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Any family devoid of love among its members is a broken family. Such a family lives in a newly built house with a defective central beam near a burial ground. The house is cold, but their hearts are colder. Their existence is as cold and isolated as the graveyard nearby. When a family becomes dysfunctional, who is to blame? Is it the parents who couldn’t nurture their marital relationship with love, respect, and friendship? Or the stars, planets, and their misalignment? When no amount of prayers and religious rituals can dispel the coldness of the house, when the ties holding them together get coated in ice and become just as brittle, how will the heat enter the house and the hearts? Basanta Basnet’s new novel, Simsara, grapples with the complexities of one such family.

Basnet launched his third book (Second novel) Simsara recently at Nepal Academy. His literary journey began with 72 ko Vismaya (Dismay of 2015), a non-fiction work that delved deep into Nepal’s turbulent post-transition period of 2015. Through this book, Basnet examined the events of profound historical significance, Madhesh Movement in the Tarai, the process leading to the drafting of the constitution under the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the four-and-a-half-month embargo imposed by the Indian government, and the 2015 earthquake, which significantly influenced the politicians' efforts to draft the constitution.  Basnet's second book, Mahabhara, explored the themes of love between a Tamang boy and a Limbu girl, set against the political climate of late 90s and early 2000s Nepal, as well as the influences of religion and social foundations. Just as Mahabhara, Simsara is set in the eastern hills of Nepal. It revolves around the complexities of familial relationships and emotional isolation, highlighting how dysfunction within a family can reflect broader societal issues.

In an interview with Suraj Subedi, Basnet claims that our personal experiences aren’t merely personal but are deeply political, as they shape our perspectives. The author sketches his characters based on his personal experiences, knowledge, and imagination. In a dysfunctional family, children, despite being neither the cause nor worthy of blame in any way, are the ones who suffer the most. Sambat, a teenage boy, finds himself at a crossroad as his parents’ relationship deteriorates. He can neither go back to enjoying his childhood nor can he shoulder the responsibilities of an adult. An adolescent in its true sense, Sambat resists the overwhelming challenges of adulthood and yearns to hold onto the playfulness and innocence of childhood. Yet, his resistances are personal, and the majority of it takes place on a mental and emotional level.

The chasm between hearts 

As the length of the lessons Sambat is given to read aloud diminishes, the distance between his parents’ hearts widens. He is forced to navigate this distance but fails to do so. When his life gets chaotic and everything he holds dear begins to fall apart, he attempts to find solace in daydreaming. One day, when Ishvi visits his home accompanying his father, young love buds in his young heart. Sambat then fantasizes a life with Ishvi and leaves the other half of his bed for her every night. Growing up in a dysfunctional family, he hopes to create a healthy family of his own. But fate has something else in store for him.

Sambat’s emotional maturity is portrayed in the internal monologues he delivers. The depth of his internal dialogues with Ishvi surpasses his physical age. In his monologues, he becomes an adult. In his actions, he reverts back to a child. Sambat never gets to hear the end of the story between “Payuu” and “Goman” trees. However, he is a testament to the end of his story with Ishvi and of his parents’ stories. Both of these stories get an ending he could never anticipate.

The shifting political landscape 

Set in the Illam district of the late nineties, the novel also depicts the social and political weather of the time. The change in social and legal systems and the power dynamics between the government and the Maoist party are presented in the novel. While sparks of the Maoist revolution provide a viable environment for the setting of the novel, the author doesn't fully take advantage of it and limits the exploration of the political aspects. Even so, while establishing the clash between two legal systems: The Jana Adalat (The People’s Court) of Maoists and the court system of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal, Basnet exhibits his extensive background in journalistic writing. This approach is parallel to his writing in Mahabhara, where he practices objective reporting and presents the information as neutrally as possible.

Other characters

While the first half of the plot is dominated by Sambat's perspective, the second half introduces the viewpoint of a range of characters who envelop him like an umbrella. Yet, Sambat's views remain dominant throughout, as he serves as the central beam of both the umbrella and the narrative. However, he lacks the strength to become the central beam of his family. 

Simsara is the story of a house with a defective central beam. With a flawed central beam, the foundation of the house begins to falter. In the novel, just as the structural beam of the house, the pillar of a family is flawed in its representation. The patriarchal societal framework posits male as the head of the family. Even so, Mandakranta, his mother, is the unfaltering pillar of Sambat’s life. 

“My mother is like a walnut: hard on the outside, soft on the inside,” states Sambat. Mandakranta’s hardness symbolizes her resilience. Her struggle is not directed against a specific person but is a fight for justice. Her strength and wisdom are presented in the final chapter of the book, where she exhibits the strength of character by being compassionate and empathetic. However, despite having enough space for Mandakranta’s character development throughout the novel, she is denied a voice of her own. While even the beam expresses its thoughts, Mandakranta’s perspective remains unvoiced, despite her being one of the strongest characters. 

Just as strong as Mandakranta is, Dhanroop, Sambat’s father, is a weak character. Even with his position as the male head of the family, his lack of integrity and inability to stand his ground weaken his outlook. So much so that not even his newfound religious inclination could prevent him from bearing the burden of the consequences of his actions.

Finding warmth in fractured bonds

Even though the narrative expression seems repetitive somewhere in the middle, Basnet has stood tall in the challenge of a fiction writer to make his characters seem real. The metaphor of the house as a cold and isolated space parallels the characters’ emotional isolation. And the narration sets a departure from the often-overlooked strength of women in traditional societies. Simsara, like his earlier works, draws on the theme of division. While 72 ko Vismaya is a melting pot of top-down (Government) and bottom-up (Martyr’s family) approaches to looking at the Madhes Revolution, Mahabhara echoes the narrative of personal dreams trained and transformed by the political upheaval. Likewise, Simsara is a tale of how familial structures and power dynamics influence individual lives, particularly those of children, entangled with societal and political contexts.

Simsara is a story of distance: between Ishvi and Sambat, between Payuu and Goman, between Dhanroop and Mandakranta, and between Khawa and Simsara. But that’s just the beginning, not the end. As the characters navigate these distances, Sambat dives into the depths of his own heart and emerges into adulthood. Meanwhile, in her heart, Mandakranta ignites a warmth strong enough to heat the cold house. Likewise, Simsara has the potential to captivate its readers this winter with the simplicity of its language and the depth of its content.

Nearly a decade ago, Baburam Bhattarai broke away from the CPN (Maoist Center) to form a new political party, aiming to provide an alternative to the established parties. His departure was rooted in the belief that, while existing parties had successfully drafted Nepal’s new constitution and ended a prolonged transitional period, they lacked the vision and capability to foster sustainable economic growth and political stability. Bhattarai urged Maoist Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal to abandon Maoism in favor of socialism, but Dahal declined.

Since then, Bhattarai’s vision of creating an alternative force has yet to materialize. His former allies within the Maoist party have returned to support Dahal’s CPN (Maoist Center), and Bhattarai’s influence in national politics has waned, with no parliamentary representation for his party.

In the 2022 elections, Bhattarai had a strong chance of winning in Gorkha-2 but chose to back the CPN (Maoist Center) in exchange for support for his daughter, Manushi Yami Bhattarai, in Kathmandu-7. Despite Bhattarai’s hopes, his party faced heavy defeats in both 2017 and 2022 elections. Nevertheless, he maintains that only a new political force can lead Nepal towards political stability and economic progress, predicting further frustration and potential anarchism if the current major parties continue to dominate.

Bhattarai has suggested a merger of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center), though he believes even a united party would lose relevance within a decade. Reflecting on the Maoist movement, he sees its historic role as complete, with the remaining task of evolving into an “enhanced and enriched socialism” within a participatory and inclusive democracy. He dismisses the notion of reuniting all Maoist factions as impractical and unnecessary.

Regarding the Nepali Congress (NC), Bhattarai believes it will weaken further but continue to play a moderate role. He argues that Nepal needs a new center-left political alternative, although his efforts to build such a force have so far failed. While several smaller parties, such as Rastriya Swatantra Party, have emerged claiming an alternative stance, they have not yet become formidable players. Figures like Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah and the Bibeksheel Sajha Party also represent this potential but remain largely marginalized in national politics.

Despite these setbacks, Bhattarai remains committed to forming an alternative political front. In 2016, he launched the Naya Shakti Party, although it went through several transformations and mergers, including with Upendra Yadav's party. The recent reversion to the name ‘Naya Shakti Party’ and the reinstatement of its original flag underscore Bhattarai’s determination to revive his initial vision.

Bhattarai’s Nepal Samajbadi Party (NSP) has outlined key priorities: advocating for a directly elected executive president, a fully proportional legislative system, and accelerated action on transitional justice through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Enforced Disappeared Persons. The party has also called for an investigation into the misuse of funds within the cooperative sector, demanding justice for depositors and impartial prosecution of wrongdoers, regardless of political connections.

On disaster management, NSP urges the government to assess recent flooding and landslide damages, deliver immediate relief, and initiate infrastructure rehabilitation. They emphasize preparedness and resource allocation for disaster response, calling on the state to maintain a robust readiness for any future crises.

In combating corruption, the NSP demands the formation of a Jan-Lokpal commission with the authority to investigate major corruption cases and prosecute offenders from all levels of government. Furthermore, they stress the importance of infrastructure development, urging the government to prioritize highway expansion and transportation improvements.

On international matters, the NSP has condemned Israeli actions against Palestinians and encouraged the Nepalese government to adopt a clear stance on international conflicts. The party has called for diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Nepali citizen Bipin Joshi, reportedly held by Hamas.

Tihar is less than a week away and it’s best to get a head start on all the cleaning and organizing lest you find yourself overburdened and thus unable to enjoy the festivities. Most of us wait for Laxmi Puja or a day before to get our homes in order. We are doing chores till the last minute and that way we miss out on the fun as we are tired and just want to get things over with. This year, start early and ensure you have enough time to meet friends and family, enjoy a good meal or two, and make memories to last a lifetime, all without collapsing on your bed at the end of the day.

Tackle the difficult tasks

This weekend, tackle chores that you haven’t paid attention to in a while. Air out your cupboards and clean the shoe cabinets. These places can gather dust and odd smells and airing them out will instantly make your space feel cleaner and fresher. Add some air freshener sachets when you are done. While you are at it, see if there are things—clothes, shoes, accessories—you haven’t used in a while that you would like to give away and put them away in bags and boxes. You can drop them at charity centers like the Sukhawati Store before Tihar for a tidier space.

Deep clean your kitchen equipment

Did you come across some great tricks to clean the microwave or the refrigerator on Instagram? You saved the reel but never actually got around to trying them out? Tihar is the perfect time to do a deep clean of things you use regularly but don’t clean as often, like the oven, washing machine, toaster, etc. Make a list of things you need to clean and tackle a couple each day till Tihar. This way you won’t have to spend too much time on the chores and will also have a cleaner space when it’s finally festival time. Ask your siblings or partner for help.

Give things a fresh coat of paint

Everyone in the city tends to paint their flowerpots during Dashain or Tihar. If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, now is the perfect time. The weather is just right. Getting flower pots painted is the easiest way to make your home festival ready as it infuses a bright, cheery feel to your space. While you are at it, take a look at what else needs a facelift. Perhaps your front door needs a good polish or the compound walls are looking a little drab. Invest in some paint and roller brushes and work those muscles. This actually makes for a fun family activity.

Get out the festive décor and light

It’s not unusual to wait for the last possible minute to hang the Tihar lights. But why not take a cue from the city which is already lit up in many places and bring out the string lights and lanterns at home a few days before Laxmi Puja? That way you won’t be scrabbling to fix them when it’s actually time and will also get to enjoy the festive feel for a few extra days. Give your puja vessels a good wash or wipe down during the weekend and keep them ready. Also, display whatever festive décor items you have at home well in advance so that your home exudes the Tihar vibe all week long.

Buy yourself some flowers

A bunch of flowers in a vase is one of the easiest ways to lend opulence to your living space. If you are someone who doesn’t splurge on flowers, the festival of lights is the perfect excuse to give into this simple luxury. Buy a bunch and watch your space come alive. You can also use garlands to decorate staircases and entryways. Put some flowers and floating candles in large urns and enjoy the simple, satisfying feeling of a cozy night at home.

We often hear that youth are the future; the next generation of leaders. However, this statement can sometimes ring hollow, reduced to mere tokenism. Yet, many young individuals are making real strides in addressing critical challenges, particularly in climate action and disaster management.

Recently, through LinkedIn, I connected with Prabina Raut, a consultant with Liquid Trees and a passionate climate advocate. Liquid Trees employs an innovative approach to pollution control by cultivating microscopic silica algae (diatoms) in open water bodies. These algae neutralize pollutants like fertilizers, heavy metals, microplastics, and CO2. In short, they work to purify river waters contaminated by agricultural chemicals and wastewater. Raut’s expertise extends beyond this role; she is also an Environment Leadership Fellow with WWF.

Given my interest in breaking down knowledge silos to foster cross-sector solutions, I reached out to Raut to hear her views on the recent disasters caused by incessant rainfall across Nepal. I wanted to explore the intersection between climate action and disaster management.

In an interview conducted via email, Raut shared her insights, based on extensive research and analysis.

First, she identified a key obstacle to progress: Nepal's failure to enforce its Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) policies. “While Nepal has several DRR and DRRM policies, they remain largely unenforced at both the national and local levels,” she explained. “The government often prioritizes short-term development projects over long-term disaster preparedness.”

She emphasized the consequences of this neglect. “Despite having policies and research, the government’s lack of enforcement leaves communities vulnerable. Poor coordination between government agencies and ineffective urban planning regulations have magnified the impact of disasters,” she added.

Raut proposed a series of essential actions. The first is to confront the scientific realities of climate change. “We can no longer afford to ignore scientists’ warnings. Building a resilient future requires immediate action and long-term planning,” she warned.

Another priority is overhauling Nepal’s Early Warning Systems. “We need real accountability and expanded technical and financial support to upgrade these systems across the country,” she urged. Despite advancements, early warning systems are not universally accessible, particularly in rural and marginalized communities. “Public awareness on disaster preparedness is limited, and insufficient planning has led to tragic losses that could have been mitigated.”

Raut also advocated for a stronger role for local governments in disaster management. “We must decentralize disaster risk management, but making it effective will require allocating more resources and decision-making power to local authorities.” Local governments should have the authority to initiate community-based early warning systems and disaster response training, which would enhance local resilience.

She also stressed the importance of integrating climate resilience into national development plans. “We need to prioritize sustainable infrastructure and empower local governments to take a more active role in disaster management,” she said. Urban resilience is another crucial area, particularly in Kathmandu Valley, where unregulated urbanization exacerbates floods and landslides. “Stricter building codes and land-use planning, along with green infrastructure solutions like rainwater harvesting, are urgently needed.”

Raut called for the creation of a National Task Force for DRR Implementation to address the inadequacies of the existing National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). “A dedicated task force could ensure better coordination across departments, from hydrology to urban planning, and ensure that DRR policies are enforced at all levels,” she said. This task force could act as a stopgap measure while a more permanent, bottom-up approach to policy making is developed.
Such a bottom-up approach should involve experts from diverse fields coming together to discuss the shortcomings of the NDRRMA. These deliberations could form the basis for meaningful policy changes. Raut emphasized that enabling young professionals like herself to be recognized as knowledgeable contributors could make a significant difference. “Young people can offer expertise, ideas, and help raise local awareness.”

Raut also pointed out the lack of public awareness regarding the link between climate change and disasters, particularly in rural areas. “Community engagement is weak, and inadequate knowledge about disaster preparedness leads to higher losses during floods and landslides.” She stressed the importance of connecting local needs with international mechanisms, such as the Loss and Damage Fund approved at COP28. “International support, like the Loss and Damage Fund, will play a pivotal role in helping Nepal recover from recurring disasters.”

Finally, Raut highlighted the importance of ensuring that any international financial aid, such as climate financing, reaches local governments. “Local elected bodies must build expertise to ensure that no international climate financing is wasted,” she said.

In conclusion, Raut reflected: “Addressing the recent monsoon havoc in Nepal requires effective policy implementation, better coordination among government departments, stronger early warning systems, and international financial support. Despite the existence of policies and research, the government must move beyond short-term solutions to build long-term resilience. We cannot afford any further delays.”