''Sumnima'' () is a Nepali novel by

B. P. Koirala Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala ( ne, विश्वेश्वरप्रसाद कोइराला; 8 September 1914 – 21 July 1982), (Nepali: 1971 B.S. Bhadra 24 - 2039 B.S Shrawan 6)better known as B. P. Koirala ( ne, बीपी ...

. The book was published in 1969 by

Sajha Prakashan Sajha Publications ( ne, साझा प्रकाशन, lit=Common Publication, translit=Sajha Prakashan) is the oldest publishing house of Nepal. It was established in 1913 and is funded by the Government of Nepal. Headquartered in Lalitpur ...

. and describes a story of a

Kirat The Kirati people, also spelled as Kirant or Kiranti, are a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group. They are peoples of the Himalayas, mostly the Eastern Himalaya extending eastward from Nepal to North East India (predominantly in the Indian state of Si ...

woman and a

Brahmin Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests ( purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers ( ...

boy. Koirala was the first elected prime minister of Nepal. Koirala wrote the book in eight days (June 21 to 28, 1964) during his imprisonment in Sundarijal jail.

Synopsis

Sumnima is a psychological love story between a Brahmin boy named Somdutta and a Kirati girl, the title of this novel, Sumnima. Somdutta is devoted to Brahmin rituals worshipping the Hindu gods. He practises celibacy and sex for him is a mode of reproduction only. Sumnima is very down to earth and knows how to live naturally. They spend a long time on the Koshi riverside and develop a deep affinity with each other. After their separation, Somdutta knows that Sumnima has become deeply rooted in his heart. The sexual desire for Sumnima haunts Somdutta till the end of his life. He realizes that the celibacy education, which should be a ladder to salvation and austerity, instead kept him away from true happiness and experiencing life. The novel discusses the issues of minority, cultural differences and ethnic consciousness through innocent characters. It documents the conflict and problems among the people living in the same area.

Translation

The book was translated into English as ''Sumnima'' by

Taranath Sharma Taranath Sharma () popular name Tana Sarma (23 June 1934 – 15 February 2022) was a litterateur of Nepal, recognized as travel writer, essayist and literary critic. Sharma authored over 112 books in Nepali language.Narendra Dai'' * '' Modiaain'' * '' Alikhit''

References

{{Bisheshwar Prasad Koirala Nepalese novels Nepali-language books 20th-century Nepalese novels Nepalese books Nepalese fiction 1969 Nepalese novels Works by Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala Nepali-language novels