Protest against domination

‘Lachha Ipung’ is a short realistic play. It has dramatizes the Nepal Army’s settlement in hero Mahaguru Phalgunanda’s cemetery, in Silauti Panthar. The army’s posting in Silauti disturbed the local people to enter in his cemetery for worship.

Mirak, a Kirat religious youth, goes to do mangsewa in Mahaguru Phalgunanda’s cemetery, on the birthday of Phalgunada but a security of army stops him to enter in cemetery. Then, he shares about this obstacle to Tanchhohang, a friend and Tumahahangs. They hold meeting and conclude that this step of government is continuation of state’s suppressive policy on Kirat Limbu people. So, they decide to protest against army’s presentation in Phalgunand’s cemetery. At last, they lunch an uncertain hunger in front of district administration office Panthar, demanding removal of army from Silauti.

Mahaguru Phalgunand is a symbolic person for religion. The army’s settelement in his cemetery, obstacled in religious activity of Kirat people. The state has been basied on Limbu peoples’ political, cultural and religious rights. State has been imposing hindusim in all over the country. The playwright prepares his characters to protest against the state’s suppressive policy.

Realistic Setting

The play has realistic setting. The place setting of play is in villages of Panthar district. The playwrite has taken rustic setting for Lachha Ipung. The places presented in play, Silauti, Lobre, Phidim, Imbung, Phaktep etc are real places of Panthar. They are the places, where Limbu people are in majority. To make the play realistic the writer has chosen the real subject matter from the Panthar. In Silauti, there is cemetery of Phalgunanda, where the government has kept Nepal Army for the security of Nepal Telecome Tower. So, the people are were not allowed to enter in Phalgunand’s cemetery to do sewa. Similarly, people were killed there, who tried to enter wrongly inside the security area.

The time setting of the play is post era of People’s Movement II in Nepal. The incident takes place on the day of Phalgunada birthday, which falls in 25th Kattik, in Bikram Sambat Calender. Decade long Maoist people war, Peoples’ movement II, Madhesi Movement, Limbuwan movement and Indigenous Movements in Nepal widen the awareness in Limbu people.

Use in characters

The play has staged the characters from the Limbu community. Mirak, Phugwama, Logima, Tanchhohang, and Sikum are the typical Limbu names. It has changed the trend of naming. After signing the  Lalmohar treaty in1931 BS at Bijaypur, Hindu Kings heavily imposed Hinduism in Limbuwan. The name of person and place turned into Khas language. Such as, Ram Bahadur, Bal Bahadur, Padma Sundar, Narendra Kumar, Sagar etc. Luckily few traditional Limbu names were survived. After emergence of identity movement in Nepal, Limbus started to name their children in own language. The name of characters has some symbolic meanings. ‘Mirak’ is fire in English, it is symbol of revouLtion. Who leads the people for demonstration against army’s settlement in Silauti. Sikum is another character in play. Sikum is rational in English. He has a different attitude towards the army. Armies are there for security, according to Sikum. Presenting Sikum in play, playwright controlled the play to take the bias way. Fungwama and Lozima are lovely names in Limbu language. They want to take peaceful path for souLtion.

Quest of peaceful souLtion

The play ends questing peaceful souLtion of problem. At last of the play, Sikum and his friends are in the demonstration of ‘Uncertain Hunger’ in front of district administration office, Phidim. They are demanding the removal of army from Silauti. In back ground Mundhumi hymn is playing. The volume of hymn is getting louder. It indicates the increasing rage and movement of peoples’ heart.

Tumyahangs give peaceful ways to meet their demand fulfilled. They don’t declare any hard ways to fulfill their demand. Presenting the character on the side of peaceful movement, the playwright could justice the philosophy of Mahaguru Phalgunanda.  Mahaguru Phalgunand was on the side of peace, so his followers want to walk on the way to peace.