TORKIN: A REQUIEM FOR THE VANISHING SOUL OF UPPER MUSTANG
BOOK NAME: TORKIN WRITER: KSHITIZ SAMARPAN PUBLSHER: BOOK HILL PUBLISH DATE: 2025 The novel is a sociological document of the Himalayan society in Upper Mustang, specifically focusing on the village of Charang. The story follows the life of a common youth named Chewang, who experiences the profound shift from traditional life to the harsh realities of modern migration and loss. Chewang’s journey begins in a poor but loving family, but after dropping out of school to tend livestock, his life takes a series of dramatic turns. He marries Kunsaing through the local tradition of "abduction" or elopement, a common cultural practice in Mustang where a man brings his chosen partner home with the help of friends. However, their initial happiness is shattered by the tragic death of their first son, a loss that marks the beginning of Chewang's emotional decline. The novel provides an intimate look at the unique traditions of Upper Mustang, such as the practice of polya...
