Foto site na Prava Baral. Eji ikike mee.

Prava Baral bụ onye ode akwụkwọ nweere onwe ya na ọkà mmụta si Nepal. Site n'inwe ekele miri emi maka akwụkwọ agụmagụ Nepal na agụụ maka egwuregwu mkpụrụokwu, ọ malitere njem edemede ya site na uri. N'ime afọ ndị gafeworonụ, o bipụtala akwụkwọ agụmagụ ise, gụnyere mkpokọta abụ abụọ, mkpokọta ghazal, akwụkwọ akụkọ njem, na akwụkwọ akụkọ, nke ahọpụtara maka ihe nrite akwụkwọ agụmagụ  Madan Puraskar a ma ama na Nepal.

Na-achụso nzere PhD na akwụkwọ agụmagụ Nepal ugbu a, Prava bụkwa onye nkuzi na olu na-arụsi ọrụ ike na mgbanwe ọdịdị nke akwụkwọ agụmagụ Nepal. Edemede Prava na-egosipụta nraranye ya n'ịma akụkọ ọdịnala aka na inye ikpo okwu nye olu ndị ekewapụrụ ekewapụ, ka ọ na-aga ije nchọpụta na mgbagwoju anya nke ụwa akwụkwọ agụmagụ.

Sangita Swechcha nke Global Voices gbara Prava Baral ajụjụ ọnụ site na ọwaozi nke ikuku iji mụtakwuo maka njem agụmagụ ya dị ka onye na-ede uri, onye edemede na onye agụmakwụkwọ. Mkparịta ụka ahụ na-enyocha ntinye aka ya n'igosi olu ụmụnwanyị na akwụkwọ agụmagụ Nepal, njikọ nke okike na ekere uche, na ntụgharị uche ya na oghere akwụkwọ agụmagụ maka ụmụnwanyị na Nepal.

Sangita Swechcha (SS): Ideela uri, ghazals, akụkọ ifo, akwụkwọ akụkọ njem, na akwụkwọ akụkọ – kedu ka ị ga-esi kpebie ụdị kacha dabara na akụkọ ịchọrọ ịkọ?

Prava Baral (PB): The choice of genre depends on the subject of creation. When writing emotional and profound matters, songs and poems may be created. If the expression becomes long in form, then fiction or travelogue may be the appropriate genre. Topics involving social complexities can fit into this. These genres can be used to elaborate well on a subject. Recently, I have been writing only in the genres of travelogue and fiction. Writing travelogues and fiction requires great patience, time, and writing skill. It seems prudent for those with accumulated experience in such writing should continue it, and so nowadays, my writing is focused on this.

Prava Baral (PB): Nhọrọ nke ụdị na-adabere na isiokwu nke okike. Mgbe ị na-ede okwu mmetụta uche na nke miri emi, enwere ike ịmepụta egwu na abụ. Ọ bụrụ na okwu ahụ adị ogologo n'ụdị, mgbe ahụ akụkọ ifo ma ọ bụ akụkọ njem nwere ike ịbụ ụdị kwesịrị ekwesị. Isiokwu ndị metụtara mgbagwoju anya ọha nwere ike dabara na nke a. Enwere ike iji ụdị ndị a kọwaa nke ọma na isiokwu. N'oge na-adịbeghị anya, a na  m ede naanị n'ụdị akụkọ njem na akụkọ ifo. Ide akwụkwọ akụkọ njem na akụkọ ifo chọrọ nnukwu ndidi, oge na nka ide. O yiri ngosipụta akọ maka ndị nwere ahụmahụ na-agbakọba na ederede dị otú ahụ kwesịrị ịga n'ihu na ya, ya mere n'oge a, ederede m lekwasịrị anya na nke a.

Prava Baral na-ekwu okwu na mmemme mwepụta akwụkwọ dị ka ọkà okwu pụtara ìhè. Foto site na Prava Baran. Eji ikike were.

SS: N'ime usoro ederede gị, ị na-achọsi ike ịma aka ma ọ bụ mebie akụkọ ọdịnala gbasara ụmụnwanyị, ọkachasị n'ihe gbasara obodo Nepal? Gịnị mere o ji dị mkpa ka ị lekwasị anya na akụkọ ndị a, oleekwa mmetụta i nwere olileanya na ọrụ gị ga-enwe?

PB: Women in Nepali society continue to face systemic disadvantages and inequality, and it appears that overcoming deep-seated religious superstitions, discrimination, and conservative beliefs will take time. Changing deeply ingrained attitudes that have persisted across generations is a slow process. Through my creative work, I aim to contribute to this change. Writing by women themselves holds a unique power, as it brings personal experiences to life and amplifies these issues in a way that resonates more deeply. It is my hope that, over time, society will evolve and these challenges will be addressed.

PB: Ụmụnwanyị ndị nọ na obodo Nepal na-aga n'ihu na-enwe nsogbu usoro na enweghị ahaghị nhata, na kwa ọ na-egosikwa na imeri nkwenkwe okpukpe miri emi, ịkpa ókè, na nkwenkwe nchịkwa ga-ewe oge. Ịgbanwe àgwà gbanyere mkpọrọgwụ nke nọgidere na-adị n'ọgbọ bụ usoro emesighịike. Site na ọrụ ekere uche m, ebu m n'uche itinye aka na mgbanwe a. Odide ihe sitere n'aka ụmụnwanyị n'onwe ha nwere ikike pụrụ iche, ebe ọ na-enye ahụmịhe nke onwe  ndụ ma na-amụba okwu ndị a n'ụzọ na-emetụ n'ahụ. Enwere m olile anya na, ka oge na-aga, ọha mmadụ ga-etolite na kwa a ga-edozi nsogbu ndị a.

SS: Akụkọ ihe mere eme nke odide ihe nke ụmụnwanyị na Nepal na-abụkarị ihe e ji ịgbachi nkịtị, mwepu, na mmachi okpukperechi ma ọ bụ ọha mmadụ mara. N'uche gị, kedu ụzọ ụfọdụ bara uru enwere ike isi nwetaghachi ma ọ bụ degharịa akụkọ ihe mere eme a site na akwụkwọ agụmagụ nke oge a?

PB: Women’s identity has been made anonymous in society for ages. Other than becoming aware oneself, there is no other option to pursue this. One must establish their own perspective through the study of language, culture, and history, the search for ancient stories, and social studies. Contemporary writing has made some attempts to change society. Women's stories are now beginning to be written from their own perspective. There is a sense that things are heading in a better direction. It seems very complex to state in bullet points exactly how this change can be brought about, as if by a magic wand.

PB: Ezoola njirimara ụmụnwanyị na ọha mmadụ ruo ọtụtụ afọ. Ndị ọzọ karịa ịmara onwe gị, o nweghị nhọrọ ọzọ ga-agbaso nke a. Mmadụ ga-eguzobe echiche nke ya site n'ịmụ asụsụ, omenala na akụkọ ihe mere eme, ịchọ akụkọ mgbe ochie na ọmụmụ ihe gbasara mmekọrịta mmadụ na ibe ya. Edemede nke oge a agbaala ụfọdụ mbọ ịgbanwe ọha mmadụ. A malitela ide akụkọ ụmụnwanyị ugbu a site n'echiche nke ha. Enwere mmetụta na ihe na-aga n'ụzọ ka mma. Ọ dị nnọọ mgbagwoju anya ikwupụta n'ụdị kpọmkwem ka a pụrụ isi weta mgbanwe a, dị ka à ga-asị na ọ bụ n'ịgba anwansi.

SS: Olee ihe ịma aka ndị pụrụ iche ụmụnwaanyị si n’obodo Nepal na-enwe ma a bịa n’ihe banyere ịgụ akwụkwọ, na kwa oleekwa otú ndị edemede dị ka gị onwe gị ga-esi kwadoo ma ọ bụ mee ka ha pụta ìhè?

PB: The main challenges faced by women from marginalised communities in Nepal include lack of linguistic access, economic dependency, and being victims of various levels of discrimination. To address this, one must be aware, and education is essential to foster that awareness. This truth holds on one hand. However, writers must venture into the field and conduct research to craft their stories. Women from marginalised communities can be encouraged to write, provided with guidance on how to write, and supported through the promotion of their work. Only by allowing their voices to be heard from their own mouths on public platforms can be a real support to them.

PB: Isi ihe ịma aka ndị ụmụnwanyị si n'obodo ndị a e kewapụrụ iche na Nepal na-eche ihu gụnyere enweghị ohere asụsụ, ndabere akụ na ụba, na ịbụ ndị e nwetara ogo mmetụta dị iche iche nke ịkpa ókè. Iji dozie nke a, mmadụ ga-amata, na agụmakwụkwọ dị mkpa iji kwalite mmata ahụ. Eziokwu a na-ejide n'otu aka. Agbanyeghị, ndị na-ede akwụkwọ ga-abanyerịrị n'ubi wee mee nyocha iji chepụta akụkọ ha. Enwere ike ịgba ụmụnwanyị si n'obodo ndị a na-ekewapụ ume ka ha dee, nye ntuziaka maka otu esi ede ihe, na nkwado site na nkwalite ọrụ ha. Naanị site n'ikwe ka a nụ olu ha n'ọnụ ha n'elu ikpo okwu ọha nwere ike bụrụ ezigbo nkwado nye ha.

SS: Gịnị bụ ahụmahụ gị n'ịgagharị ije nchọpụta n'ụwa mbipụta dị ka nwanyị na Nepal, ị na-eche na e nwere ihe ịma aka ma ọ bụ mkparị ndị ụmụnwanyị na-ede akwụkwọ na-eche ihu na mbara a?

PB: In Nepal, women are not viewed as serious writers. It is harder for them to publish than to write. Even established male writers have to plead with private publishers to get their books printed. The chances of receiving fair remuneration for such printed works are low. Writers from the new generation face even more difficulty. Most often, books are self-published.

The Nepalese government lacks a formal system to publish the works of writers, which in turn diminishes the motivation for writers to approach their craft with a sense of duty towards the state. Writers are writing out of personal freedom, interest, and goals. Comparatively, men are free from domestic chores. Despite this, when it is difficult even for male creators to write, the condition for women is even more miserable. Women must steal time from domestic duties, childbirth, childcare, and other responsibilities to write. Creating high-quality writing under such circumstances is already a significant challenge, and publishing it as a book adds another layer of difficulty. Women’s writing is navigating a path filled with challenges, yet I believe that each step brings progress and possibility.

PB: Na Nepal, a naghị ele ụmụnwanyị anya dị ka ndị edemede eji akpọrọ ihe. Ọ na-esiri ha ike ibipụta karịa ide. Ọbụna ndị nwoke na-ede akwụkwọ nwere ike ịrịọ ndị na-ebipụta akwụkwọ n'onwe ha ka ha bipụta akwụkwọ ha. Ohere inweta ụgwọ ọrụ ziri ezi maka ọrụ ebipụtara dị ala. Ndị edemede sitere n'ọgbọ ọhụrụ na-eche ihe isi ike ihu karịa. Ọtụtụ mgbe, a na-ebipụta akwụkwọ n'onwe.

Gọọmenti Nepal enweghị usoro iwu iji bipụta ọrụ ndị odee, nke na-ebelata mkpali ndị ode akwụkwọ na-abịarute aka ọrụ ha n'echiche nke ọrụ n'ebe steeti ahụ nọ. Ndị na-ede akwụkwọ na-ede ihe site na nnwere onwe, mmasị na ihe mgbaru ọsọ. N'iji ya tụnyere, ndị ụmụnwoke nweere onwe ha n'ọrụ ụlọ. N'agbanyeghị nke a, mgbe ọ na-esiri ọbụna ndị okike nwoke ike ide ihe, ọnọdụ maka ụmụnwanyị na-enwekwu nhụsianya. Ụmụnwanyị ga-ezurịrị oge site n'ọrụ ụlọ, ịmụ nwa, nlekọta ụmụaka, na ọrụ ndị ọzọ  i ji dee. Ịmepụta ederede dị elu n'okpuru ọnọdụ ndị dị otú ahụ abụrụlarị ihe ịma aka dị ukwuu, na ibipụta ya dị ka akwụkwọ na-agbakwụnye ihe isi ike ọzọ. Ihe odide ụmụnwanyị na-agagharị ije n'ụzọ jupụtara na ihe ịma aka, ma ekwenyere m na nzọụkwụ ọ bụla na-eweta ọganihu na ihe pụrụ omume.

SS: Dị ka onye gụrụ akwụkwọ na akwụkwọ agụmagụ, kedu ka ị na-ahụ ụmụ akwụkwọ ụmụnwanyị na-eto eto na-etinye aka na ide ihe taa? Ha nwere onwe ha karịa ka ọ bụ he nwere ihe mgbochi dị iche iche? Kedu ụdị oghere agụmagụ ka ị ga-achọ ịhụ maka ọgbọ na-abịa nke ndị edemede ụmụnwanyị Nepal?

PB: Digital culture has empowered the new generation, but it has also led to a lack of reading and writing habits, resulting in diminished confidence. Also, the pursuit of quick fame and personal gratification may offer short-term rewards, but it cannot sustain long-term growth. I encourage aspiring writers to first deeply explore the lifestyle, history, and culture of their country. They should also read the works of established writers to gain valuable insights. Nepali women should also freely express their views on various aspects of society.

I share my writing experiences to inspire the new generation to explore literature and understand the power of words. Today, we see professionals from diverse fields — such as doctors, engineers, actors, and pilots — developing an interest in literature and eager to publish books. The power of writing is undeniable. I believe that those who cultivate a passion for reading literature today have the potential to become the writers of tomorrow. My hope is that by sharing my journey, I can inspire and encourage them to pursue their own literary aspirations.

PB: Omenala nke dijitalụ enyela ọgbọ ọhụrụ ike, mana o mewokwa enweghị omume ịgụ na ide ihe, na-eme ka ntụkwasị obi gharazie ịdị. Ọzọkwa, ịchụso ịbụ onye a ma ama na afọ ojuju nke onwe nwere ike inye ụgwọ ọrụ nwa oge, mana o nweghị ike ịkwado uto ogologo oge. Ana m agba ndị na-achọ ide akwụkwọ ume ka ha buru ụzọ nyochaa ụdị ndụ, akụkọ ihe mere eme, na omenala obodo ha. Ha kwesịkwara ịgụ akwụkwọ ndị odee guzosriri ike ka ha nweta nghọta bara uru. Ụmụnwanyị Nepal kwesịkwara ikwupụta echiche ha n'akụkụ dị iche iche nke ọha mmadụ.

M na-ekerịta ahụmịhe ederede m iji kpalie ọgbọ ọhụrụ ka ha nyochaa akwụkwọ na ịghọta ike nke okwu. Taa, anyị na-ahụ ndị ọkachamara si n'akụkụ dị iche iche – dị ka ndị dọkịta, ndị injinia, ndị na-eme ihe nkiri, na ndị na-anya ụgbọelu – na-azụlite mmasị n'akwụkwọ agụmagụ ma na-achọsi ike ibipụta akwụkwọ. Ike nke ide bụ ihe a na-apụghị ịgbagha agbagha. Ekwenyere m na ndị na-azụlite mmasị ịgụ akwụkwọ taa nwere ike ịghọ ndị ode akwụkwọ nke echi. Olileanya m bụ na site n'ikesa njem m, enwere m ike kpalie ma gbaa ha ume ịchụso ọchịchọ agụmagụ nke ha.