Ram Dayal Rakesh
Greta Rana was a shining star in the firmament of the English- Nepalese literature. Her literary contributions have proved a milestone in the living memory of the English as well as Nepali readers. Though she was born in Yorkshire, England Rana lived most of her life in Nepal with her husband Madhukar Shamsher Rana, an eminent economist, and former Finance Minister of Nepal. Rana was a writer par excellence. She was a multitalented writer who wrote many fictional works which are very popular, readable, and enjoyable. Besides, she also composed poetry and plays which have been enacted several times in Kathmandu. She staged several plays such as Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being, and Cinderella: The Kathmandu version which she wrote herself. She was a famous poet, novelist, and translator. She also contributed to children’s education in Nepal. She started Shakespeare Wallas, a theatre group and performed many shows in collaboration with British college under the auspices of the Nepal Britain Society to raise money for children’s education to support them.
Her worth reading literary works are the Nothing Greener, Beneath Pipal Tree, Distant Hills, Hostage, Hidden Woman, The Ruling Women of the Rana Dynasty based on the theme of women within the Rana family though she was an outsider. I mean to say that she was not native. Beneath the Jacaranda, Hunger is Home, Guests In this country, and Ghost in the Bamboo. These are some of her immortal works for which she would be remembered for ever.
Her Cinderella presents the true picture of Kathmandu which is always thirsty. What to talk about pure and purified water? There is permanent shortage of drinking water in the Kathmandu valley. She has also raised the permanent issue of shortage of petroleum products. She was familiar with the burning problems of the Kathmandu, a capital city. So, she was always worried about these problems. This compelled her to raise these issues in her most talked work Cinderella.
Pratima Pandey, the chairperson of Nepal-Britain Society remembers her in these lines: “We did a lot of wonderful plays together. She had great passion for literature. She wrote a lot of wonderful plays and directed them as well. Despite our age difference, we were really great friends. We both admired each other. She brought all people together.”
In the words of theater director Kavita Srinivasan: “When I think of Greta, I think of her as my theater mother. She gave birth to me in theaters. My very first theatre role as an adult was with her. She took me into her group (New Shakespeare Wallas) without any hesitation when I first came to Nepal as a nervous, inexperienced actor, and I will always be grateful to her for that.”
She further said that she will never forget the moment I met her after she saw one of my shows as writer-director Kumari and the beast- and the look of pride and love in her eyes.
According to Srinivasan Rana’s biggest contribution to theatre in Nepal was her ability to infuse profound moments with humor. That was who she was a person she had the sensitivity to understand the nuances and depths of human nature and culture, but without wallowing in it. She would invariably be able to make people laugh. It’s a really remarkable and rare trait.
Abhi Subedi, a poet, playwright and critic has had long association with her. She invited him many times to comment on her fiction Hidden Women: The Ruling Women of the Rana Dynasty at her place in Jawalakhel.
He remembers her in the following lines:
“The history of a family ambivalent contact zone for her where she encountered a history that was morphos and shifting. She translated her way into that space where she created a life pattern. I take it as Greta’s creative methodology and strength.”
C.K.Lal, a veteran columnist remembers her in the following lines:
“She did so many things with words- poetry, novels, plays, translations and editing- rather competently. But she will probably survive in the memories of many as a possible mentor who remained on the lookout for budding writers.”
A famous writer Saguna Shah has had also good relation with Greta Rana.
Late Rana had good command over Nepali and English was her native language. So, she dared to translate Diamond Samsher Rana’s historical novel Seto Bagh into English was titled as Wake of the White Tiger. Mr. Diamond Samsher Rana got name and fame all over the world for this momentous work.
Greta Rana was awarded an MBE by late queen Elizabeth 2nd in the New Years’ Honors List 2004-5 for promoting Nepal-Britain relations. She was a founder president of PEN Nepal, and the Head of International Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelist (PEN) Women Writers Committee from 1994-1996. There are four committees in International PEN including Translation and Linguistic Rights, writers in Prison, Women Writers, and Writers for peace. It has also ratified Girona Manifesto of Linguistic Rights in 2011 and Declaration on Digital Freedom in 2012. Rana also tried her level best to seek fund to provide financial assistance for mercilessly murdered journalist Birendra Sah from PEN International. She became successful in her attempt. She also worked as specialist in the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. Her contribution is to establish their publishing and PR unit. Its whole and sole credit goes to her. She also contributed a lot to PEN Nepal monetarily and intellectually. She always holds its working meeting at her hotel Shaligram and also pays its all expenses’ also pays its renewal fees annually from her pocket. She was always guiding PEN Nepal chapter. So, PEN Nepal ought to be obliged to her. She brought it to Nepal and was its patron and matron and mentor too I attended its many meetings as vice-president under her dynamic leadership. She left for her heavenly abode on 25th January 2023 at the Mediciti Hospital where she was admitted for the treatment of the Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) disease that had caused a vascular tumor in her head. Before that she was operated for this disease in London for this disease. Some years ago. She was very helpful in her practical life. Greta was really great.
I pay my heartfelt tribute to her to rest in peace and pray to God to give her family members solace and strength.