The Tutor of HistoryThe Tutor of History is an ambitious social saga, a compelling tale of idealism, love and alienation, set in contemporary Nepal caught between tradition and modernity. The events of the novel unfold against the backdrop of a campaign for parliamentary elections in the bustling roadside town of Khaireni Tar. At its heart the book is about four main characters: Giridhar Adhikari, the chairman of the People's Party's district committee, who suffers from a serious alcohol addiction and strange, violent manias; Rishi Parajuli, a lonely, under-employed bachelor and disillusioned communist who gives private tuitions in history to disinterested middle-class boys; Om Gurung, a former British Gurkha determined to bring love into every life in his hometown; and Binita Dahal, a reclusive young widow who runs a small tea shop and is careful not to demand of life more than the meagre pleasures it brings her. As the election campaign reaches its peak, the crisis in each character's life mounts, and the eventual rigging of the elections becomes a metaphor for the flawed, imperfect choices that ordinary people must make to get by in a world beyond their control. significant new voice from the Subcontinent. The first major novel in English to emerge from Nepal. |
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Asha asked bangle bar-peepal tree bazaar BB-Gun began Bhai Binita Binita-didi booth committees brother brother-in-law candidate Chiranjibi cinema hero Congress cousin Dashain democracy district door elections eyes face fariya father feel felt flatlands front Gaumati Giridhar Giridhar-dai girl Gurung hair hands Harsha Bahadur himals Hom Kumari husband Jimmawal-baaje Juddha Kainlo-kaka Kathmandu Khadka boy Khaireni Khaireni Tar Khukuri knew Laksmi laughed listening looked Madhu Magar Maoist meal meet mother Nayan Raj Nayan Raj-bhai Nepali night Om's party members party workers party's People's Party office Phool Devi porch posters Pramila Raj's rice Rishi Sani schoolmaster seemed Seti river Shankar sitting smiled spoke stay stood stopped Sub-Inspector talk Tanahun teacup party teashop tell Thakalni-aama things thought took town Tripti turned village voice vote waiting walked watched window woman women