(From Pravash lamichane’s blog)
(An Onion: Contemplating the Abstract)
Translated by Shikha Lamichhane-Mayer
I met Bangdelji last evening on New Road. “Shankarji”, he says, “I just read your essay, you know that essay ‘Shankar Lamichhane in Shankar Lamichhane’s opinion.’”
“Did you like it?”
“It was entertaining. But too realistic. Why don’t you make the next one a little more abstract”.
“But it is you who paints the abstract. How could I attempt painting at this point in my life.”
“No, …..but what I mean is, why can’t you adopt an abstract style for your ‘pen-picture’?”
I continued to smile.
(Indeed, to know how to smile is a great art in itself. As man matures, he begins to develop infinite shade and nuance in his smiles). So with a smile, I bid Bangdelji goodbye, and shrugged off his suggestion.
Vyatithji was holding the cover design for Himani. In the same way that the name Himani immediately evokes Vyatith’s penmanship, I instantly recognized Bangel’s brushwork. “You use your pen so skillfully”, he says, “you could finish writing something for me in just a day or two, in time to publish this issue for Dasain. You know I am going abroad to do it.”
I continued to smile. (It is an art to know how to smile. Indeed, if you don’t know which smile to employ at the right time, you would suffer as though you were in tears.) With a smile I bid Vyatithji goodbye, and tried to shrug off his suggestion too.