Long Night of Storm: Stories

by Indra Bahadur Rai

A storm batters a hillside farmstead through the night, and the family living in it debates its decision to give up the comforts of Darjeeling town for the pride of owning land. Ancient law allows Harshajit to cut down Rudraman, who has staked claim to his wife Thuli, but when Harshajit catches up with the couple after days of relentless chase, he witnesses a fearsome encounter that compels him to consecrate their marriage with his own hands. When a man on his way to Darjeeling stops in a bungalow near the Teesta river, he is drawn to the conversation of the labourers next door and, in their chatter about the ideal recipe for cooking kheer, he gains a profound insight into the human condition. And Jayamaya, part of the Gurkha community in Burma forced on a long march to India during the Second World War, helplessly witnesses her life disintegrate in the face of invasion.

Lyrically translated, the stories in Long Night of Storm are wise, psychologically astute and deeply compassionate. A collection that will yield more at every reading,
this is a book to keep returning to.

Genres: Short Stories

192 pages, Paperback

Published January 5, 2018

About the author

Indra Bahadur Rai was an Indian Nepali writer and literary critic from Darjeeling, India . He did his schooling in Kurseong and Darjeeling. He completed his graduation from Calcutta University and his post-graduation in English from North Bengal University. He taught at Turnbull High School in Darjeeling for several years. He also worked as a professor of English at St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling. He was also the Vice Chairman of Darjeeling Municipality.

He entered the field of Nepali literature around 1950 when he started publishing literary criticisms in different journals such as Aadhar, Bharati, Diyo, Diyalo, and Roop Rekha. His first novel Aaja Ramita Cha was published in 1964. After that, he entered the field of short stories. His first story was published in 1959. His first book Vipana Katipaya, a collection of thirty short stories published in 1960, had a great influence on Nepali literature, especially on the genre of short stories. From 1963 onwards, he was a prominent figure in the dimensional literature movement, which is known as Aayameli Andolan in the history of Nepali literature. He, along with Ishwor Ballav and Bairagi Kainla, searched the unexplored realms of Nepali literature. They successfully added a third dimension Tesro Aayam to Nepali literature.

He has received the Sahitya Akademi Award (for his work Nepali Upanyaska Adharharu), Jagadambashri Puraskar and Agam Singh Giri Smriti Puraskar.

Reviews

[Vikas Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of 16 short stories by the most famous of Nepali writers, it is a wonderful peep into the socio-cultural setup of the people from one of the remote parts of India. These linear stories have been treated with great compassion and empathy by the writer who has done a wonderful job in bringing alive shared histories of the community.

[Chitra Ahanthem · Rating 4 out of 5]

16 very short stories translated from the Nepali by Prawin Adhikari, Long Night of Storm by Indra Bahadur Rai takes readers into the lives of the Nepali community spread over different towns, states and time spans, their travails and courage, their follies and grace, the hard lives they lead and the way it shapes them into the people they are: fierce, unyielding, defiant in the midst of hard times. While all the stories do give a glimpse of socio cultural norms and practices of the Nepali people, their food and dress; the larger appeal of the stories lie in the way the characters stand out and stay with you.

The themes of the stories range from the hardships of agrarian life, the appeal of an urban life as the better option, the haste to leave behind the old ways of life over the glamour for the new, the tear in close kinship ties brought about by distance and misunderstandings. Indra Bahadur Rai weaves magic with his protagonists and their character arcs, the situations they find themselves in and how they cope or run away or deal with it. The stories holds you in its grasps, taking you by your hand to a world that feels so familiar and yet different. Rai's writing does not stick to a formula and every story in this collection stands out on their own which is why I would recommend it strongly. 

[Rehana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology is a compilation of Nepali short stories translated lyrically and with perfection. The book bestows the reader with stories that revolve around Nepali culture, religious and political practices, the sorrows that haunt them, their tales of joy and celebration, stories of migration and poverty, literary freedom, and more. I was amazed at the diverse mix of stories, ranging from simple, straightforward narratives to ones with deep, insightful exploration.

Though there is a definite lack of exploration of female strength and perspective, the stories manage to linger around for long. Not one story is identical to the other and that’s what keeps the reader intrigued about the book. This is a book that you can enjoy on the go, as you munch on your favourite snack with a cup of coffee, on a monsoon day by your bed, outside your doctor’s cabin as you await your turn. And I am sure you will finish the book even before it’s your turn!

This book is neither something extraordinary nor is there anything wrong with it. Yet, it is memorable and profound with its elegance and simplicity. Other than the fact that the women in the stories could have been treated better, I have no complaints from this one. Definitely a must try for someone looking to explore Nepali literature.

[Dimple · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of short stories set in the hills of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim. Most notable was Kheer, which presents as a metaphor for life and how people view it.

[Rwitika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had expected a set of stories about the simple life and times of the people in the mountains, and I sure wasn't disappointed. Although I do believe that many of the innate qualities of a written piece is always lost in translation, the ones that did remain, mesmerized me still. Rustic and strangely earthy, it has the kind of enchanting feel that only folk tales possess: something which most contemporary writing (and life) lacks.
Darjeeling has always been close to my heart. And getting to know more about the life of people who live there through stories by a person who lived there is just an added bonus. Indra Bahadur Rai deserves more recognition in the world of desi writers and short stories and I hope more people give his works a try.

[Yusta · Rating 4 out of 5]

After scoring all 16 short stories the average score was 3.88, which rounded up gives a 4. I really believe that it is a fair rating of the overall collection.

A 5 star was given to "The Journey of an Ideal". What a gorgeous story, beautifully written and the plot is captivating.

2.25 stars was given to "My Sister". I believe the mental health portrayal in this story was off-putting. It seemed like the protagonist was a tree log with zero empathy or common sense.

Overall, this collection reflects on life of ordinary Nepalis, living a simple but dangerous and cruel life. Some of them are emotional, but all of them make you reflect upon yourself and your life.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who would like to have a peek at the life of people in Nepal, who deal with poverty, landslides. It provides an account of their mentality, their values. The characters are written well, and they seem real.

I will be taking this book and its gorgeous cover back home with me!

[Preethi Govindarajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book without any expectations and did not really know what I was getting into. The short stories were all set in back drops of Nepal, Burma, Darjeeling. The landscape plays a big role in all the stories weaving itself in continuously and while many of the stories are simple with everyday subject matter, they paint such a vivid picture of life itself. I felt a dissonance between the work and the translation, but maybe this is something I should get over.

[Kunu Pradhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The short stories mostly based in darjeeling,nepal,bhutan has been an exciting read for me. It has topics that are common in nepalese households as well as other communities. My fav short story was chaprasi ,it was such an overwhelming read.

[Tabin Lyatosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a collection of frictions that are part of our life.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had very little clue of what was going on in most of these, they’re the sort of stories that end without reaching any point of realization or conclusion. Intriguing if you’re into that sort of thing.