Karnali Blues

“My father is the best father in the world.”

Karnali Blues is a Nepali title that reflects the pain and difficulties of the Karnali region. This region, located in the western part of Nepal, is less developed compared to other parts of the country.

Karnali Blues is a wonderful and inspirational novel written by the popular Nepali author Buddhi Sagar. The story is about the struggle of a father who dreams of making his children better than others; it mainly follows the life of Brishbahadur, the son, and Harshabahadur, his father, and their journey in the tough environment of Karnali.

In the Terai part of Karnali, life is uncertain; people’s homes, education, health, and income all depend on the seasons, politics, and local situations. Many are uneducated and still follow superstitions. Schools and health posts are of poor quality, so people often move from one place to another throughout the year.

Brishbahadur’s family lived in Matera village. They were four in total. His father, Harshabahadur, was a pharmacist, smart and educated. He worked very hard to send Brishbahadur and his sister Parvati to school, hoping they would have a better life.

But Brishbahadur was not good at studying; he failed class 4 twice. He often troubled his father, but his father never scolded or beat him. Even though their family was middle-class, his father fulfilled all his wishes, whether it was a bicycle, a cap, or a watch. Because of that love, Brishbahadur believed his father was the best father in the world.

Their house would leak when it rained, so they moved to Katase. They lived there until their business failed. Harshabahadur wanted Parvati to study and become independent, but she married by her own choice. Later, the family moved again, this time to Kalikot. As his parents aged, Harshabahadur could no longer work as a pharmacist, so they started a small clothing shop.

His mother always dreamed of building a proper house that wouldn’t leak during heavy rain, so both parents kept working hard to earn money. Brishbahadur passed his SLC exams in Kalikot and wanted to go to Kathmandu for further studies. But his parents, being old and alone, didn’t want him to go so far. Still, he left for Kathmandu, leaving them behind in the village.

His parents worked hard to send him money for his education. After around three years, his father fell seriously ill; his mother brought him to the hospital. His condition was critical. Brishbahadur and his sister came to see him, but after a few days, their father, his best father, passed away. Brishbahadur could do nothing.

Personal View: Honestly, I didn’t like Brishbahadur in this book. I felt he wasn’t responsible or loyal to his family. His parents worked very hard to support his education, but he didn’t study seriously. As a child, he caused many problems; he even burned down their small house. After passing SLC, when his parents asked him to go to Surkhet for higher studies, he refused and went to Kathmandu instead, which was very far. This shows that he wasn’t sincere or understanding toward his family; that’s why I didn’t like his character.