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Durga Lal Shrestha’s songs now as children’s picture books
Veteran Nepal bhasa poet Durga Lal Shrestha’s picture book of children’s songs is going to be released on November 25 at Patan Museum.Timothy Aryal
Veteran Nepal bhasa poet Durga Lal Shrestha’s picture book of children’s songs is going to be released on November 25 at Patan Museum. The book launch will see the translations of six picture books by Shrestha—namely, Kukhura Ra Haas; Dhapla Khyak (The Great Hairy Khyaa); Nyau Nyau (Meow Meow); Aah Aah Junkiri; Hey Maaka; and Kamila ra Roti. The books have been illustrated by Sambhaw Maharjan, Suman Maharjan, Surendra Maharjan, Mrigaja Bajracharya, Ashish Shakya, and Binita Buddhacharya, respectively.
Originally written in Nepal bhasa, the books have been translated into Nepali while two of the titles—Dhapla Khyak (The Great Hairy Khyaa) and Nyau Nyau (Meow Meow)—are also available in Nepal bhasa and English.
Suvani Singh, of publishers Safu Books, said that the main objective of publishing these books now is to revive the songs that were so widely listened to and read just a generation ago. “Some of the poems were made into songs and were radio staples once but now they have slipped from public consciousness,” Singh said. “The younger generation does not listen to them anymore while these are important components of the Nepali literature canon.”
Although being launched on Sunday, the books are already available at bookstores in Kathmandu and as e-books on the Let’s Read app, a digital library developed by Books for Asia.
Durga Lal Shrestha is a poet, lyricist and teacher. Shrestha has so far published 16 books including titles such as Pija (1967), Inquilabya Palasa (1991), Kulikasa (1967), and Machabakhancha (1995), among others, all of which are revered classics of Nepal bhasa literature. One of his works, Chiniyamha Kisicha (1965), has been a bestseller in Nepal bhasa ever since its launch. Moreover, Shrestha has also composed the lyrics to numerous popular songs, including Phool ko Ankha Ma.
The launch programme on Sunday will see performances by actor Madan Krishna Shrestha, poet Durga Lal Shrestha and students from the Modern Newa School, a Nepal bhasa school in Kathmandu. The book release will be followed by activities for children such as readalouds, mask making and a treasure hunt.