BUDDHI SAGAR

Buddhisagar (born 2 June 1981) is a Nepali author. He is best known for his novel Karnali Blues. His books are a bestseller in Nepal. Karnali Blues as a literary creation itself stands as a possible marker of "pre" and "post" in literary history in many terms.

KARNALI BLUES

Buddhisagar published his first novel, in the Autumn of 2010, and it has since been warmly received and widely praised. It is written in Nepali but several of its characters speak in Tharu and the Jumli dialect of Nepali. The novel is set in recent times and centres upon the central character's relationship with his father, who lies dying in a hospital bed. Its ten chapters each begin at the father's bedside, then resume a narrative of the author's boyhood, from his early years to his eventual move to Kathmandu after he passes his School Level. Karnali Blues is sophisticated in structure and ethnographically and linguistically rich in content. It contains many entertaining anecdotes and characters, but its overall tone is one of poignancy in its portrayal of a father-son relationship characterized by the son's search for approval, the father's small acts of kindness and forgiveness, the son's fears for his father's dignity as his fortunes fail, and his mother's emotional ups and downs all the while.

Karnali Blues is an epic story about a young boy who travels to different phases of his life; with his parents. The story's main plot focuses on the character's father who develops in our spirits by the layers of Buddhisagar's writing. We are made to see the character's father from different angles: from being strict to loving. Though the main character is the father, the writer also adds a major chunk of his life into it while holding the story and binding it together with several in-and-out characters like Parvati Didi, Ekraj, Mamata Didi, Sharmila, Chandre, Bhagiram, Batu, Sadham, Mandire, Ramesh, Shiva Shankar, etc. The story contains the naughtiness of childhood that are hilarious as well as moments of heart-breaking chapters that will keep you wanting more of Buddhisagar's easy words and perfectly structured sentences. The story starts slow but adds adrenaline to the latter part of the plot and ends rather on a high note that will provide you with intimate satisfaction as well making you want more of Buddhisagar's novels and literature.

PHIRPHIRE

One day, Basanta hears that his house in the village is about to be demolished. Overwhelmed with nostalgia, he goes back to his village to see the house one last time after 16 long years. And then begins a journey to his past--a past that he has always wanted to forget. And thus unfolds the story of his friendship with Pawan, who falls prey to village politics and superstitions, losing his memory in the process. This story is multilayered with the stories of the loving Jethiaama, the snake killer Chilgadi, the goon Rocky Dada, the village shaman Kohinoor--all colorful characters who delight and surprise readers in equal measure. Written in a sweet, flowing language, phirphire brings back the kaleidoscopic memories of our pasts. 

This novel is an outstanding piece of Nepali literature. It is a simple but heart touching story. It gives a very vivid description of the village scenario. Slangs, local names of the villagers, day today psychology of villagers and tiny local politics are very nicely presented. The writer makes the reader imagine the scenarios by his magical way of writing. Though it is simple in overall but deep-rooted meanings of life are very wisely revealed. Even the medical conditions are so vividly described that my being a doctor was highly impressed with the writer’s knowledge. The writer has very brilliantly described the taboos and conservative traditions prevalent in rural Nepal.

The writer has kept the language simple yet the use of Nepali onomatopoetic words is outstanding. Once you start this novel you can’t refrain yourself from this beautiful piece of work until it is finished. Even you finish it the characters and their imaginations will keep on revolving in your mind like PHIRPHIRE. 

The reason that I love his work is because of the simple language, simple story and the story touch the heart of the reader. Although I loved both of those two novels, I loved phirphire. I felt like it’s my story. While reading the phirphire, I cried a lot because I felt like I missed my friends. This made me remember my friends and I was lost in the memories.