Shailendra Adhikari's novel 'Arhat' has been discussed in Pokhara. On Saturday, Random Readers Society in its 111th series had a special discussion on 'Arhat', a work based on life and education.
In the program presided over by the President of the Society, Rupindra Nadhik, poet, essayist and journalist Deepak Sapkota said that this novel has presented innumerable parts of Buddha's life in a simple and effective language. He said, 'The number of books written about Buddha is still limited.
As a writer like Shailendra Adhikari says, books that understand the Buddha and present his life accurately are still waiting to be explored.' Sapkota described the questions raised in the novel as sensitive and contemporary and further said, 'Have we really known the Buddha? Have we embraced the Buddha as part of our lives? This book repeatedly raises similar questions.' He said that since each page of
'Arhat' flows like a wave of love and thoughts, this novel will take the reader to an intellectual and mental height. 'This work has presented the life of Buddha in a relevant and simple language, which has succeeded in connecting the society and time of two thousand five hundred years ago with today's thoughts and sensibilities,' he added. In the
novel, the story of how Siddhartha Gautama assumed the form of 'Gautama Buddha' is presented. In the program, the author Adhikari said that he wrote his book by diving into the depth of historical understanding and philosophy of Buddha's life. 'I have presented the knowledge gained by studying Buddhist philosophy in a poetic and reader-friendly style,' he said. He admitted that in some parts of the
novel, some words were complicated due to the depth of the Pali language. But he says that it matches the depth and upliftment of the historical story of Buddha. In the
program, writer Sarubhakta said that although it is a matter of pride that Buddha was born in Nepal, special initiatives are needed for the stability of Buddhahood and the development of Buddhist philosophy. He emphasized on the need to focus on Buddhist philosophy and heritage conservation. "Whether we really know the Buddha or not, it is necessary to think deeply and explore," he said. In the
program, Chhabi Subedi, Bharatmani Bhattarai, Trupak and Samrat Gurung also commented on the work. Deepak Parajuli, the organizer of the program, who is also the joint secretary of the society, while conducting the program, said that this kind of literary work has played an important role in expanding the awareness and intellectual capacity of the readers.
