''Ular'' () is a Nepali

novella A novella is a narrative prose fiction whose length is shorter than most novels, but longer than most novelettes and short stories. The English word ''novella'' derives from the Italian meaning a short story related to true (or apparently so) ...

Nayan Raj Pandey Nayan Raj Pandey () is a Nepali writer and screenwriter. He writes stories and novels, as well as screenplays for Nepali cinema. He is known for his representation of contemporary Nepalese society in his novels, presented in a figurative style. ...

. It was first published in ''Tanneri—''a bi–monthly magazine in 1996 (2053 BS) then as a book in 1998 (2055 BS) by ''Tanneri Prakshan''. The book was reprinted in 2012 by FinePrint Publication which has been printing the book ever since. Pandey completed writing the book in four days. The title of the book translates to imbalance in a horse-cart caused by more load at the back than at the front. The book has been immensely popular since its publication and has been reprinted multiple times. The book shows the social inequality in Nepali society and how poor people are exploited by richer and powerful ones. The exploitation of subaltern people and the negligence of the state towards those people is depicted in this book. The book has also been included in the curriculum of undergraduate of Nepali Major in

Tribhuvan University Tribhuvan University (TU; ) is a public university located in Kirtipur, Kathmandu Valley, Kathmandu, Nepal. Established in 1959, TU is the oldest and the largest university in Nepal. It offers 1,000 undergraduate and 500 postgraduate programs a ...

Synopsis

The story is set in Mid-western

Terai The Terai or Tarai is a lowland region in parts of southern Nepal and northern India that lies to the south of the outer foothills of the Himalayas, the Sivalik Hills and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. This lowland belt is characterised by ...

region (present–day

Lumbini Province Lumbini Province () is a Provinces of Nepal, province in western Nepal. The country's Provinces of Nepal, third largest province in terms of area as well as List of Nepalese provinces by population, population, Lumbini is home to the World Herita ...

) of

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

. Premlawla is a poor ''

tanga Tanga may refer to: Places Burkina Faso * Tanga, Andemtenga, a town in eastern Burkina Faso * Tanga, Sidéradougou, a village in western Burkina Faso * Tanga-Pela, a village in northern-central Burkina Faso Tanzania * Tanga Region, Tanzanian a ...

'' driver and is a supporter of Rajendra Lal in the national election. Premlawla also participates in the election rally for Premlalwa with his tanga during which his horse gets sick. However, Rajendra Lal loses to Shanti Raja in the election. Premlawla is asked to participate in the victory rally of Shanti Raja with the promise of a daily wage but Premlawla's sick horse dies during the rally. Premlawla decides to ask for help with Shanti Lal but is unable to meet with him since he has already left for Kathmandu. Then Premlawla decides to ask Rajendra Lal but Rajendra Lal refuses to help. Instead, Rajendra Lal suggests to him that he sell his only piece of land. Premlawla is cheated on the price of land. With the money obtained, Premlawla decides to go to Kathmandu to meet Shanti Lal and ask for his horse's compensation. In Kathmandu, Premlalwa meets a writer Nirakar Prasad, who borrows money with Premlawla promising to return soon and also to publish his story but Nirakar Prasad runs away with the money. In parallel, there is a story about Draupadi, a sex worker from Badi community and Premlawla's love interest. Premlalwa wants to marry Draupadi but is unable because he is destitute. Draupadi is exploited by the richer people of the village. The books shows the helplessness of poor people in the society and how they are exploited by the rich and powerful.

Characters

* Premlawla, a poor ''tanga'' driver * Rajendra Lal, a local politician * Shanti Raja, Rajendra Lal's rival * Draupadi, a sex worker from Badi community and Premlawla's romantic interest * Sita, Draupadi's mother * Nirakar Prasad, a writer Premlalwa meets in

Kathmandu Kathmandu () is the capital and largest city of Nepal, situated in the central part of the country within the Kathmandu Valley. As per the 2021 Nepal census, it has a population of 845,767 residing in 105,649 households, with approximately 4 mi ...

Translation and adaptation

An English translation is reportedly in the works. The novella was adapted into a play by Garden Theatre Production in collaboration with Katha Ghera. The play was staged at Kausi Theatre and directed by Che Shankar. Sabeer Churaute and Sarita Giri depicted the role of Premlawa and Draupadi respectively.

References

External links

Official Publisher's Page
{{Nepali literature, state=collapsed 1998 books 21st-century Nepalese books Nepalese books Nepalese novels Books by Nayan Raj Pandey 1998 Nepalese novels Novels set in Nepal Nepali-language novels Nepalese novels adapted into plays