Anjana Koirala, Kathmandu. During recent years, Nepalese diasporic literature based on immigrant’s life has flourished a lot. The struggle the Nepalese immigrants face, their psychology, loneliness, self-dignity and memories of their own homeland in a new world are the major subjects of such diasporic writings. “Pathik Pravasan“, a novel by Pancham Adhikari, is a similar diasporic work where the story revolves around a man “Pathik” who is in Europe for his studies during the period of Maoist insurgency in Nepal.
The story is entangled in dreams of Nepali youth going abroad. In order to pursue higher education, many Nepali youths swarm abroad; mainly to the West. Those youths lured into abroad do not get to walk an easy and convenient road. This novel “Pathik Pravasan” is a novel which centers on the struggle faced by Nepalese when they reach abroad. In addition, the writer portrays the status of Nepal and sufferings of Nepalese under Maoist insurgency very impressively. In “Pathik Pravasan”, the writer has raised various issues like dreams of Nepalese youths to go abroad for higher studies, dreadful status of Nepalese under Maoist insurgency, the struggle youth faces in abroad, recreational and entertainment activities, racism, portray of open European society and lifestyle in his novel. The beginning of this romantic novel is very strong and intense. The story moves ahead with struggles in Europe, particularly in Brussels. Towards the end of the story Pathik who is drowned in European materialism and romanticism, burst mentally.
The writer Pancham Adhikari is a journalist, who has been living with his family in Belgium for more than a decade. He had worked in major Nepalese print and electronic media when he was in Nepal. The way he has incorporated his experiences, observations and view towards European society in this novel is really impressive. Pathik Pravasan develops romantic, thrill and excitement in its reader. Mr. Adhikari uses romantic and diasporic literary themes that allow contemporary expat readers to relate to their stories, such as sexism, racism, identity, fate and quest of life. The author has successfully tried to address the part, which always remained a buzz yet no author ever wrote on the matter. In a nutshell, the novel is worth reading! (The critique is written by Ms Anjana Koirala & is edited by Nepalswiss.com)
