Mountains Painted with Turmeric

by Lil Bahadur Chettri, Michael James Hutt (Translator)

Since its publication in the late 1950s, Mountains Painted with Turmeric has struck a chord in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of Nepali readers. Set in the hills of far eastern Nepal, the novel offers readers a window into the lives of the people by depicting in subtle detail the stark realities of village life.

Carefully translated from the original text, Mountains Painted with Turmeric tells the story of a peasant farmer named Dhan' (which means, ironically, "wealthy one") who is struggling to provide for his wife and son and arrange the marriage of his beautiful younger sister. Unable to keep up with the financial demands of the "big men" who control his village, Dhan' and his family suffer one calamity after another, and a series of quarrels with fellow villagers forces them into exile.

In haunting prose, Lil Bahadur Chettri portrays the dukha, or suffering and sorrow, endured by ordinary peasants; the exploitation of the poor by the rich and powerful; and the social conservatism that twists a community into punishing a woman for being the victim of a crime. Chettri describes the impoverishment, dispossession, and banishment of Dhan''s family to expose profound divisions between those who prosper and those who are slowly stripped of their meager possessions. Yet he also conveys the warmth and intimacy of village society, from which Dhan' and his family are ultimately excluded.

Genres: Fiction, Novels

152 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Lil Bahadur Chettri was an Indian writer in the Nepali language from Assam. He was a recipient of Sahitya Academy Award for his book Brahmaputrako Chheu Chhau. His other book Basain is a story of poor villagers who undergo suffering due to the exploitation of the feudal and so-called upper class of the society. It is included in the curriculum of Tribhuvan University, Nepal. In 2016, he was honoured with Jagadamba Shree Purasakar for his contribution to the Nepali literature and language. In 2020, Government of India awarded him Padmashri, the fourth highest civilian award of India for his contribution in literature and education.

Reviews

[Sudarshan · Rating 5 out of 5]

यिनको यात्रा वनवासको निम्ति होइन, न त घरवासको निम्ति हो । यो यात्रा श्रृङ्खला बद्द छैन । एउटा विश्रृंखल यात्रा यिनीहरूले आरम्भ गरेका छन् । कहाँको यात्रा हो, कहाँ गएर टुङ्गिन्छ, यसको निश्चित स्थान कहाँ छ ? यो सायद स्वयं यिनीहरूलाई पनि थाह छैन हाेला ।

Such a beautiful prose. Very simple and very understated writing. Reminds me of how Hemingway wrote in The Old Man and the Sea. Basain, Ek Chihan are relics from the era where we found Nepali literature and Nepali stories at their purest and undiluted. This was a wonderful read.

[Nicole Karpus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered this book while glancing through a collection of books being sold for a mere dollar at my library. Something about the title instantly grabbed my attention, and I picked it up without even reading the description.

I finally got around to reading this book as it patiently waited among all the other books I haven't read yet. I finished it in a day as it is not a long read. Yet, it surprises me how quick I read this, considering how much depth and weight this story covers. I appreciated this book for telling an unfortunate reality so honestly and bluntly. There is no ending that justifies the pain, the struggles, and the collapses of the main character's life. And I'm glad there isn't. Really, this story is just a giant reflection of what people across the world from me are going through in real life due to societal rules: I think it is right to honor these people who see their own similar story within these pages and understand their reality.

The main character's contemplation of fate describes his poor fortune, I think, entirely:
"Fate is made by human arrangement. Fate depends on the good order of society, on cooperation in society, on the chance and facilities you can get in society. Today, if he had had even the smallest opportunity, if his society had cared to understand his plight...would his labors not have borne fruit?"

[Petergiaquinta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the very best novel I have ever read by a Nepali author, Basain (its original title) will remind you a bit of something by John Steinbeck with its focus on the lives of the poor in the middle hills of Nepal struggling against the capricious forces of nature, the cruel greed of the landowning class, and the grinding, unforgiving hand of fate that is so rarely on the side of the oppressed.

[Benu B · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books by a Nepali writer I have read. Work of high literary order. In Nepali, titled Basain, this book hinges about a theme of social realism, depicting realities of economic oppression and social injustice in a feudal society in the Nepali hills. It is a heart-aching tale of how the oppressed go on rolling downhill while the oppressor always has the upper hand and keeps on pushing the oppressed because of a faulty order in a feudal society. The prose displays amazing stylishness in Nepali. The English translation by Professor Michael Hutt is equally good, although the subtler nuances of the Nepali language are lost in the translation.

[Raj Kiran Chaudhary · Rating 5 out of 5]

उत्कृस्ट पुस्तक। कथित धनी वर्ग बाट गरीब हरु कसरी शोषित हुन्थे तेस्को जीवन्त चित्रण गरिएको छ साथै साँचो प्रेम को परिभाषा पनि।

[Shraddha Dahal · Rating 4 out of 5]

निकै मार्मिक किताब। किसान वर्गीय परिवारमा आइपर्ने कठिनाइहरुलाई अत्यन्त नै यथार्थपरक अनि मन छुने ढंगमा प्रस्तुत गरिएको छ। "मानवले सधैं प्रत्यक चीजलाई आफ्नै दृष्‍टिकोणले हेर्ने चेष्‍टा गर्छ, अर्काको दृष्‍टिकोणले होइन। आफूलाई पर्दा ऊ रुन्छ, कराउँछ, अर्काको सहानुभूति पाउने चेष्‍टा गर्छ, नपाएको खण्डमा रिसाउँछ पनि। तर अर्कालाई पर्दा बाहिर सहानुभूति दर्शाएर पनि हृदयमा ऊ मुस्कुराउँछ, एक प्रकारको आनन्द अनुभव गर्छ।"

[Sushant Khatiwada · Rating 2 out of 5]

nice

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look into the daily life of a family in Nepal

[Chhabi Lal]

Precisely speaking this is one of the best novel I've ever read. As I've read many Nepali novels but found this book rather realistic, touchy, deserted one indeed. This book imparts the bitter reality about the poor, unfortunate, marginalized, deprived people of Nepal living in far flunked sides, where the socio-economic standard of people is below then expected. Its noting but the poverty, scarcity, exploitation , segregation, social assumption, ethics- etc which made the life style of poor and marginalized people even more hard, merciless. The title "basai" and the entire story of novel is entirely relevant, pertinent.
I read the entire novel many times. The first time when i happened to read this book i was overwhelmed knowing about what really happens when the situation becomes worse, adverse and someone has no choice, means and alternatives. The time when i finished up reading and realizing the story it was early in the morning and found myself so heavy hearten.
Because i was born in a village and spent my childhood with much struggle, obstacles i could easily feel and realized how the main character in the story survives despite having many misfortunes.
However, his attempts, endeavors are really appreciable, which everyone should learn.
I really admire, appreciate the efforts of writer trying to reflect the real situation of poor people living in Nepal in novel.

[Karima · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has been hyperfixated on Himalayan mountain range and the Nepali culture, this book is a true eye-opening. Despite the story being short and somewhat stereotypical, the foreword and rich footnotes given by the translator lead to a nuanced and enjoyable reading experience. I am left feeling more eager to learn about caste-ridden rural communities in Nepal and the history of the country in general.

[Supriya Khadka · Rating 5 out of 5]

चौतर्फी तारिफ सुनेपछि धेरै पहिलेबाट पढ्ने इच्छा भएको उपन्यास हो यो। पुस्तक साच्चै नै प्रसंशनिय रहेछ। ६० वर्षभन्दा पहिले लेखिएको भएतापनि अझै सबैको मन छुन सफल। अहिले ठाँउ फरक होला, परिस्थिति फरक होला तर कथाले प्रस्तुत गरेको भाव अझै पनि सान्दर्भिक लाग्ने। अत्यन्तै मार्मिक, सार्है नै उत्कृष्ट।

[Sabin Chhetri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was in our syllabus, thus read it back in my college days, some more than two decades ago.
I don't remember all the characters of this book, but I do remember that this book is very good to read. I highly recommend this book.

[Sigdel Dhurba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very exciting for me the subject matter of this book typical Nepali western so I like this.

[Anish Pathak · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good novel.

[Tsering Hyolmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shot but good one.👌😊.

[Srs]

good old book

[Fred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect for what I wanted, a glimpse into Nepali life.

[Ram Khatri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great novella length book that is as powerful as Hemingway's The Old Man and Sea and Kafka's The Metamorphosis.

[Karan Panadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's is good book and so amazing

[Nishan Baral · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was simple. It was good. Was glad to read a book from eastern hills of nepal while i lived a small part of my life there.

[Oz Bikram]

ramro chha

[Reewaz Aryal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simplistic story, impactful storytelling

[Purushottam Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first novel that i read when i was in class IX . This book portray the nepali society where rich and powerful people dominate the poor and weak people.

[Rajendra Dharala · Rating 5 out of 5]

ई वन्त तो रेड

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting as a look into rural Nepalese society, but simplistic and somewhat clichéd storyline.

The story revolves around a family consisting of Dhané, his wife Maina, and Dhané's sister Jhuma. Dhané is a poor farmer who gets caught up in debt while trying to get ahead by borrowing money/livestock, but then a series of mishaps cause him to lose first what he has borrowed, then his own livestock as payment, then his fields and own crop, and then finally his house. A second storyline revolves around Jhuma and her seduction/rape by an itinerant soldier and subsequent pregnancy.

The prose is generally utilitarian, but there are certain poetic turns of phrase here and there: "Winter strode slowly up like a blemished incarnation, determined to ruin the whole lovely garden that autumn had prepared." The translation for the most part seems to be elegant and seamless enough (although there are a couple phrases here and there which seem too American in character...), and I agreed with Hutt's decision to retain the original Nepali words for familial terms, as it leaves some local feeling for the reader to appreciate. There is not a lot of insight into the characters or their internal lives, and the afterword notes that the novel acts more as a portrait of Nepalese rural society as opposed to a portrait of individual characters. And even though the particulars of the society that Chhetri is writing about here are very far removed from my own experience, in many ways the broad outlines of his story feel very familiar, even worn out. Yes, the rich always prey on and exploit the poor, in ways that are legal and socially sanctioned; yes, the poor can't ever seem to get ahead no matter what they do; yes, women usually get the blame for men's sexual offenses. Jhuma's storyline in particular is frustrating because even though I don't doubt that it's realistic in terms of her becoming outcast and needing another man to 'save' her, I've had enough of reading that type of story. I wish there were more stories where women have the means and opportunities to save themselves, and don't need to wait for a knight in shining armor to swoop in for the rescue.

Still, overall it's a short, fairly well-written book, and again mostly of interest by providing a glimpse into a foreign community/society.

[Namitha Varma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is like Premchand's Godaan, but on a smaller scale. Mountains Painted With Turmeric is a translation of the Nepali novella Basain and depicts village life in Nepal and the problems of a farmer living in perpetual debt.

**Spoilers ahead**

Dhan Bahadur Basnet is trying to meet ends meet and pay off his debts to keep his family of 4 - wife, son and sister Jhuma - happy, but fortune does not favour him. The novel is neither a heroic story nor an utter tragedy. It emphasises the helplessness of human situation and remains firmly rooted in realism, with apparently no poetic justice as the greedy moneylenders get their way in the end and Dhane is driven out of his land. Jhuma's life, which she was all set to end, takes a hopeful turn for the better, but Dhane's keeps going downhill. The novel is fatalistic and seems to emphasise the fruitlessness of fighting against either social norms or fate.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hanging out with the kids at the library, and grabbed this book off the shelf to read while the kids found their books. I was immediately drawn in to the story of a family living in Nepal, who had just about everything that could go wrong happen to them. What's sad is how realistic this story actually is, for these Nepalese people. It's depressing, but not too depressing, I didn't think. Dhane and his wife Maina struggle together to understand God and His role in their fate, which seems to be one misfortune after another. Their marriage is beautiful and touching as they cling to each other through it all. Apparently this book is a classic in Nepal. It was a short, quick read.

[Ekata Niraula · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'd first read it while i was in 8th grade and again i read it when i was in 12th under nepali literature course. It's really nice in the way it shows how our poor people used to suffer in a time when rich people and cheif were like king and used to dominate them. Now, time has changed a lot from the time this book had written but still there in some places we can find suffering of poor if not directly as it used to be then in various hidden way. And it shows how nepali maiden used to be victim of poverty of their family. it's a nice book in different aspects.

[Don]

Considered a classic of Nepali literature, this excellent translation opens a window onto village life in the hills of eastern Nepal, which is at once pastoral and rife with suffering. The story follows the life of the peasant farmer Dhané and his family as they endure a number of misfortunes and are eventually forced to migrate south to India.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was published in the 50's. I read this before a trip to India and Nepal. Unfortunately life remains very hard for the poor in both countries. I hope the government gets their act together to provide education and improved health and sanitary conditions for its people. In the meantime I praise NGO's in both countries trying to help the people.