एक चिहान
Introduction
Ek Chihan (एक चिहान, meaning "One Grave") is a famous social realist novel by Hridaya Chandra Singh Pradhan (हृदयचन्द्र सिंह प्रधान, 1972–2016 B.S.), one of the well-known progressive writers of Nepali literature. The novel is set in Kathmandu around 2011 B.S. and gives a true picture of the Jyapu (farmer) community of the Newar society. Selected chapters of this novel are included in the Class 12 Nepali course.
Summary
Astanaran (अष्टनारान) is a poor, old farmer who has been seriously ill for two months. His family first treats him with traditional healers (a gubhaju from their own tole, the Tuyu gubhaju of Asan and a kaviraj), but nothing works and his condition keeps getting worse. There is a doctor in the town, but the family has no money to pay him. Finally, the sons decide to spend the twenty-five rupees that Astanaran had secretly saved and buried for his own death rites. Even then, Dr. Godattaprasad agrees to visit the dying man only after the family promises him a fee of five rupees.
Before dying, Astanaran tells his sons the principles of a farmer: farmers are the food-givers of the world, every grain grows from a drop of their sweat, and even if the father dies, a farmer's son must not let the planting season of Asar fail. He also tells them never to neglect their mother and sister, and not to waste money on expensive death rituals. After his death, the family keeps facing exploitation from the rich. Subba Surman sends his clerk Rambahadur with a cunning marriage proposal for Astanaran's young daughter Nanithaku, which her brother Shivnaran cleverly rejects. Dr. Godattaprasad, though married, also preys on Nanithaku and she becomes a victim of his lust. After Shivnaran and the doctor's own wife Ranjanadevi counsel her, that relationship ends. Later Nanithaku marries Ramkhelawan Raut, a man from the Tarai, and Harshanaran marries Putali: both marriages done simply, without dowry or feasts. The novel ends on a tragic note for this poor family, which makes the title "one grave" meaningful.
Theme
The novel shows the exploitation of the poor by the rich (moneylenders, officials and even doctors) in the two-class society of Kathmandu. It criticizes costly traditions like kajkriya (death rituals), feasts and dowry that push poor families deeper into debt, and it supports inter-caste and inter-regional marriage as a way to unity. Above all, it carries the progressive message that blind traditions must be uprooted and that the hard-working poor deserve dignity.
Main Characters
Astanaran: a poor, honest old farmer with progressive ideas; he opposes costly rituals.
Shivnaran: Astanaran's eldest son and the hero of the novel; a hard-working, wise farmer who
stands against injustice.
Nanithaku: Astanaran's beautiful seventeen-year-old daughter, exploited by Dr. Godattaprasad;
she later marries Ramkhelawan Raut.
Dr. Godattaprasad: a selfish, immoral doctor; a negative character.
Subba Surman: a rich exploiter who schemes to get Nanithaku.
Ranjanadevi: Godattaprasad's educated, kind wife who counsels Nanithaku.
Ramkhelawan Raut: a Madhesi youth who marries Nanithaku, showing inter-caste harmony.