Save Sajha Campaign a herculean but achievable goal (Commentary)

By Pabitra Guragain / Kathmandu: When legendary icon in Nepali literature Madhav Prasad Ghimire joined the then Nepal Bhasanuwad Parishad (Publication Censor Board) under the Nepal Bhasha Prakashini Samiti some 75 years ago (around 1998 BS), he had never imagined that the literary institute, which later transformed into the Sajha Publications in 2021 BS, would be fighting for survival today.

Since then, various political movements took place bringing about radical changes in country with remarkable achievements for the nation right from 1950 to 2006. But the situation of the sate-owned literary organisation with a glorious history to boast off was deteriorating.

Rastrakavi Ghimire finds it hard to believe the sorry state of the organisation that he was once part of. The organisation that sowed the seed of literature on Nepali soil is now on the verge of extinction, after being hit by a severe financial crisis and drowning in a debt of around 400 million rupees.

In view of the 97-year-old, political interference and culture of haphazard hiring of employees and appointment of political leaders’ confidante following the restoration of multiparty system in the country led the institution to this gloomy situation. But he warns “Collapse of the organisation would be a great shock to the Nepali language and literature sector.” The State cannot neglect the organisation under any circumstances, he stressed.

The presence of Sajha started degrading with the government decision to clip its authority of printing the government textbooks and hand it over to the Janak Education Materials Center in 1971.

Former Education Minister and member of the Sajha Board of Directors Pradeep Nepal, who has six books published by the Sajha, sees the arrival of the people unaware of Sajha history and its spirit mainly after the country became a republic pushing the institute to chaos.

In a recently televised interview, litterateur Shreeom Shreshtha ‘Rodan’ said the Sajha is an institution where writers take it as a pride to be part of it. He sees impact of political dominance, an entry of people lacking the spirit of literature and ignorant people playing a significant role in bringing the institute to its present feeble situation.

In the midst of all these, a ‘Save Sajha Publications Campaign’ has instilled a ray of hope among those concerned about the historical institution including Rastrakavi Ghimire. Ghimire too has many creations published by the Sajha including an elegy Gauri that acclaimed huge popularity in the Nepali literature.

The institute was almost lifeless when Dolindra Prasad Sharma assumed the post of Sajha General Manager on January 19, 2015. All publications of the Sajha were halted as the institute was plagued by intense financial crisis. Employees were not paid for months.

A publisher himself, Sharma initiated the Save Sajha Campaign shortly after his entry to lead the organisation. The Campaign is now joined by noted literary figures including the Rastrakavi and Madan Puraskar laureate Satyamohan Joshi. Due to his round-the-clock effort, Sharma has been successful in resuming publication of Garima, a monthly magazine.

The institution with almost 2000 share holders has played a significant role in bringing name and fame to many writers and litterateurs in the country. It was once headed by the Great Poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota and Balkrishna Sam too.

With 103-years old history of establishment, Sajha is itself a model institution in the entire South Asia region, Dr Bishnubibhu Ghimire, Vice-chancellor of Nepal Academy says. ‘Hence, the State must provide financial and other necessary help to protect this organisation, and thereby the history of the country’.

Under the Save Sajha campaign, the Sajha Board of Directors and literary community have been running from pillar to post knocking the doors of government, political leaders and other stakeholders. Interestingly, they never got negative responses, but no progress has been made as of now, according to Sharma, who presently holds the post of the organisation Chair too.

To help the organisation stand on its feet, Sharma is seeking Rs 400 million from the State as seed money either in soft loan or assistance. Sharma says that he would make the organisation a model institute if the State supports the campaign with an open heart.

Apart from the problem of finance, deep-rooted corruption, lack of appointment of professional human resources, poor infrastructure, political interference, overstaffing and negligence on the part of State are, according to Sharma, other major hurdles to take the organisation back to its previous glory. Despite any significant progress so far, Sharma sounds confident that his Save Sajha Publication mission would see success provided there is due support from the State.

Sharma however agrees that it would be a herculean task to bring the organization back to its original trait. But, with support from the entire Sajha family and its well wishers, he is determined to bring it back to its days of glory. RSS