I just finished reading the Nepali version of the book LAND WHERE I FLEE by Indian-Nepalese author, Prajwal Parajuly. The story revolves around the life of an 83 year old woman, Chitralkeha. She is a bidi (local cigarette) smoking, veteran businesswoman who has great influence and power in the area of Gangtok, India. The country has five such states where the majority population speak Nepali as their ancestors once belonged to areas of Nepal which were later taken by India after the British-Nepal War.
The story starts with the announcement of Chitralekha’s upcoming 84th birthday. A joyous occasion where the whole village will be invited. Chitralekha’s son and daughter-in-law are no more. But her three grandchildren (Augustya, Bhagvati and Mansha) are alive and are coming to celebrate her birthday. But these grandchildren haven’t met their only living guardian in years. They are not loving or even cordial to one another. This family has separated into their own individual lives years ago and now things are mostly awkward.
The story is remarkable in pointing out how three siblings and a grandmother are completely unaware of the troubles that each of them face. (Spoiler Alert: For example, Mansha thinking that her brother’s Augustya has a simple easy life being a man — whereas in reality, he is struggling to admit to society and his family that he is in a relationship with another man.)
