संयोग

 हो,म झुटको खेति गर्दै गर्दिन । कुनै बेला झूठ नै बक्नुपर्ने अवस्था आईलाग्यो भने म टिक्नै सक्दिन । मेरा हातगोडाहरु काँप्न थाल्छन्, मेरो पुरै शरीर थर्थराउन थाल्छ । अनि अरुलाई भ्रममा राख्ने मेरो अभिलाशा क्षतविक्षत हुन्छ । अरुले सजिलै थाहापाउने काम गर्नुको पनि के औचित्य रहन्छ र? त्यसैले पनि आज म सबै सत्यतथ्य घटनाक्रम बताउँदै छु ।
     
कपिल मुनिहरुको पवित्र भूमि, कपिलवस्तु जिल्लाको सानो गाऊँ ठाकुरापुरमा मेरो जन्मभएको थियो । पानी, बिजुलीबत्ती, चर्पी, सिंचाई, शिक्षा, अस्पताल सबैको सुविधा उपलब्ध तर शहरीया रवाफले भने छुन सकेको थिएन–मेरो गाउँलाई । बुवाआमा, हजुरआमा र म घरमा आनन्ददायी जिवन विताईरहेका थियौं । हाम्रो जिवनमा अभाव भन्ने चिज नै थिएन भन्दा पनि भयो ।हुन त मान्छेको जिन्दगी अभावै अभावमा जिउने हो, यद्यपी बुवाआमा र हजुरआमाले गरेको पालनपोषण र शिक्षादिक्षामा मैले अभावको एक निमेष पनि भेट्टाईन ।
    
बुवा पेशाले किसान हुनुहुन्थ्यो । घरमै अन्नबाली र सागसब्जी उब्जाउनु हुन्थ्यो । घरमा बढी भएको बजारमा लगेर बेच्नुहुन्थ्यो । त्यहीं बेचेर आएको रकमपैसाले घरखर्च जेनतेन चलेकै थियो । घरमा हजुरआमा उमेरले सबैभन्दा जेठी हुनुहुन्थ्यो । उहाँका चाउरीएका गालामा एक प्रकारको चमक थियो । जुन मैले गाउँका अरु हजुरबा, हजुरआमाहरुमा भेट्टाउदैनथें । हजुरआमाको त्यो चमकलाई दिर्घायु बनाउन मैले कैयौं पटक उहाँलाई झुक्काएर म्वाई खाएको छु । हजुरआमाको बुढो ढाडमा सुरेली खेलेको छु । हजुरआमाको जुम्रा हेरिदिने निउँमा कैयौं पटक कपाल तानिदिएको छु । हजुरआमाले छतको डिलमा राखेको मनिप्लान्टको गमलामा“पैसा फलेछ”भनेर कतिपटक जिस्क्याएको छु ।
    
हजुरआमालाई मात्र होइन, बुवाआमालाई पनि कम्ति सताईन मैले । बुवाले छड्के पारेर शिरमा लगाउने ढाकाको टोपी मलाई खुव मन पथ्यों । त्यहीं टोपी खुसुक्क लुकाएर म साथीसंग चुङ्गी खेल्थे । जब टोपी धुलैधुलो हुन्थ्यो,बुवा सुत्ने खाटमा ल्याएर मैले सुटुक्क राखिदिन्थें । बुवाले “मेरो टोपी कसले यस्तो बनायो?” भनेर सोध्नुहुन्थ्यो । “मैले होइन”भनेर कतिपटक जवाफदिने साहस गरें तर शब्द फुट्नु अगावै मलाई कामज्वरो आएजस्तो हुन्थ्यो । मेरो शरीर लगलगी काँप्थ्यो ।म काँपेको देखेपछि बुवाले थाहा पाईहाल्नुहुन्थ्यो । अनि मलाई सुम्सुम्याउँदै काखमा लिनुहुन्थ्यो । मेरा थर्थराएकाओठहरुमा मुस्कान ल्याउनअकबर र बीरबलको कथा सुनाउनुहुथ्यो ।
    
आमाको टिकी त झन् मलाई चन्द्रमा झैं लाग्थ्यो । आमाले बजारबाट ल्याउनु भएका टिकीहरु त म, अनुहार भरी टाँसेर हिड्थें । किताबमा भएका मान्छेका चित्रहरुमा पनि मैले टिकी लगाईदिन्थे । “यस्तरी हामीलाई दुःख दिनुहुँदैन”भनेर आमाले कति सम्झाउनु भयो तर मेरो चकचक गर्ने बानी, अहँ, छुट्दै छुटेन ।
    
समय यसरी नै रमाईलोमा बित्दै थियो । घरमा सबैको चासोको विषय थिएँ म । मैले पाउने माया सायदै कसैले पाएको होस्– यो संसारमा । मैले त्यति अपार माया पाएको थिएँ । समयको चक्रसँगै म पनि हुर्कदै थिएँ , बढ्दै थिएँ । मेरो बढ्दो उमेरसँगै ममा परिवर्तन आउनु स्वभाविक पनि थियो । मेरो शरीरमा कताकता काउकुती लाग्न थालिसकेको थियो । अरुभन्दा राम्रो हुनुपर्ने, “हिरो” देखिनुपर्ने स्वभाव जागिसकेको थियो तर मेरो चञ्चलता भने कम हुने नामोनिसान थिएन ।
    
बाटोमा हिँड्दा ढकमक्क सजिएका युवतीहरुलाई मौका छोपेरआँखा झिम्काई दिन्थे । उनीहरु लाजले भुतुक्क भएर शिर निउराएर हिड्थे । जब घर फर्किएर बुवाआमाले पढ्न भन्नुहुन्थ्यो म प्रेमपत्र कोरेर बस्थें । प्रेमपत्रमा आउने प्रेमिकाहरु कहिले समिक्षा त कहिले करुणा हुन्थे, कहिले आशिका त कहिले श्रद्धा हुन्थे ।
 
एकदिनको कुरो हो, सधैं झैं त्यो दिन पनि म स्कूलबाट घर फर्किएँ– अनेक उट्पट्याङ्ग गर्दै । घरमा के पुगेको थिएँ, बुवाले नराम्रोसँग झपार्नु भयो । आमाले पनि“धेरै पुल्पुलिएर यस्तो भ’को” भनेर आगोमा घिऊ थप्नुभयो । सधैं मेरो साथ दिने हजुरआमा क्वारक्वारर्ती तमसा हेरिरहनु भएको थियो । उहाँको त्यो हेराईले पनि मौन सहमति जनाएको झै लाग्थ्यो–बुवाआमाको कर्तबसँग ।
 
भोलिपल्ट म स्कूल गएपछि पो थाहा पाएँ, मलाई माया गर्ने मान्छेहरु मै माथि किन खनिए भनेर । नेपाली बिषय पढाउने शिक्षकलाई गृहकार्य जाँच्न कापी दिएको थिएँ– मैले दुई दिन अघि । उहाँले गृहकार्य जाँच्दा जाँच्दै मैले कोरेका प्रेमपत्रहरु पनि भेट्टाउनु भएछ । अनि उहाँले नै घर बुवाआमालाई खबर गरिदिनुभएछ । सरले मलाई कापी दिदैं “ कापीमा यस्तो जथाभावी लेख्नुहुदैन”भनेर सम्झाउनुभयो तर उहाँका ति शब्दहरुले मलाई काँडासरी घोचे । त्यसैले रिसको झाेंकमा मनमनै नाम राखिदिएँ–“दहीचिउरे” ।
 
मेरा प्रेमपत्रहरु पर्दाफास भएदेखि मलाई घरमा अनि स्कूलमा निकै कडा गर्न थालियो । मेरो सानो भुलमा पनि मैले ठूलो गाली सहनुपथ्यों । कहिल्यै गाली भनेर एक शब्द पनि नसुनेको मलाई हरेक क्रियाकलापमा चर्को स्वर सुन्दा दिमाग तातेर आउँथ्यो । सक्दो हुँ त म गाली गर्ने मान्छेको मुख सिलाई दिन्थें तर फगत् ममा त्यस्तो गर्न सक्ने सामर्थ्य थिएन ।
 
मेरो यौवनभन्दा मेरो वाक्यकाल नै ठीक थियो – म एक्लै कोठामा हुँदा सोच्ने गर्थे । कमसेकम सबैको माया र स्नेह त पाएको थिएँ । आफू स्वतन्त्र हुनुको मज्जा लुटेको थिएँ तर यौवन अवस्थाले मेरो जीवनमा रङ्ग के पोत्दै थियो सबैले एक पछि अर्को प्रश्नचिन्ह खडा गरेर श्यामश्वेत बनाईदिए । बिहानै उठ, खाजा खाऊ, पढ्न बस, खाना खाऊ, स्कूल जाऊ, घर फर्क, खाजा खाऊ, गृहकार्य गर, खाना खाऊ अनि सुत – यहीं दिक्कलाग्दो दिनचर्याले मेरो जीवन उराठलाग्दो बनाएको थियो ।
 
अति नै भएपछि एकदिन स्कूलबाट फर्केर जे होस् होस् भनि साथीसँग खेल्न गएँ । एकैछिन् नै किननहोस् , जिन्दगीमा स्वतन्त्रताको अनुभव फेरी बटुले । शरीर र मन दुबैलाई हलुका पारें अनि घर फर्किएँ । हजुरआमाले सिढीं नजिकैको अँगेनामा कुँडेमा दुध तताउँदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो , आमाभने भित्र भान्सामा खाना बनाउदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो । त्यहीबेला मैले घरभित्र पाईला के राख्न आँटेकोे थिएँ ,बुवाले निकै गाली गर्नुभयो । तनमन दुबै बोझिलो भयो । आमाले पनि बुवाको साथ दिदैं सम्झाउन थाल्नुभयो । मेरो भने कन्सिरी तातेर आयो । रिसको झोंकमा म छतमा उक्लिएँ । बुवाआमा कराउँदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो त्यहीबेला हजुरआमाले सम्झाउने हेतुले भन्नुभयो “नाती रिस नाकमा बोकेर हिड्नु हुँदैन । यसले आफैलाई खान्छ । त्यसैले रिसलाई थुकिदें, बरु आईज तैंले र मैले दुध तताम् ।” रिसले चुर भएको मलाई ती शब्दहरुले घाऊमा नुनचुक छर्नै काम गरे । रिसले आँखा नदेखेको मैले त्यसपछि आफ्नो खुट्टा बजारें– छतको डिलैनेर ।
 
एक्कैछिनमा कोलाहल मच्चिन थाल्यो – घरमा। गाउँलेहरु एकाएक जम्मा हुन थाले ।एकछिन पछि जब मेरो रिस शान्त भयो, मैले देखें – छतको डिलमा राखेको मनीप्लान्टको गमला गायब थियो । तल हजुरआमा भने दुध तताउँदा तताउँदै लम्पसार पर्नु भएको थियो ।

“मेरो घटनाक्रम यत्ति नै हो सर ।” – बयान लिईरहेको प्रहरीलाई भनेँ ।

एकटकले हेरिरहेको प्रहरीसँग मेरो नजर जुध्यो । त्यसपछि मेरो शरीर थर्थरी काँप्न थाल्यो ।



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कप्तान

हरेक युवा वर्गलाई गिजोल्ने विदेशको हाउगुजीले विकल्पलाई पनि अछुतो राख्न सकेन । यसै त आम नेपाली भाग्यमाथी विश्वास गर्छन्, झन् दिनदिनै राशीफल हेर्नैका लागि पत्रिका किन्ने विकल्प त भाग्यको अन्धोभक्त नै थियो । गाउँका आफ्ना साथीहरु प्रायजसोस् सानोतिनो काममा विदेशमै थिए । बर्षैपिच्छे घरमा धेरथोर खर्च पठाउँथे । राम्रै काममा पर्नेहरु त जग्गा जमिन जोड्न पनि थालिसकेका थिए । त्यसैले पनि होला, भर्खर उच्च शिक्षा सिध्याएको विकल्पलाई विदेश छिरेर टन्न पैसा कमाउनु र आफ्नो जीवनशैली फेर्नु सपना मात्र होइन, उद्देश्य बनिसकेको थियो ।

“छोरो मान्छे भएर देश विदेश चहार्नु पर्छ, टन्न कमाउनु पर्छ अनि रवाफले जिउनु पर्छ” भन्ने बुढापाकाको भनाइलाई ऊ चरितार्थ पार्न चाहान्थ्यो । त्यसैले, विकल्प वैदेशिक रोजगारीको खोजीमा भौतारीन थाल्यो । विदेशको सपना बोकेर हिड्दा उसले अनेक मान्छेका नानाथरी बिचार पनि सुन्यो । कोहिले भने–“विदेश भनेको त विरानो ठाउँ हो, साह्रै दुःख पाईन्छ”। कसैले सुनाए–“विदेश भनेको सपना साकार पार्ने ठाउँ हो, स्वर्ग हो स्वर्ग” । सुःख र दुःख, राम्रो र नराम्रो विदेशको ठाउँ के कस्तो थियो, कहिल्यै नगएको विकल्पले खुट्याउन सक्ने कुरै थिएन । मनैमनले भने अवश्य सोच्यो होला–“जे छ, जस्तो छ, पुगे पछि थाहा पाउने छु” ।

विकल्पको विदेशीने रहरलाई आमाबुवाले भने पटक्कै निको मान्नु भएको थिएन । हुन त कुन चाहिं आमाबुवाले आफ्नो सन्तान काखबाट टाढिएको हेर्न सक्छन् र १ तैपनि आँखाको एकमात्र नानी अनि बुढेसकालको एउटै बैशाखी टाढिने कुराले मात्रै पनि उनीहरुको शरीरमा भुइँचालो गएको थियो । विकल्पले आमाबुवालाई विदेश जाने भनेर पहिलो चोटि कुरा गर्दा झगडै परेको थियो । दुई तीन दिन त विकल्प आमाबुवासँग बोल्दा पनि बोलेन । आमाबुवाको कमलो मन के मान्थ्यो र १ फर्किहाल्यो । आमाबुवाले विदेश जाने सपना देख्न छाडिदे भनेर कैयौं पटक सम्झाउनु भयो तर विकल्पले आफ्नो लिडे ढिपी छाड्दै छाडेन । अन्ततः छोराको जिद्दी सामु आमाबुवा हार्नु भयो । दशैं आउन लगभग बीस बाईस दिन बाँकी हुँदो हो, विकल्प टन्न कमाउने सुरसारका साथ मिठा सपना बुन्दै साउदीतिर भासियो । 

आफ्नो पढाई अलपत्र पारेर बिदेशीनु विकल्पको रहर मात्र थिएन, बाध्यता पनि थियो । भलै, उसको आलो मस्तिस्क जिवन दर्शन बुझ्न सक्ने भईसकेको थिएन तर उसको आँखाले आफ्नो भविष्य देशभित्र अन्धकार भने अवश्य देखेको थियो । देशकै शिक्षित जनशक्ती पनि देशभित्र काम नपाएर भटाभट विदेश पलायन भएको खवर यदाकदा रेडियोले भट्याउँथ्यो ।  त्यस्तो समचार सुन्दा विकल्प एकनासले टोल्याउँथ्यो । सायद उसलाई लाग्दो हो “पढाईमा जिवन विताउनु भनेको समय र पैसाको वर्वादी मात्रै हो”।

बुढा भएका आमावुवालाई एक्लै छाडेर मुग्लान छिर्नु त विकल्पको पनि मन थिएन तर बाध्यता नै रहर भएपछि अरु विकल्प पनि त थिएन । आमावुवाले बुढेसकालमा सुःखले जिवन विताएको हेर्न कुन चाहिं छोरा छोरीको मन नहोलास विकल्पको पनि थियो । तर समय र परिस्थितिको जंघार पनि त तर्नै पर्‍यो मान्छेलाई । विकल्पले पनि आफुलाई सही लागेको बाटो रोज्यो – मुग्लान ।

स्वदेश जस्तो विदेश कहाँ हुन्थ्यो र रु विकल्पले साउदी छिरेर काम गर्न थालेपछि बल्ल उसले देशको माटो सम्झियो । सानो झुपडी र टारी खेतको यादले सतायो । घर आमाबुवाको न्यानो काख नछाडेको विकल्प एकै चोटि विदेशीको हप्कीदप्की सहनु पर्ने भयो । समय र परिस्थितिको चेपुवामा परेको विकल्पले दशनङ्ग्रा खियाउँदा उठेका हातका ढेलाले भात तरकारी खान नसक्दा आमाले पकाएको ढिडो र सिन्की सम्झियोस बुवाले विदेश नजा भनि भनेको सम्झियो ।

घरखेत जस्तै आमाबुवाको मन बन्दकीमा थियो – एउटा साहुकोमा, अर्को छोरोकोमा । छोरो विदेशीए पछि पनि छोरो स्कुलबाट फर्किने बेलामा आमाबुवाले स्कूले डाडाँतिर आँखा लगाउनहुन्थ्यो । छोरो जस्तै देखिने कहिले चिल हुन्थ्यो, कहिले बाच्छो । छोरोको न्यास्रोपनले सताउँदा ताता पानीका थोपाहरु आँखाबाट कति उम्लिए थाहै भएन, तैपनि छोराको फलिफाप होस्, चिताएको पुगोस् भनेर सधैं घर नजिकैको वरमा पुजा गर्नुहुन्थ्यो, पानीका धार चढाउनुहुन्थ्यो ।

विकल्प गएको पनि बर्षदिन वितिसकेको थियो तर उसको खबर आमाबुवाले  पाउन सक्नुभएको थिएन । घर नै सुनो बनाएर हिडेको छोरोको अत्तोपत्तो नपाउंदा ती बुढा मनहरु बेलाबेलामा भक्कानिन्थे । ढिलै भएपनि उनीहरुको शोक एकदिन खुसीमा परिणत भयो, जब हुलाकी दाईले विकल्पको चिठी ल्याइदिए । चिठी आयो भन्ने कुरा सुन्दा मात्रै ती चाउरीएका छालाहरु तन्किएका थिए । अनुहारमा उज्यालो कान्ति छाएको थियो, मानौ देशमा निरंकुशता हटेर प्रजातन्त्र आएको थियो । कहिल्यै पाठशाला नगएका बुढा आमाबुवाले हुलाकी दाइलाई नै चिठी पढिदिन हात जोरे । हुलाकी दाइले पनि एक एक अक्षरमा जिव्रो फट्काउदै जेनतेन चिठी सकाए र ती दुई मनलाई हर्षित पारे । चिठीमा छोरोले आफू सकुशल रहेको र विदेशमा  निकै कष्ट सहेर कप्तान बनेको कुरा लेखेको थियो । कहिल्यै ढलेको सिन्को नउठाएको छोरो एकाएक “कप्तान” जस्तो सम्मानित पद र पेशा समाल्न समर्थ भएकोमा आमावुवाको खुशीको सिमा थिएन । छोरो आफूसँग नभएको पिडा भन्दा ऊ “कप्तान” बनेको हर्षले आमावुवाको मनको ढिकी उचालिएको थियो ।

विदेशमा विकल्पको आफ्नै दुनिया थियो । घर र परिवार सम्झेर वेलावेलामा उसको भक्कानो फुट्थ्यो । गाउँ–घरमा “कप्तान” बनेको खवरले आमाबुवाको छाति खुशीले फुलेको थियो । उता, दिनदिनैको एउटै काम गराइर्, कष्टकर जिवनशैली र हप्कीदप्कीले शरीर भने धुजाधुजा बन्दै थियो ।

गाउँ–घरमा मात्र होइन, विकल्प, विदेशमै पनि “कप्तान” नामले नै परिचित भईसकेको थियो । आफ्नै नेपाली साथीहरुले राखिदिएको नाम थियो “कप्तान” – कामसँग मिल्ने गरी । साथीहरुकै शब्दमा “विकल्प”को पनि विकल्प थियो “कप्तान” । जेसुकै होस् विकल्पलाई आफ्नो कामले जुराईदिएको न नाम मन परेको थियो न पेशा । बेला–बेलामा सोच्थ्यो विकल्प– “विदेशमा खुट्टा चाले देखिनै काल सर्प दोष लागेको छ । त्यसैल, अब घर फर्किनुपर्छ, कम्तिमा पनि ति बुढा आमाबुवाका खातिर” ।

चिल्ला सडक, ठुला ठूला महल, टल्कने मोटर र बास्नादार मान्छेको माझमा बस्दा क्षणिक खुशी मिले पनि दीर्घकालीन आनन्द मिल्दैन भन्ने कुरा विकल्पले बुझिसकेको थियो । उसको मनले विदेशी पिज्जाभन्दा स्वदेशी आटो खोज्न थालेको थियो । बाक्लो विस्ताराको भुवाभन्दा न्यानो आमाको काख खोज्न थालेको थियो । उसलाई फेरी बरपिपलको फेंदमा बसेर चिसो हावा स्पर्श गर्ने धोको थियो । खाली खुट्टाले देशको माटो सुम्सुम्याउने रहर थियो । यी र यस्तै रहर साँच्दासाँच्दै जिवन बित्छ कि भन्ने यदाकदा त्रास पनि थियो ।

एकदिन विकल्प यस्तै सपनाहरु बुन्दै टोलाई रहेको थियो, एउटा कुनामा । सायद कोर्दै थियो आफ्नो स्वप्निल स्वर्गिय संसार । त्यत्तिकैमा, अलि पर सुट पाईन्टमा सजिएको मान्छे पैसा गन्दै चिच्यायो – “कप्तान” । विकल्प झसङ्ग झस्कियो, दुई बर्षे बच्चाको सातो गए सरी । त्यसपछि, निकै सावधानी पूर्वक विकल्पले आफ्नो पाइला अगाडि सार्‍यो । नजिकैको टेवुलमा आराम गरिरहेका कपहरु तान्यो अनि "अलि बाबा क्याफे" लेखेको ठूलो बोर्ड छेवैमा रहेको धारामा ती कपहरु पखाल्न थाल्यो – चुपचाप.....................................।।

-zealsubedi@yahoo.com





Published on:
www.zestkhabar.com/2014/12/09/10563

setopati.com/sahityapati/21672/

www.ratopati.com/2014/12/20/191676.html

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गजल

किन्ने बेच्ने प्रेम पनि,धोकेबाजको काम रैछ
संसारकै सर्वश्रेष्ठ, अरु होइन दाम रैछ ।

महङ्गीले आकाश छँदा, भाउ मेरो घटाएछौं
मायालुकै शब्द-पत्र, मेरो मात्र खाम रैछ ।

चिल्ला वचन खचि॔एर, तृष्णा आफ्नो मेट्नेलाई
जहाँ जता भएपनि, त्यहि देवधाम रैछ ।

घर-अड्डा जताततै, गुणगान गाउने पुरुषहरु
उपहार दिँदा श्रीमतिलाई, खुट्टाको नै डाम रैछ ।

"दिवाकर" ले एक्लै चिच्याई, के पो गर्न सक्ने हो र!
भ्रष्ट-पतित हुनेको नै, धेरै ठूलो नाम रैछ ।


-दिवाकर सुवेदी



Published on:
http://www.zestkhabar.com/2014/12/16/11424 

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Empowering females, how & why?

When almost all the newspaper, more or less, covering the articles related to empowering the females in “International day of the Female Child” on October 11, one of the pretty woman reading a newspaper next to me asked a question, “If a female finds no way out in her life and decides to engage in prostitution willingly, does this decision empower her?”Although I remained mute at the very moment, her question pinched me and made me think deeply about it.

Well, lots of debatable issues come forth when we start to talk about empowering the females. What are the things required to empower someone – education, freedom, love and support, good financial status, no cultural or religious barrier, good job opportunities and so on. The list may go long but these dayseducation is taken as all in itself. No doubt, education is the essential factor to empower the females but it is not end in itself. What, if a female is highly educated but possess no freedom in her life?

In the developing country like Nepal, many barriers for females’ empowerment lie entrenched in cultural norms. Dogmatic culture restricts females inside the four corners of the house. This is a highly concerned issue from the last two decades and more, at least for feminists. Various laws and rules were made, several times parliament was roared, public dared to come out for justice in the streets, and victim females collected the guts to raise their voice to the society however the position of females, yet, the same. Still many females are compelled to sale their bodies for food, some are in the foreign land with no hope, some females,still, are forced to follow Chhaupadiand Kamlari. Many teen age females, even these days, engage in Indian circus and permit their body for sexual assault. Many young females, till today too, are raped and bear children in under and early age. Under the roof of Nepali, where females are worshipped as the incarnationof goddess Saraswati and Durga, are regarded as witches.

The era of modernity has arrived but the thoughts of people remain the same. Still in our society, feast is given when a male child is born but when a female is born, she becomes a burden, not only for a single house but for the whole society. In the patriarchal society like ours, only females are responsible to determine the sex of a child; however male’s chromosome is responsible as science proved.

Females are taken as second gender that goes another’s house after marriage. So, proper love, care and respect is not given to them in our society. Considering females as weak gender, they are not allowed to get out for work. If a female tries to become self-dependent, she has to face various casualties in life from words to action. The responsibility of indoor work is given to the females from the early age whereas the case of male child is different. Male child, who is taken as the essential part of parent’s life from birth to death can enjoy freedom from his childhood days. After the birth of male child, parents still think that they will go to heaven (Baitarnitarnu) after their death. Furthermore, our religion has constructed hegemony upon us. He was Lord Ram who doubted the virginity of Lord Sita after she returned from Lanka. It was Eve whodisobeyed the sayings of God, ate the forbidden fruit and was cursed. She was Kunti who bear a child from lord Surya without getting marriage.In this respect, our culture and religion is responsible for restricting the females and we are much more responsible for constructing such culture and creating such dogmatic religious myths.

Our government system can be a backbone for females’ empowerment. Instead of conducting rallies, giving motivational long speeches, high profile seminar and meetings, the government should bring effective programs in reach of every female so that they can choose the right path for themselves. Yes,  government should bring effective programs in reach of every female so that they can choose the right path for themselves. Yes, poet Devkota was right; Goethe, Shakespeare, Helen and Padmini’s are there in our land but we couldn’t recognize them. They are living a pathetic life because they are unknown of their own talent. So, they are not hungry for mercy rather for multiple opportunities to accomplish the concept of “New Nepal” into reality.

Laws should be implanted effectively in all sectors and in all level. To empower the females, government needs not to think about a grand project but focus on tiny things which lead them towards the path of empowerment. For instance, equal opportunity for females in politics, equal job opportunities for females in government level, stop sexual harassment in public places or at home by implementing effective law, access of education to each and every corner of the country, providing scholarship facilities from government level to them who actually deserve it, stopping orthodox practices like witchery, child marriage from the society, providing sex education, and so on.

As quoted by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu -The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step –gradual change is possible if we, at least, start from what we can. Only blaming our own fate and cursing the government can’t bring change in our status quo. There are various female legendry figures, who, tried their best and left a great remark in the history. Florence Nightingale, Mother Teresa, Marie Curie, Pasang Lyamu Sherpa, Bishnu Kumari Waiba (Parijaat), Anuradha Koirala, etc. are few of the legends.

Until and unless, females are socially, mentally, politically and economically independent the issue of empowerment will remain only as a matter of discussion. Again a question arises, from where to start? As hard the question is, as simple is the answer – education. It is said that “if a male is literate, an individual is literate; if a female is literate, whole country is literate.” The universal truth is that education achievements of a female have ripple effects in her individual life, family and coming generations. She can nourish her family with good education. Then, her family can be an example for the community, a community can be an icon for the country and a country can be a lesson for the whole world. Female’s education is also one of the effective to reduce poverty. Educated females do have large area of exposure. They can maintain their carrier in the field they like and earn the means of living. If males and females equally contribute their time in earning, the problem of poverty will remain no more.

The more we debate about female’s empowerment, the issue of respect and equality can’t be sidelined. For this males and females should go hand in hand as they are the two parts of a same coin. Without the support of one another becomes cart without a wheel. When the issue of female empowerment rises, males need to be supportive to females. Until and unless, two bodies becomes a single soul, the country can’t go ahead; the attempt of empowering the girls can’t get fulfilled.

Female’s education also plays a key role in population control and decreases the involvement in illegal sex like prostitution. Females who have been educated are likely to marry later and possess small and happy family. Education helps females to pursue careers as their choices and become financially strong which helps them to spend their wealth for good purposes. When they become financially strong, they will not be compelled to engage in third grade jobs. They do have equal respect and responsibility in the society. Their voices will no more unheard or neglected. So, let’s develop a country empowering females. Start with tiny attempts, say “I” and “now”.

-zealsubedi@yahoo.com

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Females victimized of rape in Nepal

Victoria Billings, an US journalist and author quoted “rape is culturally forestered means of suppressing women. Legally we say we deplore it, but mythically we romanticize and perpetuate it and privately we excuse and overlook it.” Yes, Billings’ words are true in the context of Nepal where patriarchy is highly dominant and females are taken as ‘others’ of the society. Physically and mentally, females are tortured day by day inside the four corners of the house, in the streets, public vehicles, educational institutions and so on. Being the head of the family, they are compelled to live a miserable life. Most of the females, still today, have to tolerate the sexual assault to adjust them in the society where they are considered a burden.
 

Rape is a criminal activity but lack of access to justice-socially and legally-to the victims have compounded the situation. Most of the victims of sexual assault are females from poor families and rural areas. In most of the cases, they are forced to remain silent though the use of threat and intimidation. They also feared to inform the police, thinking that such incidents will bring social disgrace. If we overlook few incidents of sexual assault taken place in our country, we’ll find the very situation.

According to the news published in Republica on 11^th of August 2013, a nine-year-old Chepang girl from Bhulmichowk village of Gorkha was raped by a local youth. Four days after the rape, grandmother noticed injuries in the girl’s genital. When grandmother sought neighbour’s support, everyone suggested her to remain silent but she made an attempt and informed her father, who finally reported the incident to the police. In next case, an 18-year-old girl was gang-raped in a parked bus at Nepalgunj-5, in Banke on 6^th of August 2014. According to the description of police, the victim boarded the bus from Rukum to Shamshergunj to visit her maternal family members. When the girl tried to get off at her destination area, transport worker seized her mobile and belongings and made her to go with them. After all passengers got out of the bus, transport worker raped her repeatedly at Bus Park in Nepalgunj.

These are the few examples of rape where females have to suffer from physical and mental traumatic situations. Women ‘s Rehabilitation Center (WOREC) recorded 256 cases of rape, 42 cases of attempt to rape and 55 cases of sexual violence between April 2012-13. This data also shows that the females, who are taken as the incarnation of Goddess Durga and Saraswati, themselves, are not secure inside the homeland.

The loopholes of Nepalese Criminal justice system allow most of the culprits of gender crime to escape from the punishment. Though the legislation on sexual assault exists in Nepal, the law doesn’t sufficiently address the crime. Also, the provision for filing the case is very impractical. According to the present law, if a person rapes a girl child less than 10 years is 10 to 15 years of custody, 14 to 16 years is 8 to 12 years of custody, 16 to 20 years is 5 to 8 years of custody and the provision of punishment for raping a woman above 20 years age is 5 to 7 years custody. Although, this is not explicit, these provisions accept rape against women above 20 more acceptable and less punishable. Similarly, 35 days limitation for filing the First Information Report (FIR) is infringing on women’s right to get justice.

          The international law forbids any kind of limitation for rape and even the Supreme Court of Nepal in 2006 has issued a directive to the government to amend the law so as to resolve all conflicts regarding the serious crimes like rape. However, lack of effective legal protection mechanism has contributed in increase in gender crimes.  So, there is a serious need of review and amendment of legal provisions to diminish the gender crimes like rape, to protect the rape victims and to provide sufficient punishment to the culprits.




- zealsubedi@yahoo.com

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समाधी -एक कथा

“सुजेन”
“हजुर”
“ ढिडो खान मुन्टीहाल । बारीमा बाँदर लागेको छ , तेरो बाउलाई पालो दिनुपर्छ । झट्ट आइज ।”
“ल आँए ।”

सुजेन आफ्नी आमाको आज्ञा शिरोपर गर्दै भान्साकोठातिर दौड्यो । आमाले सिलौटको थालमा ढिडो र बटुकामा कडी हालिदिनुभयो । सुजेन भने काठको पिर्कामा बसेर चोरी औँला डुबाउदै (मोहीबाट बनाएको) कडी चाख्न थाल्यो ।
“तैले हात धोइस् ?” सन्देहपूर्ण प्रश्न गरिन् आमाले ।
“नाइँ, बिर्सेँछु ।” निर्दोष पाराले जवाफ फर्कायो सुजेनले ।
“जा, लोटाको पानीले हात धोएर आइज ।”
सुजेन लोटा बोकेर बाहिर गयो, हात धोयो र बाख्राका साना पाठापाठी झैं उफ्रिँदै आएर ढिडो खान थाल्यो ।

घडीको सुइले बिहानको नौ बजाइसकेको थियो । सिमलपानी बासीलाई समयमसँगै दौड्नुपर्ने  हतारो थियो । सिमलपानी–नेपालको अर्घाखाँची जिल्लाको एउटा विकट बस्ती । जुन बस्ती घना सल्लाघारीको केन्द्रमा अवस्थित छ । सात÷आठ घर धुरीले सिङ्गो गाउँकै अस्तित्वलाई नै बचाइराखेको छ नत्र त गाउँ उहिल्यै जङ्गलमा विलय भइसक्थ्यो । निकै टाढा रहेका घर मध्येको एउटा घरमा सुजेनको परिवारको गुजारा चलेको थियो ।

    सुजेनले भर्खर कक्षा तीनमा आफ्नो कलिलो पाइला सारेको थियो । पढ्न पनि एक घण्टाको लामो बाटो हिँडेर पल्लो गाउँ पुग्नुपथ्र्यो । आमाको हतार सधैँ सुजेनलाई समयमै पठाउनमा हुन्थ्यो । त्यो दिन पनि सुजेनले खाना खाइसकेपछि हात–मुख चुठाएर, राम्रो बनाएर स्कूल पठाइन् आमाले ।

सुजेनलाई स्कूल पठाइसकेपछि सुजेनकी आमा आफ्नो श्रीमान्लाई पालो दिन गइन्–बारीतर्फ । लगाएको आधाजासो गहुँ र लटरम्म फलेका तिजु बाँदरले सखाब पारिसकेको थियो । बारीको त्यो हविगति देखेपछि उनले श्रीमान्लाई भनिन् – “तिजु त खायो खायो, बाँदरले बारीको गहँु पनि सखापै पारेछ है !”
    “हेर न, के गरुँ ! बाँदरले त हामीलाई यो सालको गहँु खान देला जस्तो छैन ।” श्रीमान्ले आफ्नो नैरश्यता पोखे । उनी अगाडी भन्दै थिए – “के गर्ने घर पनि सल्लाघारीको बीचमा प¥यो, बस्ती नि साह्रै पातलो छ । नत्र त सबै मिलेर बाँदर खेद्न हुन्थ्यो ।”
“अब बाँदरलाई धपाउने मात्र एउटा विकल्प छ ।” लामो सास फेर्दै उनले भने ।
“त्यो के नि ?” सुजेनकी आमाको जिज्ञासा थियो ।
उनी भन्दै थिए “मैले सुनेको – एउटा बाँदर मारेर झुण्डाएर राख्यो भने अरु बाँदर डराएर आउदैनन् रे !”
    “जसरी हुन्छ गहुँ त बाँदरबाट बचाउनै पर्छ, नत्र त साल भर के खाने?” सुजेनकी आमाको डर र साहस एकसाथ मिसिएको प्रतिक्रिया थियो ।

एकछिनको कुराकानीपश्चात् सुजेनको बाबाले आफ्नी श्रीमतीलाई आँटीमा लुकाइराखेको भरुवा बन्दुक लिन पठाए । सुजेनकी आमाले बन्दुक ल्याएर आफ्नो श्रीमान्लाई सुम्पिदिइन् अनि गाईवस्तु भोकाएको र  घाँस काट्न अबेर भएको बताइन् । श्रीमान्ले बाँदर हेर्ने र श्रीमती घाँस काट्न जाने सल्लाहा भएपछि सुजेनकी आमा गाईवस्तुलाई घाँस काट्न खरबारीतर्फ लागिन् । सुजेनका बुबा भने बाँदर मार्ने अभिलाषाका साथ बाँदरको प्रतिक्षा गर्न थाले ।

घरवरिपरी सल्लाको बाक्लो वन भएकाले घाँस काट्न घण्टौं टाढाको खरबारीमा जानुपर्ने बाध्यता थियो – सुजेनकी आमालाई । बाटोमा अनेक कुरा उनको मानसपटलमा सलबलाउन थाले । आफूले आधा जीवन जेन–तेन काटेको भए पनि आफ्नो एक्लो छोरो सुजेनको भविष्यप्रतिको चिन्ताले गाँज्न थाल्यो । “बाँदरले बारी मात्र नखाइदिने हो भने पनि जीवन अलि बिसेक हुन्थ्यो होला ।” अनायासै यस्ता विचारले उनको मस्तिष्कमा डेरा जमाउन थाले ।

 घडीले साझँको चार बजाउँदै थियो । सुजेनको स्कुलमा पालेदाइले बिदाको घण्टी ‘टिनिन्न’ बजाए । सवै विद्यार्थी आ–आफ्नो घरतिर दौडन थाले । सुजेन पनि भकुन्डो उफ्रिएझँै उफ्रिँदैै घरतर्फ लाग्यो । करिब चालिस मिनेटको बाटो हिडेपछि ऊ घर पुग्यो । घरको दैलोमा ठूलो ताल्चा झुन्डिएको थियो । उसले आफ्ना आमा बुबालाई घरवरिपरि हे¥यो तर देखेन । नजिकै खोपामा उसले चाबी देख्यो अनि आत्तिँदै ढोका खोल्यो । उसले एउटा कुनामा फ्यात्त झोला फ्याक्यो र खाजा खोज्न थाल्यो । निकै भोकाएर आएको सुजेनले खाजा नभेट्टाएपछि उसलाई के गरौँ र कसौ गरौँ भयो । ऊ भोकले छट्पटाउन थाल्यो ।   

 सुजेनकी आमा खरबारीबाट घाँस काटेर फर्कदै थिइन् । घाँसको भारी सँगसँगै पारिवारिक पिडा, गरिबीपन र भविष्यप्रतिको चिन्त्ता पनि मनको डोकाभरि बोकेकी थिइन् । सुजेनका बुवा भने बाँदर आउने प्रहर कुरेर बसेका थिए । साह्रै सताइएका उनी पट्यारलाग्दो दिनमा पनि एक्लै बारी हेरेर बसेका थिए – अरु थुप्रै कामहरु जहाँको त्यही थाती राखेर । “के खोज्छस् कानो आँखो” भनेझै अचानक एक हुल बाँदर उनका आँखामा परे । उनले बाँदर भएनजिकै गएर निसाना लगाए । तर बाँदरले भने उनको क्रियाकलाप निसाना लगाउनु अगावै सुइँको पाए र त्यहाँबाट कुलेलम ठोकिहाले ।

बाँदरले खेलेको त्यो लुकामारीले सुजेनका बुवालाई निकै रिस उठाएको थियो । एक त सबै काम बिर्सिएर दिनभर बाँदरबाट छुटकारा पाउन जुक्ति निकालेको, त्यही माथि सोचेको काम पनि हातबाट फुत्किदा रिसको त सिमा नै थिएन । त्यत्तिकैमा, बारीबाट ‘सर्‍याक्क सुरुक’ आवाज आउँछ र उक्त आवाजले उनलाई सतर्क बनाइदिन्छ । निकै संयवित भएर उनले आवाज आएतिर आफ्ना इन्द्रियहरु टाठा बनाए । अलि बेरसम्म पनि आवाज बन्द नभएपछि आवाज आएतिरै उसले बन्दुकको निसाना लगाए । निसाना लगाइन्जेल उनको आँखामा अघि नै भागेका एक हुल बाँदर नाचिरहेका थिए । त्यही दृश्य मानसपटलमा सेलाउन नपाउँदै उनले बन्दुकको ‘ट्रिगर’ नजिकै आफ्नो चोर औँला पुर्‍याए । सोच्नु नै के थियो र ! बाँदरबाट अब छुटकारा पाइने भयो भन्ने सोचाइले नै उनको मुटु नाच्न थालिसकेको थियो । चोर औंलाले ‘ट्रिगर’ के दबाएका थिए, बन्दुकबाट ‘ड्याङग’ गर्दै आवाज निस्क्यो । निसाना ताकेको ठाउँबाट पनि ‘घद्र्‍याक्क’ गर्दै ठूलो आवाज निस्केको मात्र के थियो, सुजेनका बुवा कन्चटबाट आलो रगत तपतपी चुहाउँदै भुइँमा ‘डङ्रङ्ग’ लडे ।

 एकैछिनमा मान्छेको ठुलो भिड जम्मा भयो । गाउँलेको आँखामा पिडारुपी अश्रुधाराहरु अनायासै चुहिन थाले – तप्पतप्प । सुरक्षा प्रदान गर्ने भनेर खटिएका सादा पोसाकका प्रहरी जवानहरु समेत अवाक् थिए ।     घटना घटेको केही पलमै सुजेनकी आमा हस्याङ् र फस्याङ् गर्दै घटनास्थलमा आइन् । आफ्नै श्रीमान्को विभत्स् मृत शरीर देखेपछि पृथ्वी नै कम्पायमान हुनेगरी चिच्याइन् । उनका अश्रुहरु हिमश्रृंखलाबाट अनवरत बग्ने हिमनदी झै बगिरहे, झरिरहे । उनी एकटकले हेर्दै भुइँमा पछारिइन् – सदाका लागि । गाउँलेले प्रहरीलाई घटनाको सत्यतथ्य बाहिर ल्याउन माग गर्न थाले । भिड निकै उक्तेजक हुन थालेपछि गोली चलाउने प्रहरी जवानले मुख फोरे – “एउटाको सुरक्षा गर्दा अर्काको ज्यान लिनु प¥यो । यो रहर थिएन बाध्यता थियो । परिस्थिति नै त्यस्तो भयो की गोली चलाउन बाध्य भयौ ।” सबै गाउँलेहरु कुरा नबुझेझै मुखामुख गर्न थाले । कसको सुरक्षार्थ उनको ज्यान गयो ? भन्ने प्रश्न सबै गाउँलेको प्रमुख चिन्त्ताको विषय थियो तर मुचुल्का उठाउन आएको अर्को प्रहरी टोली सुजेनको लास बाकेर ल्याएपछि घटनाको भेद खुल्यो । यसरी एउटा सिङ्गो परिवारले एकै ठाउँमा समाधि लियो – शाररीक समाधि अनि भ्रमको समाधि – सदाका लागि......।



- zealsubedi@yahoo.com

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Alcoholism and Psychological exploration of human darker side in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat”

           
           

            Edgar Allan Poe’s short story The Black Cat explores the psychological trauma of the main character, an unnamed narrator, who is going to be executed the following day. As the story is being told in first person narrative technique, it tries to persuade the readers to the great extent, visualizing the mere household events and incidents narrated by the narrator as if real. The readers feel the events happening in the story are real and the psychological trauma that the narrator encounters is the natural one because the person who is going to die the next day has no reason to tell a lie. The Black Cat begins with an unnamed narrator who has been apprehended for murder and who insists that he cannot be insane before he begins an account of a murder that he committed. There exists a man, in the story, who is aware of the transformation in himself that has led him to become a murderer, although he cannot totally explain it, and we even have a potential cause for his insanity in the form of alcohol. The narrator of The Black Cat is on some level aware of his unreasonableness, although he chooses to ignore it and succumb to the baser human emotions of perversity and hatred.

One aspect of the narrator's personality that he shares with several of Poe’s characters is that despite his overall lack of normal ethics and good judgment, he uses some reason and logic to avoid admissions of his mental abnormality. In particular, when he sees the image of his cat on the one remaining wall of his house after it burns down, he tries to ignore superstition and offer a reasonable, scientific explanation for its existence. Ironically, the only superstitious member of his household is his wife, who consistently shows a strong moral character despite the abuses and deterioration of her husband. The contrast between the wife and husband in The Black Cat suggests that the difference between a normal mind and an unhealthy one is that the unhealthy mind uses logic to explain away what a normal mind would intuitively understand. Rather than allowing himself to use his wits to recognize the possible significance of the cat's image on the wall, he convinces himself of the scientific explanation in order to forestall thinking about his guilt.

The supernatural elements of  The Black Cat leave open the question of how much is real, how much can be rationally explained, and how much is a product of the narrator's imagination. Pluto's possible magical significance is first noted by the wife, who states that black cats are said to be witches in disguise, although her kind treatment of Pluto indicates that she does not put much faith in this particular superstition. The narrator explicitly dismisses this viewpoint, but the superstition flavors his entire story. When he observes the image of the cat on the wall, he describes it as gigantic; he previously described Pluto as fairly large, but whether the size of the image is an expression of the paranormal or simply a product of his frightened imagination is difficult to say. Similarly, the narrator claims that the patch of fur on the cat transforms from an "indefinite splotch" to the specific image of the gallows, but we have no evidence that the narrator is observing anything more than the twisting of his own mind (Poe 108).
                The narrator is consumed by guilt about what he has done. He does not seem to fully realize the amount of his guilt, insisting that he is not bothered by what he has done, but his guilt manifests in subconscious ways. He sees a vision of a cat in a noose in the ruined remains of his burned down house. Guilt also causes him to knock on the exact part of the wall that he buried his wife behind, which causes the trapped cat to cry out and alert the cops to the presence of the narrator's wife's corpse. If the narrator was not feeling guilty about murdering his wife, he would have kept his cool when the police were searching his house and possibly gotten away with her murder.
          The narrator tries to convince the reader that the occurrences of every day incidents lead to his fate, even when he stabs the cat (Pluto) in the eye. By the time he kills the cat, the reader is beginning to seriously suspect that what the narrator is saying is not entirely accurate. The narrator soon becomes an unreliable voice; we discover he is in jail waiting to be executed, but it is not until later that we realize he has committed murder—something we may not be totally prepared for. This is another ‘swoop’ the plot takes as the narrator weaves his tale, even as he reports the image of the cat hanging from a noose burned onto his house's wall (which the author explains away) when he burns his own house.

The narrator brings a new black cat into his home. This cat, he later finds, is also blind; the white patch on its chest begins to resemble a gallows (in the narrator's mind), and the narrator is fearful of hurting the cat. However, one night when he swings an ax at the feline, his wife stops him, and he goes on to strike her head with the axe. This sudden action will probably at last convince most readers that the narrator is deranged.
In finding a place to hide the body, the narrator seals his wife's corpse into the wall of the basement. When the police finally arrive, the narrator (sure he won't be caught) begins to brag about the sturdiness of the foundation, but when he strikes the spot where the body is hidden, a sudden howl reverberates through the cellar. Opening it, they find the body and the cat that the narrator had mistakenly sealed into the cavity. Here is the final irony: the cat that is so much like the murdered Pluto is the one who exposes the narrator as a murderer.
            Perhaps we should be suspicious before we are. The narrator does all he can to remove himself from any blame. He tries to blame a series of unfortunate events, and later intoxication, for the actions that have led him to this juncture. His seeming insanity is confusing as we try to follow his story as if he were not at all demented. What we think we learn at the story's beginning is very different than what we expect and discover at the end. The narrator's disturbed mind makes it difficult to follow the tale. Our confusion is not an accident: Poe has led us here. Clearly the most ironic element in The Black Cat is the Narrator's own “perversely unrealistic and distorted view” of the horrible scenario that unfolds (DiYanni 132).

There are multiple transformations that occur in this short story. The biggest one is the narrator's transformation via alcohol from a family guy who loves his wife and pets to a moody maniac who cuts out his cat's eye, hangs his cat, and eventually murders his wife. This transformation is psychological and the result of the narrator's addiction to alcohol. Some of the transformations in the story are physical. After his house burns down, the narrator meets a cat that looks a lot like Pluto, except for the white mark on the cat's chest. This mark shifts by almost imperceptible degrees. By the end of the story it looks like a gallows, which suggests the subconscious guilt the narrator is experiencing as a result of hanging Pluto and also hints to the reader his own fate: death via hanging.
            The Black Cat is a tale that leaves the reader somewhat perplexed. It certainly contains all the ingredients necessary to satisfy the appetite of any Poe enthusiast - an enigmatic narrator, alcohol and the effects thereof, mutilation, strangulation, murder, putrefaction, and, last but not least, one of Poe's slight (but recurring) obsessions, perversity - but we are left wondering whether the tale really amounts to anything much at all.

In The Black Cat, the narrator transforms from an amiable, animal-loving man with a loving wife. He had described himself as a kind, gentle person previously. "From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions” (Poe 103).  The reader sees a rapid deterioration in his domestic life and disposition. He even admits to it ashamedly in the line: “I grew, day by day, more moody, more irritable, more regardless of the feelings of others” (Poe 104). He explains how he personally abused his wife and his lesser loved animals until one day he finally assaults his beloved cat. What could cause such a devastating and sinister change in a seemingly kind gentleman?  The narrator refers to his problem with consumption of alcohol as a disease that he was struggling to deal with. In addition, he blames the ‘Imp of Perverseness’ for his transgressions and violence due to his alcohol in order to avert any responsibility from himself.

When the unruly, drunken narrator's habit gets out of control, he turns into a violent, mean man who torments his most beloved pet and adored wife. The effects of alcohol play an important role in the events of the story which cause the narrator to become insane.

The beginning of , the narrator is confessing that he is not mad, but needs to unburden my soul or come to terms with his life thorough explaining his misdeeds . However, the nature in which he expresses himself seems to claim otherwise in reference to his sanity, especially when the story unfolds. He emphatically explains that happenings he deems mere household events have frightened him and destroyed him to the point that he cannot figure them out logically. He hopes that thorough his confession he may find that someone will decipher what is happening to him.

Referencing back to his childhood, the narrator explains his particular fondness and tenderness towards animals as a child. This trait continued into his adulthood, and he found that animals often made more faithful friends than other people did. Even his young wife enjoyed animals as well and added many more pets to the household. One of the most favored pets she brought into their domestic life was a black cat - Pluto. As black cats are often noted in which lore, they are associated with “witchcraft, dark magic, and thought to be harbingers of bad luck” (Womack n.p.). The young wife of the narrator jokingly notes that the cat is unnaturally intelligent and therefore could be a witch in disguise.

As the narrator's misuse of alcohol grows out of control, he begins to mistreat his beloved animal like Pluto. The narrator uses the vocabulary "disease" and "fiend temperament" to note the severe nature of his alcoholism (Poe 105). And finally, it seems as if he cannot control himself enough to even refrain from harming his peculiar yet most beloved black cat Pluto. After a night out drinking, he comes home to find that Pluto has avoided him which is in contrast to how he previously behaved, when he would follow the narrator at all times out of affection. In a rage, the narrator takes a pen-knife and cuts his eye right out from its socket. This is all due to his inability to handle his alcohol abuse problem. Further into the story, the narrator is transformed into paranoid, mean spirited person due to his struggle with drinking. And, uncharacteristic to how he previously was, he murdered both his beloved pet and his young wife on separate occasions. His pet was lynched by him, yet somehow, another cat with white marking that resembled gallows appeared. His wife was axed by the narrator after trying to protect the cat from his wrath. The story concludes with his being taken by the police, due to the yelp of a cat that had been entrapped with the dead wife's body that the narrator hid. So, he finally gets punished for his misdeeds and writes the story/ confession as he's about to get killed as punishment for his crimes.

In summation, Alcohol made a monster of this previously affectionate and animal loving husband. In a short span of time, he has killed both of the things he enjoyed most in his life: his wife and his pet. He blames the "Imp of Perverseness" instead of himself for the deeds in which makes him question of his sanity. However, it is not his sanity that needs questioning; it's his self-control with consumption of alcohol. He makes no efforts to stop and therefore, pursues a violent life that affects his two most beloved that in turn kills himself. In this way, Edgar Allan Poe’s short story The Black Cat depicts the dark psyche of the character who is corrupted psychologically because of being alcoholic. 

  
                                                                         Works Cited

Diyanni, Robert. Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 6^th ed. Hill Company: McGraw, 2008. Print.

Poe, Edgar Allan. Tales of Mystery and Imagination. London: Harper Press, 2011. Print.

Womack, Martha. "Edgar Allan Poe's The Black Cat." N.p., 1997.Web. 28 Nov. 2011.

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