Parijat (writer)

Parijat
Born	1937 Darjeeling, India
Died	1993 Kathmandu, Nepal
Occupation	Writer
Nationality	Nepali-Indian[1]
Genre	Novels, Poetry, Short Stories
Notable works	Shirish ko Phool

Parijat (Nepali: पारिजात) was a Nepalese writer. Her real name was Bishnu Kumari Waiba (Waiba is a subgroup of Tamang) but she wrote under the pen name Parijat (Parijat is a night-flowering fragrant jasmine flower). Her most notable publication is Shiris Ko Phool . The English translation of Shiris ko Phool, the blue Mimosa has been adapted in the literature curriculum of the University of Maryland.

Early life and education[]

Parijat was born in 1937 in the hill station of Darjeeling, India, a place known for its tea gardens. Her mother, Amrit Moktan, died when Parijat was very young, and she was raised by her father and her grandparents. Her father, Dr. K.N. Waiba, was a physician.

The birthplace of Parijat, Darjeeling, is a major centre of Nepali language, culture and literature. Darjeeling is inhabited by Nepali people who also speak the same language and have a similar culture as that of Nepalese people. Parijat was intricately connected to Nepal and Nepali literature from her early childhood. She had a keen interest in literature from her childhood.

Parijat completed part of her schooling in Darjeeling and moved and then settled in Kathmandu, Nepal in 1954. She completed her schooling at Padma Kanya School and received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree. She suffered early on from physical ailments and became paralyzed at the age of 26.^[2] Her sister looked after her for the majority of her life.

Career[]

In 1959, Parijat's first poem was published by Dharti. She published three poetry collections: Akansha, Parijat Ka Kavita and Baisalu Bartaman. Her first short story was Maile Najanmayeko Chhoro. She is, however, best known in Nepal as a novelist. Altogether, she wrote ten novels, of which Shirish Ko Phool gained the greatest popularity. In 1965, she was awarded with the Madan Puraskar for the novel. She also received the Sarwashrestha Pandulipi Puraskar, Gandaki Basunahara Puraskar, and Bridabrit. Shirish Ko Phool is one of the most important piece of work in the whole of literature. She was awarded Madan Prize of 2022 B.S. for this novel.

She began her literary career with "Dharti" while she was studying in Kathmandu. Besides being a writer of novels, stories, poems, articles etc., she also led the "Ralfa Movement" in 1966.4 She was elected as the member of the Tribhuwan University and was a part of Ralfa literature movement. She also played an important role in the establishment of Pragatisheel Lekhak Sangh and worked for Akhil Nepal Mahila Manch, Bandi Sahayata Niyog and Nepal Manav Adhikar Sangathan.

Parijat remained unmarried and continued to suffer physical setbacks. While she was contributing to literature, she also tried to support social causes and initiated attempts like the Prisoners' Assistance Mission. She died in 1993.

Bengali Hungryalist Movement and Parijat[]

Several Bengali poets and painters of the Hungry generation movement had stayed in Kathmandu for a few months during the 1960s decade and had been able to exchange indomitable spirits of each other. Parijat's Akansha is a testimony to that spirit. The notable Hungryalist poets and painters who visited Parijat quite frequently were Malay Roy Choudhury, Subimal Basak, Anil Karanjai and Samir Roychoudhury. A collection of Nepali and Hungryalist writings was edited by Samir Roychoudhury.

Notable works[]

Novels

• शिरिषको फूल Shirish Ko Phool (The Blue Mimosa)
• महत्ताहिन Mahattahin
• परिभाषित आँखाहरु Paribhasit Aankhaharu
• बैशको मान्छे Baishko Manche
• तोरीबारी, बाटा, र सपनाहरु Toribari, Bata Ra Sapanaharu
• अन्तर्मुखी Antarmukhi
• उसले रोजेको बाटो Usle Rojeko Bato
• पर्खाल भित्र र बाहिर Parkhal Bhitra Ra Bahira
• अनिदो पहाड संगै Anido Pahadsangai
• बोनी Boni

Short story

• मैले नजन्माएको छोरो Maile Najanmayeko Choro

Short story collections

• आदिम देश Aadim Desh
• सडक र प्रतिभा Sadak Ra Pratibha
• साल्गीको बलात्कृत आँसु Salgiko Balatkrit Aashu
• बधशाला जाँदा आउँदा Badhsala Jadaa Aunda

Poem collections

• आकांक्षा Akanksha
• पारिजातका कविता Parijat Ka Kabita
• बैशालु वर्तमान Baisalu Bartaman

Memoir essays

• धूपी, सल्ला र लालीगुराँसको फेदमा Dhupi Salla Ra Laliguransko Fedma
• एउटा चित्रमय सुरुवात Auta Chitramaya Shuruwat
• अध्ययन र संघर्ष Aadhyayan Ra Sangharsha

See also[]

• Nepali literature

References[]

October 2014 "Nepali Novel – Parijat"

External links[]

• Few Nepali Poems By Parijat
• "Remembering Parijat". Retrieved 20 January 2008.
• "Love Literature and Parijat". Retrieved 20 January 2008.
• Biography
• Parijat