आमाको सपना
Introduction
Aama Ko Sapana (आमाको सपना, "Mother's Dream") is a revolutionary poem by Gopal Prasad Rimal (गोपालप्रसाद रिमाल, 1975–2030 B.S.), celebrated as the first prose-poet (गद्य कवि) of Nepali literature. Composed around 2000 B.S. and first published in the Sharada magazine, the poem was later collected in the anthology Aamako Sapana (2019 B.S.). Written in the shadow of the martyrs' episode of 1997 B.S., it is a call for revolution against the autocratic Rana regime, and it is studied as one of the finest revolutionary poems in the Class 12 Nepali course.
Summary
The poem is written as a tender dialogue between a mother and her son, in a prose-rhythmed, conversational style. The mother has a powerful dream: a revolution that will cleanse society of the filth of injustice, oppression, exploitation, corruption and evil customs spread by autocratic rule. She tells her son about "the one who is coming": a future revolutionary hero who will arrive "more touching than snow and fire", meaning a force so powerful that no one will be able to stop it.
The mother longs to see the mark of revolution on the tender face of her infant and to hear the sweet voice of a revolutionary in his baby talk. But she is also disappointed: the sweet song of change has not yet been able to make her present children its flute. Her hope, therefore, rests on the coming generation. When the true child of revolution is born, the blood of all Nepalis will boil, patriotism will stir in every vein, and her children will throw themselves into the struggle against tyranny, staking their very lives. Then, the mother says, she will no longer have to stroke her child's hair as one comforts a sick person: her children will stand up, fearless and self-reliant, to claim their rights.
Symbolically, the mother is Mother Nepal herself and the son is the Nepali people. Written as a prelude to the revolution of 2007 B.S., the poem answers the son's doubts about whether revolution will really come with the mother's unshakable optimism: one day the storm of revolution must come, the dark night will end, and a golden morning will dawn, for without revolution there is no peace, and the end of injustice and untruth is inevitable.
Theme
The poem expresses the inevitability of revolution against autocracy. Change may not come from the present generation, but the coming generation, born with the consciousness of revolution, will free Mother Nepal from the chains of tyranny and build a free, just and equal society: this is the mother's dream, presented with deep patriotism and hope.
Main Characters
The Mother (symbol of Mother Nepal, suffering under autocratic rule yet full of hope that her
future children will bring revolution and her liberation.
The Son) symbol of the Nepali people, doubtful at first, whom the mother assures that the
revolutionary hero is surely coming.