Mohan Mainali,mpanao gazety sady mpanoratra nahazo loka. Sary avy amin'ny mpanoratra. Nampiasaina nahazoana alalana.

Mpanao gazety Nepaley malaza ary mpanoratra nahazo loka fantatra amin'ny fandraisany anjara amin'ny asa fanaovan-gazety manadihady sy ny tantara tsy noforonina i Mohan Mainali. Am-polony taona maro ny niasany, nandalina ny lafiny samihafa amin'ny fiarahamonina i Mainali, ny kolontsaina ary ny tantara Nepaley. Namoaka ireo taratasy tsy navoaka teo aloha tamin'ny Ady Anglo-Nepal (1814–1816) ny bokiny vao haingana antsoina hoe, Mukam Ranamaidan, izay manome fanazavana vaovao momba ity vanim-potoana manan-danja ity. Miavaka amin'ny fikarohana mijery hatramin'ny antsipiriany sy ny fitantarana mirotsaka lalina ny asan'i Mainali, mitondra anjara biriky lehibe amin'ny literatiora Nepaley sy ny fahatakarana ara-tantara.

Mukam Ranamaidan nosoratan'i Mohan Mainali. Sarin'ny mpanoratra. Nahazoana alalana.

Niantsafa an'i Mainali tamin'ny alàlan'ny mailaka ny Global Voices mba hijery ny maha-zava-dehibe ny toe-javatra ara-tantara amin'ny famolavolana ny hoavin'i Nepal ary hanainga kokoa ny fankasitrahana ny vakoka maro ao amin'ny firenena.

Sangita Swechcha (SS): Nanomboka tamin'ny asa fanaovan-gazety fanadihadiana ny asanao talohan'ny nifindrana ho amin'ny fanoratana tantara tsy noforonina. Inona no fiantraikan'ny tontolon'ny asa fanaovan-gazety ataonao amin'ny fomba fanoratanao boky toa ny Mukam Ranamaidan?

Mohan Mainali (MM): Journalism has taught me how to gather information from the piles of papers among others, verify those information and put the pieces of information together to tell the news story. This also taught me to be patient and determined so that I can get access to the information safeguarded by the hostile sources. It has also taught me to present the information in a creative way. These skills and habits were very much helpful for me to dig out the information on the war.

Mohan Mainali (MM): Nampianatra ahy ny fomba fanangonam-baovao avy amin'ireo antontan-taratasy mivangongo sy ny hafa ny asa fanaovan-gazety, sy manamarina ireo vaovao ireo ary manambatra azy ireo mba hitantarana ny vaovao. Nampianatra ahy hanana faharetana sy fahavononana ihany koa izany mba hahazoako miditra amin'ny vaovao voaaro amin'ny loharanom-baovao sarotra. Nampianatra ahy hanolotra ny vaovao amin'ny fomba vaovao ihany koa izany. Tena nanampy ahy tokoa ireo fahaiza-manao sy fahazarana ireo mba handinihana ny vaovao momba ny ady.

SS: Ao amin'ny bokinao vao haingana, Mukam Ranamaidan, nitantara momba ireo taratasy tsy navoaka teo aloha tamin'ny Ady Anglo-Nepal ianao. Afaka mizara bebe kokoa momba ireo fanamby natrehanao tamin'ny fahazoana sy ny famaritana ireo antontan-taratasy manan-tantara ireo ve ianao?

Mohan Mainali (MM): I had to get access to both classified and declassified documents, mainly letters to and from the battle fields. Getting access to the classified documents was a big challenge. Initially, I was given access to those documents. However, when I was progressing I was informed that the permission to read these letters was revoked for the reasons unknown not only to me but also to them. I had to reapply for the permission and wait for a long time. Another challenge was to recognise the letters, words and sentences as these letters have no space between the words, no comma, no full stops, no paragraph breaks! It seems the letter contains only one word! Most of those letters were written by the commanders who made many mistakes in spelling and sentence structure! I had to learn the skills of recognising those cursive letters and words. Nepali language has changed much since these letters were written. Many words, especially those borrowed and modified from the Persian language, that were frequently used in the letters are no more in use.

Another problem was of the dates. Nepal's official calendar was Vikram Sambat (lunar). British used Gregorian calendar. Present day Nepal uses Vikram Calendar (Solar). I had to make a table of these three calendars and determined the dates of a particular event.

Mohan Mainali (MM) : Tsy maintsy niditra tamin'ireo antontan-taratasy tsy azo avoaka sy azo avoaka aho, indrindra ireo taratasy mankany sy avy any amin'ny sahan'ady. Fanamby lehibe ny fahazoana ireo antontan-taratasy tsy azo avoaka. Tamin'ny voalohany dia nomena fahafahana niditra tamin'ireo antontan-taratasy ireo aho. Na izany aza, rehefa nandroso aho, dia nampahafantarina fa nesorina ny fahazoan-dàlana hamaky ireo taratasy ireo noho ny antony tsy fantatro sy tsy fantatr'izy ireo ihany koa. Tsy maintsy nangataka fahazoan-dalana indray aho ary niandry ela. Fanamby iray hafa ny hamantatra ireo litera, teny sy fehezanteny satria tsy misy elanelana eo anelanelan'ny teny, tsy misy faingo, tsy misy fijanonana feno, tsy misy fehintsoratra ireo taratasy ireo! Toa teny iray ihany no hita amin'ilay taratasy! Nosoratan'ny mpitari-tafika izay nanao fahadisoana maro tamin'ny fanoratra sy ny firafitry ny fehezanteny ny ankamaroan'ireo taratasy ireo! Tsy maintsy nianatra ny fahaizana mamantatra ireo litera sy teny mitohitohy ireo aho. Niova be ny fiteny Nepaley hatramin'ny nanoratana ireo taratasy ireo. Tsy ampiasaina intsony ny teny maro, indrindra fa ireo teny nindramina sy novàna avy tamin’ny fiteny Persianina, izay nampiasaina matetika tao amin’ireo taratasy.

Olana iray hafa ny daty. Vikram Sambat (volana) no kalandrie ofisialin'i Nepal. Nampiasa kalandrie Gregorianina ny Britanika. Mampiasa Vikram Calendar (Masoandro) i Nepal amin'izao fotoana izao. Tsy maintsy nanao tabilao an'ireo kalandrie telo ireo aho ary namaritra ny datin'ny tranga iray manokana.

SS: Afaka manazava ny fomba namolavolan'ny Ady Anglo-Nepal ny tantaran'i Nepal, indrindra amin'ny resaka fahaverezana faritany sy ny fametrahana ny maha-Gorkha ve ianao, anisan'izany ny fifaharany sy ny fitiavan-tanindrazana tao amin-dry zareo?

Mohan Mainali (MM): Before the war both Gorkha Kingdom (present day Nepal) and the East India Company were expanding their territories. Nepal lost one third of its territory in that war (later Nepal was able to get some territories back) and was forced to allow British Residency in Nepal which was objected by many Nepali officials. Soon, Nepal became the true friend of the British which later recognised Nepal's sovereignty. The British recognised the unique qualities of the Gorkha soldiers and enrolled the Gorkha in its force.

Mohan Mainali (MM): Talohan'ny ady, samy nanitatra ny faritaniny ny Fanjakana Gorkha (Nepal ankehitriny) sy ny orinasa East India. Namoy ny ampahatelon'ny faritaniny i Nepal tamin'io ady io (afaka nahazo indray ny faritany sasany i Nepal taty aoriana) ary voatery namela ny Toeram-ponenana Britanika (British Residency) tao Nepal izay notoherin'ny manampahefana Nepaley maro. Tsy ela dia lasa tena naman'ny Britanika i Nepal izay nanaiky ny fiandrianam-pirenen'i Nepal tatỳ aoriana. Nankasitraka ny toetra mampiavaka ny miaramila Gorkha ny Britanika ary nampiditra ny Gorkha tao anatin'ny tafiny.

SS: Matetika manasongadina ny maha-zava-dehibe ny fahatakarana ny toe-javatra ara-tantara hitarihana ny hoavy ny asanao. Ahoana ny fahitanao ny andraikitry ny literatiora ara-tantara amin'ny famolavolana ny fiarahamonina Nepaley ankehitriny?

Mohan Mainali (MM): It is said that history is not the past tense, rather it is the future tense. If we review the path we have taken so far we are able to choose the correct path for the future. This is the advantage of human beings over other animals. We can learn lessons from the right and wrong decisions we made in the past. If you look at the history you can find the roots of many traditions that have hindered the progress of the society and the country.

Mohan Mainali (MM) : Voalaza fa tsy filazam-potoana lasa ny tantara, fa ho avy. Raha mandinika ny lalana nodiavintsika hatramin'izay isika dia afaka misafidy ny lalana marina ho an'ny ho avy. Izany no tombony ho an’ny olombelona amin’ny biby hafa. Afaka mandray lesona avy amin’ny fanapahan-kevitra tsara sy ratsy noraisintsika taloha isika. Raha mijery ny tantara ianao, dia afaka mahita ny fototry ny fomban-drazana maro izay nanakana ny fandrosoan'ny fiarahamonina sy ny firenena.

SS: Raha teo am-pikarohana momba an'i Mukam Ranamaidan ianao dia nahita taratasy nanohitra ireo fitantarana ara-tantara napetraka. Ahoana no fomba nitondranao ny fanambaràna toy izany, ary inona ny traika antenainao fa hisy eo amin'ny fahatakarana ny tantaran'ny Nepaley?

Mohan Mainali (MM): The history of the Anglo-Nepal War, like the history of Nepal in general, is a mix of facts, fiction, and “patriotic” emotions. Authors of earlier works on this topic had two main shortcomings: a) they did not have access to the documents I have read, and b) some historians reached their conclusions first and then searched for information that supported those conclusions. The letters I had the opportunity to read reveal many aspects of the war. For example, they highlighted the border dispute of a particular place while remaining silent on disputes in many other places. I tried to present a true and complete picture of the war. I hope my book will show readers the shortcomings of traditional historical writing practices and suggest the importance of separating facts from fiction.

Mohan Mainali (MM): Ny tantaran'ny Ady Anglo-Nepal, tahaka ny tantaran'i Nepal amin'ny ankapobeny, dia fifangaroan'ny zava-misy, tantara foronina ary fihetseham-po “fitiavan-tanindrazana”. Nahitana lesoka roa lehibe ny mpanoratra ny asa soratra teo aloha momba an’io lohahevitra io: a) tsy nahazo an’ireo antontan-taratasy novakiako izy ireo, ary b) nisy mpahay tantara nanao ny tsoan-keviny aloha ary avy eo nitady fanazavana nanohana ireo tsoan-kevitra ireo. Mampiseho lafiny maro amin’ny ady ireo taratasy azoko novakiana. Nasongadin'izy ireo, ohatra, ny ady sisintany amin'ny toerana manokana iray raha mangina kosa amin'ny fifandirana any amin'ny toerana maro hafa. Niezaka nanolotra sary marina sy feno momba ny ady aho. Manantena aho fa hampiseho amin'ny mpamaky ny tsy fahampian'ny fomba fanoratana ara-tantara nentim-paharazana ny bokiko ary hanoro ny maha-zava-dehibe ny fanavahana ny zava-misy amin'ny tantara foronina.

SS: Nankasitrahana ianao tamin'ny fikarohanao lalina ny kolontsaina sy ny tantara Nepaley. Inona no manosika ny fitiavanao amin'ireo lohahevitra ireo, ary inona no tetikasa ho avy kasainao hanohizana ity fikarohana ity?

Mohan Mainali (MM): History and culture are fascinating subjects. I chose history as an optional subject in college, and it was the subject in which I scored the highest. During a visit to the National Archive of Nepal to search for some documents, I discovered a catalog describing letters written to and from the battlefield more than 200 years ago. I knew some of these letters had been published earlier, but I had not realized they could be used to retell the story of the war. I found there were more letters that had either not been published or were unavailable to readers. I also searched for letters written by the other side of the war, the East India Company.

When my book was published, my publisher prepared a press release stating that Mohan Mainali had been reincarnated as a historian. That went viral in both traditional and new media.

I always thought of myself as a journalist with a keen interest in the environment. With the looming threat of climate change, I realized I should focus more on producing journalistic pieces on this issue. I felt the need to prove that I am not just a historian but an active journalist. That is why I am now working on the recent history of droughts, excessive rainfall, landslides, floods, and outmigration from the eastern hills of Nepal. This project will rely on oral history, meteorological, hydrological, and demographic data, aerial photographs, maps, news reports, and my own observations from many field visits. Once I complete this work, I will return to hardcore historical research.

Mohan Mainali (MM) : Lohahevitra mahavariana ny tantara sy ny kolontsaina. Ny tantara no nofidiko ho taranja faharoa tany amin'ny oniversite, ary io no taranja nahazoako isa ambony indrindra. Nandritra ny fitsidihako ny Arsiva Nasionaly ao Nepal hikaroka antontan-taratasy sasantsasany, dia nahita katalaogy iray milazalaza ireo taratasy nosoratana ho an'ny sy avy amin'ny sahan'ady 200 taona mahery lasa aho. Fantatro fa efa navoaka teo aloha ny sasany tamin’ireo taratasy ireo, saingy tsy tsapako fa azo ampiasaina hitantarana ny tantaran’ny ady izy ireo. Hitako fa betsaka ny taratasy tsy navoaka na tsy azon'ny mpamaky. Nitady taratasy nosoratan’ny lafiny hafa tamin’ny ady koa aho, dia ny Orinasa East India.

Rehefa navoaka ny bokiko, dia nanomana fanambaràna an-gazety ny mpanao printy izay nilaza fa teraka indray ho mpahay tantara i Mohan Mainali. Nalaza tamin'ny haino aman-jery mahazatra sy vaovao izany.

Nihevitra ny tenako ho mpanao gazety liana fatratra ny tontolo iainana aho. Manoloana ny loza mitatao amin'ny fiovaovan'ny toetr'andro, tsapako fa tokony hifantoka bebe kokoa amin'ny famokarana lahatsoratra an-gazety momba ity olana ity aho. Tsapako fa ilaina ny manaporofo fa tsy mpahay tantara fotsiny aho fa mpanao gazety mavitrika. Izany no mahatonga ahy miasa amin'ny tantara vao haingana momba ny hain-tany, ny rotsak'orana be loatra, ny fihotsahan'ny tany, ny tondra-drano ary ny fifindra-monina avy any amin'ireo havoana atsinanan'i Nepal. Hiantehitra amin'ny tantara am-bava, ny tahiry momba ny toetr'andro, ny fianarana momba ny rano sy ny demografika (mponina sy ny isany), ny sary an-habakabaka, ny saritany, ny tati-baovao, ary ny fandinihako manokana avy amin'ny fitsidihana marobe eny an-kianja ity tetikasa ity. Rehefa vitako izany asa izany, hiverina amin'ny fikarohana ara-tantara fototra aho.