SUMMARY:

Bhimnidhi Tiwari, a well-known Nepali poet and playwright, wrote The Bull, a one-act play. The 18th-century society's feudal system was criticized in the play. Male, King Rana Bahadur Shah's bull, dies and the drama exhibits the terror that three important characters, the bull doctor and two cowherds named Jitman and Gore, are going through.

The play takes place in 1854 B.S., during the month of Ashwin. At the beginning of the play, Gore and Jitman, two frantic cowherds, arrive at Laxminarayan's house. They have arrived to inform King Rana Bahadur Shah of his bull's passing. After hearing their story, Laxminarayan feels a chill in his spine concerned about the king's impending punishment. They can be put to death by the monarch. Laxminarayan is terrified of having his head shaved as a punishment. Laxminarayan's lips were once burned as punishment for speaking loudly in front of the monarch. Laxminarayan never grows a moustache on that side after that.

According to both cowherds, the bull died because it couldn't digest fine rice and split gram soup and didn't eat enough grass. Laxminarayan tells the cowherds not to tell the king that the bull has died. If they tell the king about the bull's death, they will face a terrible fate. Laxminarayan goes to the Basantpur palace to inform the monarch of the bull's poor health, following his advice to the two cowherds. Laxminarayan informs the king of the sick bull by bowing respectfully in front of him. He doesn't tell the king about the bull's death right away.

He tells the king about the condition of the sick bull. He asserts that the bull sir does not rise to eat breakfast. He does not speak or move. He just closes his eyes and looks at us. Laxminarayan begins by praising the bull for its beauty, style of walking, and heroism in battle. For the change in air and the bull's health, he suggests moving it to the hill. The king decides to personally inspect the bull's condition after hearing Laxminarayan's statements, so he takes a palanquin convoy to the cowshed at Thulo Gaucharan.

Jitman and Blood, then again, are both standing by nervously at the cowshed for the ruler's choice. They think about running away to save their lives, but they are afraid they will be found and killed. The king moves toward the cow shed. Laxminarayan advises the cowherds to massage the bull's back feet and wave the fan at the bull at Thulo Gauchar before the convoy arrives and they do as asked. Laxminarayan even assures the king that they have been taking care of the bull since before dawn. The bull has truly passed away on the mattress. The area has not seen any movement. It is not eating or breathing. It has loosened its tail and dropped its ears. The cowherds and Laxminarayan delay declaring it dead out of fear. King Ranabahadur Shah says the bull is dead.

After hearing the king speak, Jitman starts to cry and says that the bull's death left him an orphan. He receives a 400-rupee tip from the King and is instructed to remain silent. Gore also starts to cry. He asserts that the bull is more significant to him than his wife, children, and parents. He declares that he will either hang himself or join the bull. After hearing his speech, the king gives him a tip of 500 rupees. Laxminarayan finally starts to cry and act like he's in pain. He is taunted by the king and told to bury the bull, oversee the burial, and offer sacrifices to the priest. Gore and Jitman finally express their happiness at being alive.

The feudal system of the time, in which ordinary people were oppressed, dominated, and dehumanized, is beautifully portrayed in "The Bull." Compared to the animals of commoners, feudal lords' animals deserved more respect. It examines how rulers dehumanize the common people, enslave Lords and Kings' servants, and rule the upper classes.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW.

a. For what purpose have Gore and Jitman visited Laxminarayan?

Gore and Jitman come to Laxminarayan to inform him of the bull’s (Male) death that King Ranabahadur Shah loved dearly.

b. According to cowherds, what was Male's cause of death?

Cowherds say that Male's death was caused by him not eating as much grass and not being able to digest fine rice and split gram soup.

c. Why is Ranabahadur interested in seeing the bull for himself?

Ranabahadur does not want the bull to be transported to the hill if it can be cured or treated at Thulo Gauchar, Kathmandu. He wants to personally examine the bull's condition.

d. At Thulo Gauchar, why does Laxminarayan run ahead of the convoy?

Laxminarayan runs ahead of the convoy to Thulo Gauchar in order to instruct the cowherds to massage the bull's back feet and wave the fan at it in order to please Ranabahadur Shah, the king. If not, the king would be furious and retaliate against them. He wishes to demonstrate to the king that they value the bull.

e. When the king says that Male is dead, why do Gore and Jitman cry?

Gore and Jitman show their alleged affection for Male by crying when the king announces Male's demise. In a pompous cry for the king's forgiveness, both begin to cry. They are hoping to avoid being punished by the king. In any other case, the king may execute them and hold them accountable for the death of the bull.

f. How are we informed that the bull has perished?

The Cowherds, Laxminarayan, and the King's conversation reveals that the bull has died.The king's words and those of the cowherds are indicating that the bull has died.The king adds, "The bull does not breathe, his tail has loosened, his ears have drooped down, and he does not eat anything either," stating that the bull's eyes are motionless and his tail has loosened.

g. In what ways does the play mock the feudal system?

This play demonstrates the horrifying effects of the feudal system on ordinary people. This depicts the oppression, dominance, and dehumanization of individuals by the feudal system. The cowherds, who depend on their lord's kindness and grace, have been presented in such panic. The two of them conceal the truth of the dead bull to save their lives before the ruler. The play is a satire to the feudal system, focusing on the dehumanization and oppression of workers by the feudal lord.

h. In a paragraph, write down the play's plot.

The one-act play "The Bull" was written by Nepalese poet and dramatist Bhimnidhi Tiwari. Bull was King Ranabahadur Shah's favorite. He had raised a lot of bulls. When the bull perished, the bull doctor and the cowherds then panicked at the thought of the king's possible punishment. They pretended to be sad and grieving over the bull's death. In fact, they were more afraid of the king's possible punishment than they were of the bull's death. They wept and pretended to be heartbroken in front of the king to save their lives. After seeing them crying, the king gave them tips. The cowherds were content to be alive in the end. The play makes a parody on the primitive society of that time.

REFERENCE THE CONTEXT

a. Examine the late eighteenth-century Nepali society as depicted with regards to the connection between the lord and his subjects as depicted in the play.

Nepal was ruled by a monarch in late eighteenth century. At the time, the Shah Dynasty held power in Nepal. At the time, society was pretty strict. Freedom was lacking in everyday life. The king and his people had to rule the people's lives. In the play "The Bull," a horrible society in which people had to live in fear of the kings and lords was depicted. The lives of ordinary people were not ideal. They were awfully treated by their masters. They were punished severely if they disobeyed their lords. We might see a great illustration of people's miserable circumstances in this play.

There were no fundamental rights granted to the people. The general public is not very knowledgeable about politics. Most societies had patriarchal ideals and rules. Throughout their entire lives, women were subjected to male dominance. Polygamy was in practice. The lives of the common people were completely under the control of the kings or lords.

b. What can we learn about the society of the time from Laxminarayan's relationship with his wives? How much has Nepali society evolved since then?

Laxminarayan is Ranabahadur Shah's bull doctor and a forty-year-old bichari (legal officer).He has had seven marriages during his life. He doesn't seem happy, even though he has seven women at home. He still intends to get married to another woman. He refers to each of his seven wives as "flat-nosed," "beautiful," "butterfly," "ugly face," and so on at home. He gave his spouses different monikers, exhibiting man centric strength as well as the condition of ladies in the way of life at that point. At the time, marrying a lot of women was a very common thing to do. Females were regarded as servants while males were regarded as superior. Women who were married were forced to live their lives under the control and dominance of their husbands. They were forced to rely on their husbands and spend the majority of their time inside their homes. The primary causes of all of these problems were illiteracy, child marriage, poverty, feudalism, and a lack of understanding among the population.

Since then, a lot has changed in Nepalese society. Nepali women's current situation is significantly better than the past. Women in Nepal have gained a number of rights over time due to the constitution. In today's society, the consciousness and literacy levels of Nepali women have significantly increased. They no longer rely on their husbands as much as they used to. Even closer to earning the same as men, they are on their way. In society, there is no male dominance. People who abuse women are subject to severe punishment in Nepal's constitution. The rights and empowerment of Nepalese women are the goals of numerous organizations in the country. The Nepalese Constitution guarantees equal opportunities to men and women in Nepal. In a number of fields, the majority of Nepali leaders are women.

c. Highlight the play's depiction of ‘chakari’ (servitude) practice. Have you observed this custom in your community?

During the time that the kings ruled Nepal, the idea of servitude was very popular. The majority of people were involved in the servitude of their monarchs, leaders, and lords during the royal system. ‘Chakari’ was a way of life where people hoped to become wealthy and advance in life. People were required to constantly perform servitude in front of their kings and lords in order to behave well. If they did not perform the ‘chakari’ correctly, they would suffer severe consequences.

The one-act play "The Bull" frequently uses the concept of ‘chakari’. Laxminarayn Dahal, the play's main character, and two cowherds named Gore and Jitman frequently perform King Ranabahadur Shah's ‘chakari’. Laxminarayan has even been punished by the king for his bad deed of speaking loudly in front of the king. Laxminarayan is informed of the bull's demise by both cowherds. They all feel a great deal of worry about the monarch. Around the bull, they act as though they are extremely cautious. To placate the monarch, they begin to wave a fan and rub the bull's feet. They even call the bull "The Bull Sir" in front of the monarch. Both cowherds begin to cry uncontrollably when the king personally announces the bull's demise. Consequently, the play is full of ‘chakari’.

d. In what way does Laxminarayan deceive Ranabahadur?

Laxminarayan outwits Ranabahadur with his tricks. He is a forty-year-old legal officer and a doctor of the king's bull.When Gore and Jitman inform him of the king's bull death, he rushes to the palace.He is skilled at praising the king.He doesn't quickly advise the ruler regarding the bull's passing since the lord might become irritated by the news.He informs the king of the bull's illness rather than the truth.In order to please the monarch and safeguard their lives, he even instructs the cowherds to massage and waves a fan at the bull as they approach the cowshed.Despite receiving excellent care and treatment right in front of the king, the king believes the bull died.Because of Laxminarayan's methods, the king does not believe them, and they survive the severe punishment.

e. Draw a picture of Laxminarayan's personality.

Laxminarayan Dahal is one of the main characters in this one-act play. He is the bull doctor for King Ranabadur Shah and a forty-year-old official. He is hitched to seven distinct ladies. He has seven women living with him, but he doesn't seem to be happy with any of them. He intends to wed the eighth woman. He makes good use of his intelligence when he learns that the king's bull died and acts quickly to save him and the cowherds from the king's punishment. He goes to the king's palace, but he doesn't tell the king about the bull's death right away. He is well aware of the chakari (flattery). In order to please the king, Laxminarayan tells the cowherds Gore and Jitman to massage and wave fans at the dead bull when the king arrives at Thulo Gauchar's cowshed to see the bull. Laxminarayan's clever demonstrations have added to the play's humor. Due to his deceit, the king spared them from severe punishment. Subsequently, we might guarantee that Laxminarayan is the person who has outmaneuvered the ruler with his craftiness and chakari.

REFERENCE BEYOND THE TEXT

a. Write a 300-word essay on "The Nepali Society: The Future, Present, and Past

THE NEPALESE SOCIETY

In comparison to its past, Nepalese society has undergone significant changes which is still going on. It will undoubtedly change significantly in the future. Nepal is well-known for its wide range of cultural practices. In Nepali society, people practice various religions and come from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Nepalese society was very different from what it is today. There were various classes and groups of people. Social ills such as caste discrimination and untouchability resulted from the division of people. People lived in extreme poverty and were subjected to discrimination as a result of the rigid social norms of the time. They were forced to obey their lords and kings without speaking. If not, they were subjected to severe punishment and denied access to fundamental societal rights. Most of the populace was uninformed, and there was a general absence of mindfulness. The nation was rife with the idea of feudalism. The lives of ordinary people were miserable under the feudalists. The idea of human rights and opportunities was foreign to them. The majority of people's lives were extremely difficult. At the time, women's lives were bleak due to their precarious circumstances. For their survival, they were completely dependent on men. Additionally, child marriage was quite common.

Nepalese society today is more open and technologically advanced. Nepalese society is moving forward in terms of amenities like electricity, drinking water, ro and transportation, education. Nowadays, people can use a variety of rights in a variety of situations. Women are granted rights and no longer have to rely entirely on their husbands to make ends meet. The constitution now guarantees people's rights. In comparison to the past, caste and class discrimination is rarely seen. It is not required of individuals to follow their lords or kings. However, people today are not entirely free of the idea of chakari. In order to attain wealth and status, they follow a variety of powerful people and politicians. The shady politics of today's society is the main drawback. In addition, culture and customs do not appear to be preserved in today's society in the same way they were in the past.

The future of Nepali society is entirely contingent on its populace. The pace of development is now quite sluggish in comparison to that of other developing nations. Patriarchal ideologies have not yet completely vanished from society. If the right people are chosen as leaders, culture and traditions are promoted and preserved, and patriarchal views are rejected, Nepali society will be much better than the rest of the world.