The first images that come to mind when you think of Nepal are the beauty of its mountains, the spirituality of its people, and perhaps even its endangered one-horned rhino. Few know, however, of the high illiteracy rate (among the highest in the world) that plagues the country – particularly its women. Not to mention its consequences.

In this context comes the inspiring story of Mother and her daughter Purnima, who escape a helpless destiny of family abuse in favor of a new life as a teacher (Mother) and a law student (Purnima). Avid promoters of education and women’s rights, they surround themselves with a sturdy circle of intellectuals with whom they set out to increase awareness of inequality. Along their journey, the characters face violence, corruption, and human brutality at its worst.

Set in recent times, Shrill Mist is a book about courage and pain. As the first English-language novel by Hong Kong-based Ram Krishna Bantawa, and a translation from his Nepali edition, ShaghanTuwalo, this literary work’s mission is to awaken illiterate Nepali women and guide them through the fog – or shrill mist – that is clouding the clarity of their vision.

Both lyricist and novelist, Bantawa already has a dedicated readership in Nepalese. His introspection, vision, and poetic style have won him numerous awards in his native country. With the release of this exceptional novel, which exposes crimes of a society while praising the beauty and tenacity of its people, expect him to soon gain the same critical acclaim among a Western readership.

Published by Asia 2000