Forbidden Fruit- Stories (Translated and Edited from the Nepal Bhasha)

About the Book The nine short stories in this book, translated from the Nepal Bhasha (the language of Newars) by Kesar Lall and Tej Ratna Kansakar, which were published first in various magazines and books between 1950 and 1992 reflect the changing times, social attitudes and problems, traditional and modern concepts as well as interaction between peoples of different ethnicity, castes and regions. Included in the book are short stories by Moti Laxmi Upasika, Lochan Ratna, Satya Mohan Joshi, Daman Raj Tuladhar, Keshav Lal Karmacharya, Purna Das Shrestha, Ashok Umang, Phanindra Ratna Bajracharya and Shashikala Manandhar, the first and last being women.

Preface There is a rich literary tradition among the Newars, as evidenced by a variety of stories, plays and songs in Nepal Bhasha (Newari language) on mythological, religious and allegorical themes, most of them being imaginative, symbolic and for the most part instructive in tone and intention. Stories based on folk culture and local legends are also very much a part of this tradition. Short stories as a literary form, however is a more recent phenomenon. This literary heritage has so far remained behind a closed door.

Encouraged by the reception given to their first book An Anthology of Short Stories of Nepal (1992, Kathmandu, Foundation for Literature) - the translators have made yet another modest attempt to present in English nine short stories. The first published in 1950 and the last in 1992 being by women. The rest of the stories appeared within die same period. The stories reflect the changing times, social attitudes and problems, traditional and modern concepts as well as interaction between peoples of different ethnicity, castes and regions.

The translators are most grateful to the authors for their interest in this work and kind permission. They are also thankful to Mr. Govinda Prashad Shrestha of M/s. Ratna Pustak Bhandar for publishing it.

It is hoped that the reader would find it as interesting as the first book.

**Contents and Sample Pages**