‘Pipala’-A ray of hope in darkness for Bimal Nepal

Kathmandu: Bimal Nepal is a renowned name in Nepali media. Bimal had been contributing to Nepali news media for more than a decade. He was actively working in a newsroom. But, a terrible incident of heart attack forced him to step back from the media for about a year.

Bimal became a victim of a major heart attack. After the incident, the doctor directed him to complete bed rest. It was tough for him to stay idle in his room as he was always running for news stories, reports, headlines, and revolving around cameras.

Although Bimal was able to follow doctors’ instructions for resting, it was tough for him to control the flowing thoughts in his mind. And his complete rest became an opportunity for Bimal to compile the rough ideas and outpouring feelings into a book. And that became the hope for initiating the journey with ‘Pipala.’

Bimal even loves to call his novel writing journey his second life. It succeeded to establish him as a literary writer. The journey of penning down his first novel was itself a meditative and therapeutic experience. It became a ray of hope in the darkness.

He completely rested for three months after the heart attack. It was not easier for Nepal to return to his usual lifestyle. Hence, Bimal felt the urge of awakening the writer inside himself. Bimal started looking back at the draft of the novel.

While checking, he found that he had already written 3500 words. But it was not an easy journey. He faced another obstacle. The subject matter of the draft was found be a serious one. And even he had to enter a serious mindset to complete the draft. It required a ton of research. However, Bimal was not in the state of entering a serious zone in his recovery phase.

So, he decided to move on with a new subject matter, that was close to his heart. And always used to pop into his mind. And, that decision became the seedling for ‘Pipala.’

The story of ‘Pipala’ revolves around the post-civil war context. Bimal grew up in the dreadful scenario of Maoist Insurgency in Sindhupalchowk. He had very closely seen the situation of people during the movement. Bimal had closely seen the horrible scenarios of that time.

During his journalistic experience in News 24, he also covered 3-4 news stories about ‘Ineligible Fighters.’ Those stories became strong evidence for his writing work. He came to know that about five-seven fighters even committed suicide. The fact of the fighters were compelled to indulge in prostitution became a heart-wrenching truth for Bimal.

Bimal even met such victims personally. It suffocated him. The harsh reality of time used to pinch him. He felt that the civil movement initiated by Maoist was not able to meet its actual aim. It failed to create an impact on the underprivileged people and the fighters who sacrificed their life in the movement. And he confirmed his decision of writing the novel on the topic.

Bimal defines the book as a garland. The garland, which has been woven by connecting the stories of real people in the civil movement. He compiled the real-life experience of the people in the form of various characters in ‘Pipala.’ And the major character Pipala is a concrete representation of those people.

Apart from the movement, there is also a love story of Pipala and Sameer. They used to go to school together. There was a beautiful intimacy between them. One day, Maoist drags Pipala with them. And Sameer is saved as he had not gone to school that day.

But it was not easier for Sameer to get an easy escape all the time. Then, he migrates to the town from the village. And Sameer’s struggle for becoming a writer and a journalist begins.

Will Sameer and Pipala meet after the movement? What will happen to their relationship? What kind of pain did the fighters face during the movement? What kind of leadership was that? Did the fighters receive justice as per their sacrifice? For the answers, one must read the novel Pipala.