YELANEE- BOOK REVIEW

 

 “Yelanee” by Bibek Ojha is a novel that explores the tragic and resilient lives of the Badi community through the poignant narrative of an elderly woman who has witnessed a lifetime of joy, suffering, and societal upheaval. The book is a layered account of the intersection between love and loss, individual struggle, and collective memory.

The Badi community in Nepal has long faced social marginalization and discrimination due to their traditional involvement in entertainment and sex work, which has relegated them to the fringes of society. Ojha delves deeply into these issues by focusing on the lived experiences of his protagonist—an old woman who has much to say about her past and how it has shaped the present realities of the Badi people. Her voice becomes the channel through which we, as readers, gain insight into the Badi community’s past and understand how those historical circumstances continue to influence their current situation.

The protagonist, with her vivid memories, takes us back to a time when the Badi community grappled with societal prejudices, struggling to find dignity and respect in a world that often viewed them with contempt. As she recounts her own experiences, we learn about her youth, her relationships, and the sacrifices she made, all of which are interwoven with the broader narrative of the community’s fight for identity and survival. Her life story is not just her own but also a microcosm of the collective fate of the Badi people.

Through the protagonist’s account, the novel captures the social and economic factors that forced many in the Badi community into exploitative roles. Despite this, there is a persistent undercurrent of resilience and strength in the woman’s voice. She does not simply recount tales of victimhood; instead, she tells stories of agency, defiance, and the will to keep pushing against the limitations imposed on her and her people. Her reflections on love, in particular, are colored by both tenderness and sorrow. Love, in the world of Yelanee, is not free from the burdens of societal judgment and economic necessity. The protagonist’s relationships—whether romantic or familial—are often tainted by external pressures and internal conflicts, yet they also serve as a source of strength and solace.

One of the novel’s central themes is the duality of love and tragedy. The old woman’s love stories are not fairy tales but are marked by sacrifice and an acute awareness of her circumstances. Her love for a man who could never fully be hers due to the constraints of social norms, her devotion to her children despite the lack of resources, and her bittersweet memories of moments of fleeting happiness all serve to portray love as a multifaceted emotion that can uplift but also ensnare. The tragic undertones of these relationships are heightened by the sense that the protagonist’s personal losses mirror the larger losses experienced by the Badi community—of dignity, respect, and opportunities for a better life.

Ojha’s narrative approach is reflective and contemplative. He employs the old woman’s voice to transport readers between different timelines—her youth, middle age, and present. This narrative structure allows us to see not only the changes within the protagonist herself but also the gradual shifts in society’s attitudes toward the Badi people. The community’s struggle for social justice is not linear but fraught with setbacks and disappointments. The protagonist’s reflections show that, while some progress has been made, much remains unchanged, and the scars of the past still run deep.

The novel’s setting plays a crucial role in shaping the mood and tone of the story. The Badi community, often pushed to the periphery, exists in spaces that are physically and metaphorically marginalized—villages on the outskirts of development, cramped urban dwellings where they are not fully accepted, and transient places that reflect their precarious existence. The protagonist’s descriptions of these places evoke a sense of displacement and impermanence, emphasizing the uncertainty that has always loomed over their lives.

Bibek Ojha handles the subject matter with a delicate balance of empathy and realism. He does not shy away from depicting the harsh realities of the Badi community’s life but also ensures that their stories are told with dignity and respect. The old woman’s voice, though marked by pain, is not defeated. Her narrative is imbued with a quiet strength that compels the reader to listen, to bear witness to her truths, and to reflect on the social structures that perpetuate such suffering.

The novel’s title, Yelanee, is symbolic in itself. It is a name that resonates with the theme of yearning—yearning for a better life, for acceptance, and for love that transcends the barriers set by society. The old woman’s story is, in essence, a plea for recognition of the Badi people’s humanity and their right to be seen as more than the roles imposed upon them.

In conclusion, Yelanee is a powerful and heartrending novel that provides a window into the lives of a community that has been historically silenced. Through the voice of its protagonist, the novel becomes a platform for the Badi people’s stories to be told, their resilience to be acknowledged, and their humanity to be celebrated. It is a story of love and loss, hope and despair, and ultimately, the enduring strength of a people determined to claim their place in the world.