‘Yuddha Yuddha Nai Huncha’ review: An appeal for nationalism
Yuddha Yuddha Nai Huncha
Ubaraj Adhikari
Published: June 2025
Publisher: Indigo Ink
Pages: 86, Paperback
‘Yuddha Yuddha Nai Huncha’ (A War is a War), an anthology of 33 poetry by Ubaraj Adhikari, reflects on the social, political, and personal struggles faced by individuals in Nepal, capturing a wide array of emotions and philosophical depth. There is a keen observation of various societal issues as well as a powerful resilience of the human spirit of commoners who have been obliged to live in harsh times and circumstances.
In doing so, Adhikari explores the themes of rebellion, nationality, love, compassion, and hope ultimately advocating universal humanism. Similarly, critique of corruption, valorization of resilience, and struggle for dignity are some of the essential features of his poetry.
Some of his poems including ‘Prithivi ko Sankalpa’ (Resolution of the Earth) portray the powerful rebellion against oppression. The poet asserts that change is possible by the effort of a single brave soul and one person is enough to shatter ignorance and tyranny. ‘One storm is enough,’ he says, and ‘the resolution of the earth is enough.’ Here, the storm and earth are personified. Through these natural images, the author is appealing for resistance against those in power. The title of the collection, Yuddha Yuddha Nai Huncha, reflects his in-depth understanding of conflict, not merely in physical terms but also in regards to mental and emotional realms. For Adhikari, war is an inevitable response to oppression, and war is not just fought with weapons, but also with the rebellion of the heart and mind.
In the anthology, Adhikari has dealt with different themes. For example, the poems including ‘Aama’ (Mother), ‘Janmaghar’ (Birthplace) and ‘Mero Priya Fuchche’ (My Dear Fuchche) bring a more personal and intimate tone to the author. Adhikari celebrates the maternal figures as the center of a family, ethos, and civilization. He has confessed his deep compassion, feelings, and attachment to his mother, birthplace, and pet ‘Fuchche’ and shown that universal humanism is at the center of his poems.
Adhikari is a keen observer of political and social consequences. His poem ‘Jindabaad ra Murdabaad ko Saharma Kohi Aaune Chha’ (Someone Will Come to this City of Nasty Slogans) depicts a dark picture of societal collapse where disease, starvation, and nasty political slogans take over human life. Adhikari critiques the inhumanity of modern society by highlighting the suffering of working-class people. Here, we see that the people are suffering but politicians are involved in hollow rhetorics. While depicting the suffering of common people, Adhikari isn’t pessimistic which gives the readers a sense of hope. The references to brave people like Veer Balabhadra Kuwar and Bhakti Thapa and phrases like ‘someone will come with the light of the dawn’ mark that there is a possibility of hope and resistance even in this critical circumstance.
Similarly, some of the poems including ‘Manchhe ra Satya’ (The Man and the Truth) and ‘Jiunda Manchheharu’ (Alive People) are based on the themes of heroism and individual roles in the transformation of society and nation. However, this individuality, for Adhikari, is always connected to patriarchal feelings and nationality. He advocates that the bravery of a citizen should be harnessed for the sake of the nation. In poems such as ‘Desh’ (Nation) and ‘Aama ko Aanshu’ (A Mother’s Tear,) Adhikari strongly raises the theme of nationalism. For him, our nation has been built due to the sacrifices of our ancestors.
The poetry collection is an amazing one and I believe it must reach more readers. Adhikari has written beautifully, highlighting the different issues of contemporary life. In Yuddha Yuddha Nai Huncha, Adhikari not only advocates for a massive socio-political transformation with ultimate social justice but also equally appeals to the readers to be aware of nationalism and identity.
