Letters»
Errors and omissions
DEC 25 - As an avid admirer of Lain Singh Bangdel, and his immense contributions to the art and literature of Nepal, I was pleased to see an extensive essay on his life, written by L B Thapa, in The Kathmandu Post. (“Gem of Nepali art and
culture”, Dec 22). However, as the author of the about-to-be released first authoritative biography of Bangdel, I must point out some serious errors and omissions.
For one, Lain was born in 1919 (not 1924). Also, Thapa states that Lain was a ‘stone sculptor’. He was not. The author of the article implies that Bangdel wrote more than one book about stolen artifacts. He did not. He wrote only one, ‘Stolen Images’. There are other errors of fact, which clearly tell me that Thapa may have great respect for Bangdel, but does not know his subject very well. For example, Lain knew Manu, his future wife, in Darjeeling and Calcutta, several years before he courted and married her in Europe. And, back in Calcutta, he not only graduated in first division from the Calcutta Arts College, he was first in his class.
Thapa’s description of Lain’s life in Calcutta implies that he was rupiah-less and survived ‘in the streets’ and perhaps even in the slums. This is not true. He was not rich, but he lived well enough, and held down a very important job with a prominent graphic arts company.
Despite these errors, the article does well to laud Lain’s accomplishments. The author could have pointed out, however, that Lain’s first three books were revolutionary in Nepali literary circles. As realistic novels they introduced a new genre of writing by Nepalese. They are now required reading by students of Nepali literature.
He could also have pointed out that it was not only King Mahendra who invited (actually, insisted) that Lain come to live and practice his art in Nepal. B P Koirala made the same invitation both before and during his brief stint as Nepal’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, in 1957 and again in 1960.
Don Messerschmidt,
KathmanduPosted on: 2003-12-25 02:44
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