Parijat (writer)


Parijat was a Nepalese writer. Her real name was Bishnu Kumari Waiba but she wrote under the pen name Parijat. Her most acclaimed publication is Shiris Ko Phool, which has also been adapted in the literature curriculum of some colleges in some English-speaking countries like United States, England etc. Some of the notable universities where Parijat's Shirish Ko Phool was adopted as curriculum in the University of Maryland, USA.

Early life and education

Parijat was born in 1937 in the hill station of Darjeeling, India, a place known for its tea gardens. Her mother Amrit Moktan died when Parijat was very young, and she was raised by her father Dr. K.N. Waiba, who was a psychologist, and her grandparents.
The birthplace of Parijat, Darjeeling, was a major centre of Nepali language, culture and literature during her growing-up years. Darjeeling is inhabited by Gorkha people who also speak the same language and have a similar culture as that of Nepalese people and has never lost its character as a major centre of Nepali language, culture and literature. Parijat was intricately connected to Nepal and Nepali literature from her early childhood. Having had a keen interest in literature from her childhood, she was destined to play an important and well-appreciated role in strengthening Nepali literature.
Parijat completed part of her schooling in Darjeeling and moved and then settled in Kathmandu, Nepal in 1954. She completed her schooling at Padma Kanya School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree. Suffering early on from physical ailments, at the age of 26, she became paralyzed and was looked after for much of her life by her sister.

Career

In 1959, Parijat's first poem was published by Dharti. She published three poetry collections: Akansha, Parijat Ka Kavita and Baisalu Bartaman. Her first short story was Maile Najanmayeko Chhoro. She is, however, best known in Nepal as a novelist. Altogether, she wrote ten novels, of which Shirish Ko Phool gained the greatest popularity. In 1965, she was awarded with the Madan Puraskar for the novel. She also received the Sarwashrestha Pandulipi Puraskar, Gandaki Basunahara Puraskar, and Bridabrit. Shirish Ko Phool is one of the most important piece of work in the whole of literature. She was awarded Madan Prize of 2022 B.S. for this novel.
She began her literary career with "Dharti" while she was studying in Kathmandu. Besides being a brilliant writer of novels, stories, poems, articles etc., she also led the "Ralfa Movement" in 1966. She was elected as the member of the Tribhuwan University and was a part of Ralfa literature movement. She also played an important role in the establishment of Pragatisheel Lekhak Sangh and worked for Akhil Nepal Mahila Manch, Bandi Sahayata Niyog and Nepal Manav Adhikar Sangathan.
Parijat remained unmarried and continued to suffer physical setbacks. While she was contributing to literature, she also tried to support social causes and initiated attempts like the Prisoners' Assistance Mission. She died in 1993.

Bengali Hungryalist Movement and Parijat

Several Bengali poets and painters of the Hungry generation movement had stayed in Kathmandu for a few months during the sixties decade and had been able to exchange indomitable spirits of each other. Parijat's Akansha is a testimony to that spirit. The notable Hungryalist poets and painters who visited Parijat quite frequently were Malay Roy Choudhury, Subimal Basak. Anil Karanjai and Samir Roychoudhury. A collection of Nepali and Hungryalist writings was edited by Samir Roychoudhury.

Notable works

;Novels
;Short story
;Short story collections
;Poem collections
;Memoir essays