Book Review: PhirPhire

Shushila Dhami

“PhirPhire” is the second novel by famous Nepali fiction writer, Buddhi Sagar Chapain. His first fiction novel “Karnali Blues” was a huge success and it’s my favourite one too.Buddhi Sagar is best known for his recital way of telling the story. His unique way of storytelling is quite popular among the readers and this keeps the reader surrounded by the story all the time.

"PhirPhire” starts with the ending i.e. it tells the story in a flash back memory of the writer. The novel is about the story of two ordinary boys, Pawan and Basanta and their innocent friendship. The story starts when Basanta decides to go to his village after 15 years to see his house for the last time before it is destroyed. The story ends after Basanta leaves the village and returns to his life. In between, Basanta, the story narrator begins the journey to the past; the past which he always wanted to forget. He unfolds the nostalgic memory of his childhood and the story of his best friend Pawan who becomes a prey to village politics, superstitions and losing his memory in the process.

This story is multi layered with the stories of the loving Juthiaama, the snake killer of the village, Chilgadi, the stumble bum, Rocky Dada, Pawan’s first love, Munmun, The boat rider of village, Pichku Majhi, the village witch doctor, Kohinoor. All these colourful characters please and amaze the readers in equal measure throughout the book. Every person whom Basanta and Pawan met has a unique story behind their life. The Narrator tells about their lifestyle, their language and their livelihood.

Life is like a leaf of a mango, which is stitched with a piece of stick thatblows with the force of air and moves very loudly. Once this leaf fall down and destroyed in mud and water, then only remains the memories.

The writer, Basant goes to his birthplace Basbari with his wife and daughter, and then he goes to his past memories. He remembers his all the past memories belong to that village. He remembers his childhood friend, son of Sarbajit Master, Pawan and the days spent with him; struggle of his mother Jasoda for her life; tragic fall of Chilgadi's son; misbehaviour of villagers for the Juthi AAmai; Loneliness of Kohinar Jhakri and theunfulfilled wishes of Pichku Majhi.These things are included in this novel through Basant's memory.

Main plot of this novel is within the periphery of tragic departure of Sarbajit Master and his son. Principal of local government school, his name is Sarbajit (successful) but he is quite unsuccessful and gets loss from all the times from everything. Pawan had lost his all the desires, intelligence and his past memory due to the encephalitis and finally get loss from the village and never been found. Another character of this novel is Rama, sister of Pawan makes the readers emotional. The family struggle, sorrow and happiness are the main attraction of this novel.

Likewise, the novel is within the friendship of Pawan and Basant. They have very good bound with each other although there is not good relation between their families. They often quarrel with each other, yet they always have each other’s shoulders to lean on when something bad happens. They are incomplete without each other. The narrator beautifully portrays the relationship between father and son, brother and sister, best friends and finally a mother and son.

This novel is very appealing and realistic type of novel. It appeals the reader to read and go through the pages once and all the characters are representative of our society.The writer has developed characters who are representative of our society— Bante and Pawan, for instance, are much like we were during our childhood, while those from the countryside can easily relate to Bansbari's story. The characters from different castes and classes are reflective of Nepal's multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious society. Phirphire's characters find themselves caught in life's paradoxical roles and fate. The novel has Pichku who helps others cross river who eventually reach faraway destinations; he however always remains there beside the river bank. Depressed Basir entertains others and Sarbajit Master believes in superstition. There are many Juthi Aamais in our society accused of witchcraft and banished.

Story telling of this novel is very quiet impressive. While reading the story I felt that I am also going ahead with them with their ups and downs. By reading this novel I wish for the relief for Chilgadi and also wish to revoke Pawan'a memory. Rama's emotions make so much emotional.

This novel has tragic end, it is bound of sorrows. Readers feel so much sorrow and get emotional. The life of Basbari's people is very sorrowful. All the peoples suffer badly from death, departure, unfortunate, and futile. There is always grief in the life of Ghuiyaram, Sarbajit, Jashoda, Juthi Aamai Ganga. The villagers feel very much pathetic all the moment.The story is very much awful, there does not happen any good thing like marriage, Bratabandha, festivals, dances etc.  The Basbari is like a pond of grief where every people live with distress, all alone, get birth for tears and expire.

There are all sorrows and distress in the novel, which makes scratchy.Another weak part of the novel is in selection of character. The writer seems weak in prorating the character, Juthi Aamai, Bhul kaka and Basir dada. The stories of Juthi Aama are not attractive and unfitting.  The conversation and intimacy between Basir dada and Basant seems Filmy.

The writer plunge in selection of language regarding the character Pichku, Bhul kaka. Basir dada, Juthi aamai etc.  He does not seem to give more apprehension on the mix language of Hindi and Bhojpuri spoken by Basir dada and Pichku. The proverbs (ukhans) used by Ukhane seem undemanding and inappropriate.

Another part is link between plot and character.The setting of the novel is not quite good. The writer shows (the sister of Sarbajit master) Brinde as very powerful characterin starting but she get nowhere to be found at the end. We cannot see the presence of Brinde in ups and downs of Pawan and Sarbajit master. Superfluous character and description of incident make the novel lengthy and time consuming.

Readers find very ineptness and sorrowful in the novel, which make them to feel monotonous. There is not any playfulness in the novel so it is unreasonably shady and droning. As a reader I feel that if the writer would take off some pages it would be attention-grabbing as it is.

There are some errors in the book, some misprints but it really doesn’t matter when the story is as good as this is.  It is written in a sweet and simple language, the story of PhirPhire charges to bring back the nostalgic memories of our individual pasts.