ByBishalRai, November 24, 2020,,,I purchased Bijay Kumars’ book ‘Sambandha-haru’ in a bookshop of Bhotahiti , Kathmandu and started reading when I was waiting for my friend Suresh Rai to arrive at Himalayan Java coffee shop ( Baneshwor , Kathmandu) just one day before my trip back to the US. Suresh and I both embarked upon our professional journey as a tutor in a coaching center (Peak Educational Institute Pvt. Ltd. established by myself along with 2 other friends) and spent our vigorous youthful time in a very mesmerizing city Dharan. Our relation has always been special since then.We call each other ‘Bambota sir’; the name came from the very pioneering American Dj and hip-hop singer Africa Bambaataa. However we never agreed on everything, sometimes we debate very fiercely about Nepali politics but I always feel that we have some kind of respect and love for each other.
After waiting for half an hour , he arrived and we sat at patio of Himalayan Java which is at direct sight of BICC; temporary parliamentary house of Nepal. During our brief meet up , we talked about all the stuffs; from our early friendship in Dharan to the current political affairs in home and around the world. It was so incredible and fun. I have learned so many things from him as he is a voracious reader and avid music lover. I always feel privileged to have a friend like him.
I had perused this book ‘Sambandha-haru’ during my journey from Kathmandu to Chicago. Bijay Kumar won the ‘Madan Puruskar’ (i.e. Nepali Nobel Prize in literature) from his first book ‘Khusi’ . I found this book ‘Sambandha-haru’ is also a next series of ‘Khusi’. It has collections of many autobiographical essays regarding multidimensional relations to family members, distinguished people , places and social traits.
It is a volume incredibly immersed with life and relations which are offered by life itself in the journey of an aspiring middle class man who just wants to become a better person. His writings have been always joy to read for me. I can’t be critic of his work because I simply don’t have that level of requisite knowledge and also I grew up admiring him so much. When I was studying in Nepaltar secondary high school, Sakhejung, Ilam in around 2052/53 BS, I happened to read about Bijay Kumar for the very first time in the ‘Kamana’ film magazine (probably 2044BS Issue) which was found in my uncle’s shelf and the gossip’s title was about denying their love affairs: relationship between then famous actress Anshu Mala Shahi (Sushma Shahi) and veteran television journalist Bijay Kumar and blah blah ,,,
Since then, Bijay kumar always attracted my attention. I used to be so happy and excited every Monday just to watch “Dishanirdesh” (television talk show) when I was a college student in Dharan. In fact, I had to buy 5” tiny TV set of my own because nobody in my rental house was letting me watch that program only. One of my favorite guests on his talk show was Pradip Giri. I still remembered the interview when Pradip Giri said , “ Maobadi andolan le rap, tap, dhuwa ra dhulo lyayeko chha tara prakash lyayeko chhaina.” i.e. Maoist insurgency has brought only the chaos; not the direction. Bijay Kumar and Pradip Giri are both towering personalities of Nepali media and political intellectual spectrum. He did not achieve this level of perfection without efforts. I heard he was criticized after he interviewed indian greatest actor Amitabh Bachchan in 90s when he came to Nepal for movie shooting.Thats why Bijay kumar went to the USA in pursuit of further study in journalism. Nowadays, people who can hardly ask some questions without knowing basic journalism ethics, are called journalists. We are missing him so badly in this business.
I almost switched my educational stream from engineering to journalism because of him. Once I went to RR campus for prospective student for journalism in 2058 BC when I was preparing for BE(Bachelor of Engineering) entrance but unfortunately , campus was shut down by student unions for some reasons and later I changed my mind and continued engineering.
As a first editor in chief of Nepal Magazine, he did a remarkable job and ushered in a new era of political magazine publications. I had read his ground breaking political reporting; “ Grand design ko goti” about then PM of Nepal Girija Prasad Koirala’s deceitful political tactics and conspiracy theory which was drifted by himself and ’Sambandha-haru’ about warm relationship between him and Krishna Prasad Bhattrai a.k.a. Kishun Ji.
In my college days , I used to choose friends based on how much fan of Narayan Gopal he/she was. Bijay Kumar is also a big fan of Narayan Gopal and he mentioned so often about relationship with him. I still feel the fans of ‘Swor-Samrat’ are genuine and smart.I have been fascinated by his work from all the way as television presenter to the most recent podcaster .
In the context of relations, I also feel that I always have a virtual relation with him and his works. So definitely, I urge you to read this book for fun, inspiration, motivation, philosophy and many more. It touches every aspect of life. One of my friends, Chicago dweller and a snoopy reader, Dev Raj Karki who is currently reading the book “Sambandha-haru”, said , “Bijay Kumars’ writing has thrilled me so much that I can even literally visualize the things that he did not mention in there.”
Thank You So much. Please leave comments, reviews, and feedback in all shapes and sizes.
