmother. This gave him the motivation to continue his mission despite life’s challenges and successes.
This memoir is not just a collection of personal memories; it also serves as a document of Nepali social history. It offers insights into the social, cultural, economic, and political life of Nepal in the 1950s, where gender and caste-based discrimination were prevalent. Ram has captured his entire life’s journey, filled with many small yet interesting incidents, across 37 chapters. These chapters cover his carefree childhood, adolescence, youth, love and marriage, education and career, and family life.
His journey from a remote village in Nepal to Australia is a fascinating one. Along the way, he studied, lived, and worked in India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, England, Eritrea, and Sudan. Each place is described with its own unique set of dramas, surprises, challenges, successes, and hard-earned life lessons. Additionally, his and his family’s devotion to ensuring that Aparna, his daughter, received an education at a school for deaf children and their settlement journey in Australia is particularly touching.
The entire book can be analyzed from various perspectives and will resonate differently with readers from different walks of life. For instance, from a gender perspective, he raises important issues about inequality and discrimination against women and girls’ education. From a development perspective, he stands against caste-based discrimination and highlights his work in community and social development, especially during his time working for UNV, UNDP, and UNICEF particularly in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene programs. Spiritually, he explores the meaning and purpose of life, human values, and the idea that all women on earth are like mothers to him.
For younger readers and those unfamiliar with Nepali socio-cultural and legal history, some of the facts and incidents described in the book might be surprising or even shocking. For example, under the civil code of that time, a married woman engaged in extramarital affairs could be tried and sentenced to imprisonment. Elder brothers would inherit family debt, laundry was done by boiling ash and water, and snacks consisted of fried corn and soybeans, with sweets like Sel Roti.
Ultimately, this book is about human aspiration for a better and more just life. It delves into emotions of grief, hatred, regret, love, courage, success, inspiration, and happiness. Ram’s writing successfully captivates both Nepali and non-Nepali readers with life stories that are found in fiction. The memoir is dedicated to his grandmother, the late Kubija Devi Koirala. Her moral values and guidance served as a guiding light in Ram’s darkest moments, and her lessons might be equally valuable for us. Here are a few of her quotes to reflect upon:
“Water is the most valuable thing in the world, and distributing it freely to others is deemed a divine deed to humanity. No one can survive without water, the priceless elixir.”
“Mothers are great in their own sense, and a mother is always a mother. She has given birth to you. No one should ever humiliate or disrespect their mother under any circumstances.”
“There are no problems in this world that can’t be solved. What you need is determination and perseverance.”
“If dusk arrives while you are still planting paddy, keep working until you’ve finished. That way you won’t have to waste time coming back the next day to complete the task.”
Book Title: Colossal Love: My Life’s Journey
Author: Ram Prasad Koirala
Language: English
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Ghost Writing Nepal, Kathmandu.
Published Year: 2024
Price: NRs 750.00, AUD 20.00
Pages: 328
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