बहादुर शाह [Bahadur Shah]

by Chiranjibi Wagle, चिरञ्जीवी वाग्ले

326 pages, Paperback

Published January 6, 2024

Reviews

[Sabin Chhetri]

Prithvi Narayan Shah has long been celebrated as the architect of our nation. However, after reading this novel, it became evident that he was more of a trailblazer in the journey of unification rather than its sole architect. His son, Bahadur Shah, emerged as a pivotal figure in carrying forward his father’s vision. Despite his significant contributions, Bahadur Shah remains an underappreciated figure in history. The novel’s account of how he endured conspiracies from his own brother, sister-in-law, and nephew, facing captivity and exile, yet remained steadfast in his love for his country, was both compelling and thought-provoking.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this work of historical fiction.

[Sujal Subedi]

बहादुर शाह नेपाल एकीकरणको स्वर्ण युगको एक महापात्र हुन जसले अहिलेको नेपालको आधाभन्दा बढी भु-भाग एकीकृत गरेका थिए। एकीकरणको अभियानमा मुख्य भूमिका खेलेको भएपनि उनले आफ्नो परिवारबाट आफुले पाउनुपर्ने सम्मान, इज्जत र साथ कहिल्यै पनि पाएनन्। जीवनमा कहिल्यै सुख नपाएर बारम्बार आफ्नै परिवारद्वारा जेल वा निवार्सन हुनु परेका थिए।

चिरञ्जीवी वाग्लेले यस उपन्यासद्वारा बारम्बार आफ्नै परिवारले बन्धि बनाउँदा, परिवारवाट इज्जत र साथ नपाउँदा, चीन र को नेपालमाथि कुद्रिष्टी पर्दा पनि आफ्ना पिता बडामहाराज श्री पृथ्वीनारायण शाहको नेपाल एकीकरण अभियानलाई कसरी अगाडी बढाउदै लग्नु भयो देखाउनु भएको छ।

[Pransu Khakurel]

Unification, often resonates with Prithvi Narayan Shah among Nepalese. Although he was the initiator of unification as a process, the actual unification was done by his son Bahadur Shah after PN Shah's death, who often remains unacknowledged or isn't talked about.

The book by Wagle, Bahadur Shah talks about the hero, who unified the country, his lifetime, struggles and isolation. Worth reading!

[Kshitij Chaurel]

Where history ends, historical fiction begins.

Bahadur Shah, an important character of Nepalese history, has been often undermined by history books.

Beyond facts there lie many tales which requires tools of fiction for exposure of (hidden) truth.