NO SMOKE FROM THE CHIMNEYS

Siddhicharan Shrestha, Nepal (1912-1992)

Poem:

I don't have time,

Death, do not call me,

I don’t have time to mop up

the blood from a broken head.

Lady, do not detain my advancing feet,

I have no time for your blandishments.

The people of my country

have canceled their meals,

and are struggling: look!

Shidhhicharan was born on Jestha 9, 1969 BS in Okhaldunga Bazar of Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal. Siddhi was married to Mishree Devi Shrestha. They had nine children. Their eldest son, Viswa Charan Shrestha, died at the age of four. Siddhi wrote poem "Viswa Betha" in his son's memory. Siddhicharan Shrestha is honored as "Yuga Kavi", meaning - "Poet of the Era". Siddhicharan wrote many poems. He wrote both in Nepali and Newari. He also wrote a religious poem “Devighat”. “Mero Pyaro Okhaldhunga” is the most famous poem by him. 

Siddhicharan Shrestha started writing poetry from around 1930. Early in life, he worked as editor of Sharada and Gorkhapatra and, later on, as chief editor of Awaj and Kavita. In the 1940s and 1950s, Siddhicharan continued articulating the hopes and frustrations of a politically suppressed people who were struggling for democracy. 

Siddhicharan was a revolutionary writer of the time. He was sentenced for 18 years in prison and his properties were also seized by the then autocratic Rana regime. However, he was released after five years. He was a then political prisoner. He was not even allowed to attain his father’s funeral whilst in the jail. The great leader Ganesh Man Singh and other political activists were in same jail and they were inspired by Siddhi Charan's poetry. Ganesh Man Singh once recalled the time in prison with poet Sidhhicharan and said “If Siddhi was not there in prison, he would have gone insane”. In 1940, he wrote, "There can be no peace without revolution." For this, the Rana rulers sentenced him to eighteen years of detention. During this time he wrote Urwasi and later on, The Sacrifice of Bali. After his fortunate release from gaol in 1944, he continued writing about poverty, injustice, untouchability and other social issues of the time. 

He passed away in Jestha 22, 2049. That was in the year June 4, 1992 AD.

Summary of the Poem:

The poem "No Smoke a From the Chimneys" by Siddhicharan Shrestha describes a time when the Nepalese people who were struggling for democracy against the Rana rule. This poem is based on political agenda which resign or give up the then Rana regime which denied any sorts of freedom to the Nepalese people. Observing the speaker, s/he might have worked for Rana rule before but later he is on the side of the entire Nepalese. In other words, the speaker is the representative of Nepalese voice. The speaker in the poem makes a bitter criticism of the autocratic rule introduced by the Ranas, and declares his protest against the rulers as the people have stopped taking their breads.

The speaker has given up any sorts of luxury and entertainment as his countrymen are in the streets protesting the ruling government. S/he is criticizing the autocratic rule of the Ranas who deprived the Nepalese people from exercising any sorts of liberty. The Ranas enjoyed extreme authority and make abuse of their powers. The people of Nepal, who were under the grip of autocratic Rana rule, were living in fears. There was no education, no press freedom and no civil rights. And, the speaker himself is a representative Nepalese citizen who experiences more or less the similar troubles and problems all Nepalese had to face. He seems a simple minded and honest citizen who had devoted his entire life to the service of the countrymen under the autocratic Rana regime. His obedient and sincere servitude (slavery/bondage) later turned to protest and revolt against the then cruel authority. He refused to surrender, and took to side with the people. Giving no regard (heed/paying attention) to their food, clothes and shelter, people have resorted (employ/apply/utilise/use) to voice and struggle against the Ranas. 

The very first line of the first stanza "I don't have time" suggests the speaker is rejecting the command of the Rana ruler. Instead, he is now listening the voice of the people of his country. Metaphorically, he calls Rana rule "Death" which shows his negative attitude towards Rana rule. Similarly, the phrase "the blood from a broken head" suggests sheds caused by movement and the cruelty of Rana regime. The speaker's "advancing feet" suggests his longings for democracy and the people's continuous struggle to get freedom from the Rana rule. The line "I have no time for your blandishments (कसैलाई फकाउनलाई गिरने राम्रा कुराहरु) suggest he has stopped to support the then Rana rule. The last sentence of the poem is directly linked to the title of the poem since the people of Nepal have canceled their meals and have begun the protest movement and taken to revolt. The possessive noun "my" before "country" makes the sentence touchier.