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रक्तकुण्ड [Raktakunda]
Rakta Kunda meaning ‘pool of blood’ is a Nepali novel by journalist Krishna Abiral. Based on the accounts of real event that took place in the year 2001, precisely the Royal Massacre, the novel tries to describe and explain the context and the background as well as the activity that took place before, during and after the monstrous act.
The story is based on the conversation with a mother and daughter duo, who served as the maids to Queen Mother Ratna Rajya Laxmi and former queen Komal, respectively. To be on the safe side, the writer labeled the book as a novel, although everything written in it is true. He interviewed the ladies and cross examined their answers and descriptions with other palace and security officials.
The book gives an account of series of events that took place before and during the massacre which is said to be masterminded by the then Crown Prince Dipendra because he has arguments and fight with his mother, the then queen Aishwarya. Although the people of Nepal and the world are made to believe that the massacre was masterminded by the then Crown Prince, the book suggests otherwise. It mentions that the Crown Prince was framed and the killing had continued even after the prince fell to the ground after he shot himself in chest. Also, the absence of firearms near his body points somewhere else. It also mentions what the Royal family members and their guests were doing when the tragedy struck.
The book has revealed many secrets of the palace and the Royal families, not only of that in-fateful night but also those that had happened years ago during the times of King Mahendra as well as King Tribhuvan. It also explains the misdeeds of the previous kings, highlighting the negative aspects and part of the Nepali Royal Family.
The novel was published some years after the massacre took place as the informant as well as the writer feared for their safety. Rakta Kunda by Krishna Abiral is a good read if you are curious about what had happened on that night in 2001, however, the mystery still looms and has not been solved although the book opens up many untold stories and accounts of the night.
The story is based on the conversation with a mother and daughter duo, who served as the maids to Queen Mother Ratna Rajya Laxmi and former queen Komal, respectively. To be on the safe side, the writer labeled the book as a novel, although everything written in it is true. He interviewed the ladies and cross examined their answers and descriptions with other palace and security officials.
The book gives an account of series of events that took place before and during the massacre which is said to be masterminded by the then Crown Prince Dipendra because he has arguments and fight with his mother, the then queen Aishwarya. Although the people of Nepal and the world are made to believe that the massacre was masterminded by the then Crown Prince, the book suggests otherwise. It mentions that the Crown Prince was framed and the killing had continued even after the prince fell to the ground after he shot himself in chest. Also, the absence of firearms near his body points somewhere else. It also mentions what the Royal family members and their guests were doing when the tragedy struck.
The book has revealed many secrets of the palace and the Royal families, not only of that in-fateful night but also those that had happened years ago during the times of King Mahendra as well as King Tribhuvan. It also explains the misdeeds of the previous kings, highlighting the negative aspects and part of the Nepali Royal Family.
The novel was published some years after the massacre took place as the informant as well as the writer feared for their safety. Rakta Kunda by Krishna Abiral is a good read if you are curious about what had happened on that night in 2001, however, the mystery still looms and has not been solved although the book opens up many untold stories and accounts of the night.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
140 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 4, 2014
well, for someone who is really interested in the massacre of Royal family..it's an interesting book..but if it's fiction or actual reallity the author have been stating I don't know..but it's interesting none the less..while it leads to nothing when question is asked about the total truth of Royal Palace and Royal Massacre
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May 29, 2021अति गोप्य बुक । न यहाँबाट पढ्न मिल्यो न कतै recorded audio नै भेटियो ।
January 4, 2026
थाहा छैन्, वास्तविकता के हों, तरपनि दरबार हत्याकाण्डमा माथि प्रकाश पार्न प्रयास लेखकले गरेका छन्।
कता कता अपुरो जस्तो पनि लाग्यो, केहि तथ्य, अझैं पनि अपुरो छन् जस्तो।
के साच्चै नै वास्तविकता यसमा उजागर भएको छ त? अथवा यो पनि अर्को एउटा कथा मात्र हो भन्ने प्रश्न चाई सदा रही रहने छ।
कता कता अपुरो जस्तो पनि लाग्यो, केहि तथ्य, अझैं पनि अपुरो छन् जस्तो।
के साच्चै नै वास्तविकता यसमा उजागर भएको छ त? अथवा यो पनि अर्को एउटा कथा मात्र हो भन्ने प्रश्न चाई सदा रही रहने छ।
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August 10, 2016यहाँ बाट पढ्न मिल्दैन?
October 14, 2022
A good read to understand the (dark) history of Nepal & what went down on the day of the Royal massacre, but it all feels a bit speculative & incomplete. Too much of information on the royal background, with very little on what the book was supposed to be about.
June 3, 2019
it is the book who has fact of the past event held in the nepal like darbar hatya kandya .
November 1, 2019
how to read?
Want to Read
August 9, 2020Good
May 17, 2023
Its good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2023
Very nice investigative novel. You'll know untold and unheard internal affairs of the royal family
April 22, 2024
A book with a clearer view and proof of the Royal Massacre of Nepal. Read it to find out who it was not.
I came to realize that all Kings were Rapists and some were murderers.
I came to realize that all Kings were Rapists and some were murderers.
Read
March 17, 2017i felt more like reading extramartial affairs of the royal family..ya most of the people in general believe in this story..but adequate supporting facts are not provided ..its seems like a theory
June 23, 2015
Great
May 4, 2020
Want to read it
August 29, 2014
A bloody tale about the kings. It was quite popular after the republic came.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews