The Gurkha's Daughter

by Prajwal Parajuly

A disfigured servant girl plans to flee Nepal; a Kalimpong shopkeeper faces an impossible dilemma; a Hindu religious festival in Darjeeling brings with it a sacrifice; a Nepali-Bhutanese refugee pins her hopes on the West; a Gurkha's daughter tries to comprehend her father's complaints; two young Nepali-speaking immigrants meet in Manhattan.

These are just some of the stories describing and dramatizing the experiences of the Nepalese people and the Nepalese diaspora - the people whose culture and language is Nepalese but who are dispersed to India, Bhutan and beyond.

From every perspective and on every page, Prajwal Parajuly blends rich colour and vernacular to paint an eye-opening picture of a unique world and its people.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, India, Asia, 21st Century, Literature

Hardcover

First published December 20, 2012

About the author

Prajwal Parajuly (né Sharma) is a Nepali-Indian author whose works focus on Nepali-speaking people and their culture. Parajuly's works include the short-story collection The Gurkha's Daughter and novel Land Where I Flee.

Parajuly grew up in the Gangtok, Sikkim region of northeastern India. His father is Indian Nepalis and his mother Nepalese. He was educated at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, and the University of Oxford. Before committing to a writing career, he worked as an advertising executive at The Village Voice.

In September 2011, Parajuly became the youngest Indian author to be offered a two-book, multi-country deal. He was signed by Quercus. He published his first book in 2012: a short story collection with the title The Gurkha's Daughter: Stories. Describing and dramatizing the experiences of the Nepalese people and the Nepalese diaspora, his debut book was shortlisted for the 2013 Dylan Thomas Prize.

Parajuly's second book, Land Where I Flee, came out in 2013

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology of Nepali stories set mainly in Nepal and India, but also one set in Manhattan. I enjoyed all 8 stories, but particularly the last 2. Overall a really good mix of happy, sad, sweet, dark and wistful.

The Cleft: Parvati, a widow, is collected by her overbearing sister-in-law to attend the funeral of her mother-in-law in Birtamod. Parvati insists on taking Kaali, her young Indian maid, on the journey, filling the maid's head with ideas of taking the opportunity to run away to become a famous actress.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie: In Kalimpong, Munnu is a paanwalla who tries to find a delicate way to deal with a high-caste habitual shoplifter. In the meantime, he also needs to find a way to keep his wife occupied during the day, in case she carries through with her threat of taking a job in Dr Pradhan’s paediatric clinic.

A Father's Journey: In Gangtok, Prabin dotes on his daughter Supriya, but worries that her generation doesn't understand or observe the rules of caste. Prabin is both surprised and delighted when Supriya eventually decides to marry her Brahmin boyfriend Sahil, but then learns that Sahil has a dark side.

Missed Blessing: In Darjeeling, Rajiv bends over backwards to prepare the flat for the arrival of relatives, expected to stay during the Dashain celebrations, all the while narrowly avoiding being converted by the American missionaries.

No Land is her Land: Having been forced off the family land in Bhutan, Anamika has lived in a refugee camp at Khudunabari for 13 years and considers it to be her home. But one day the rumours of opportunity to be resettled in the US appear to be coming true, with Anamika and her family invited to an interview with an American case worker. Will Anamika's estranged husband spoil her chances of selection?

The Ghurka's Daughter: In Kathmandu, a young girl collects secrets. The one she can't tell her best friend Gita, is that the two of them have become mitini to each other (a kind of kinship bonding the two families), in order to shift the bad luck appearing in her astrological chart, to Gita.

Passing Fancy: Back in Gangtok again, with all 3 of her children now settled in the US, a mother retires from her government job and finds herself developing a sweet friendship with her neighbour when they meet on their early morning walks. Mr Bhattarai is an artist, and when he shows the mother a portrait that he has painted of her, it is as if he has shown her a mirror and she is confronted by what she sees.

The Immigrants: A chance meeting in Manhattan brings Sabitri into Amit's life. Amit has done very well for himself in the US while on a working visa - he even has a white maid for his tiny apartment - but he misses the food from his home in Darjeeling. Sabitri has become a US citizen, but can't find a decent job because of her poor English. Sabitri agrees to cook for Amit, if he will help her to improve her English. Is Sabitri Amit's servant, or is this just one Nepali helping out another Nepali?

[Shah Saguna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gurkha’s Daughter can be dubbed as a collection of modern day anecdotes, adeptly woven together. Anecdotes, because the plot of all the eight stories cautiously depict the feelings of people from different walks of life and region. They seem more realistic in approach rather than a work of imagination. The maps specified at the begin of each story gives the readers a clear cut idea about its location in the Nepal- India region. The stories may however, look bland at the first reading, something lacking in terms of hue and richness of poetic flavor. They may seem plot less and devoid of proper punch in terms of their closure. But if one sits to contemplate the stories, the symbolism and thematic value increasingly seeps in filling the readers with a certain kind of gratification.

The debut author Prajwal Parajauly has unleashed the psychological turmoil, despair, disillusionment, dreams, hope and the theme of Diaspora and quest for identity in a very susceptible and poignant manner. ‘The Cleft,’ is about the distance between relationships and how one always sees the grass greener on the other side of the fence. It is not only a journey in the literal sense from Kathmandu to Birtamod, but a journey into self realization. It is about bridging the gap between relationships that have gone sour. “A Father’s Journey” chronicles a beautiful relation between the father and daughter, the changes that they go through, the growing distance, the comfort they find in each other’s presence and their repartee that fills the heart with warmth and love. “Passing fancy” wonderfully depicts the grievances of the middle-aged couple deserted by their children in pursuit of higher education. At the same time it also talks about the dilemmas of parents who feel protective in wanting them safely wrapped under their wings, the doubt and insecurity of being stacked away in old age home. Passing fancy is again about the drift in relationships and a sense of belonging.

Be it the double marginalization of a woman in “No Land is Her Land” or the hope and desire to get a foothold in a foreign land in “The Immigrants”, this young author has beautifully captured the emotional tides in all aspect. The Gurkha’s Daughter does have its fair share of loopholes and not every story is as appealing. The title story or the one with the Kleptomaniac could have been better in its treatment. A story about a Nepali proud of his/ her ancestry could be something different than the rest. After being heralded as the next big thing in South Asia, the level of expectations has soared high and this could be detrimental if the book does not meet the same. But as the Quercus publisher Jon Riley puts, “The color and intensity of Parajuly’s language and the world he peoples his work with, make him an astonishingly accomplished young writer.” The Gurkha’s Daughter is certainly not to be missed. Let its vividness illuminate the readers.

[Pragyan Thapa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read seven out of the eight stories in a week and I was so intrigued by the book I didn't want to finish it. It's that kind of a book you wished you've wrote it. So, it took me a month to finish it.
Prajwal is a masterful writer with a unsophisticated approach. Each details in his stories are insightful and they are even empathetic. Though I've complains with the clumsy endings in his stories, overall the book is a delight. Nepali readers will adore this book because of the rich characters with quirky Nepali traits.

Nuff said buy the book and read it!

P.S. This song is dedicated to all of them who are going GAGA over "GURKHA" and "GORKHA".
DHARAM GURUNG at his best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn42NX...

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Around the World Reading Challenge: NEPAL
===
A collection of short stories depicting a wide range of people of Nepali origin, both within the country and abroad. The stories are wonderfully written and evocative, and I really enjoyed the diverse POVs and attitudes depicted. I think the last story was my favorite, but I quite enjoyed all of them and am pleased to have picked this one up!

[Malinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

eine Sammlung an spannenden, charakterstarken und unterschiedlichen Kurzgeschichten :)
p.s. ich hab meine Lese-Challenge für 2025 frühzeitig fertig! juhu 🥳

[Rebecca R · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely collection of short stories about Nepalese people set in and around Northern India and Nepal. Prajwal Parajuly has the capacity to create characters of great resilience and verve and he frames vivid little worlds in each tale.

Among my favourites were, 'No Land is Her Land' about a displaced and disjointed family attempting to create a 'picture-perfect' family for their US visas, the title story 'The Gurkha's Daughter' about two young friends who play-act the conversations and attitudes of their fathers, and 'The Immigrants' - the very moving story of a successful young Nepalese man living in New York who arranges for a young Nepalese woman of a lower social status to come and cook for him in exchange for English lessons, not realising that she has something to teach him.

[Richa Bhattarai · Rating 3 out of 5]

जम्मा आठवटा कथामा पनि प्रज्जवल पराजुलीको लेखकीय खुबी दुईवटा पाटोले प्रष्टिन्छ – उनका पात्रको सजीवता र विविधता । उनका आधा भन्दा बढी कथाका घटनाक्रम निकै रोचक छन्, र बाकीँका कथा उही स्तरका नभए पनि यिनका घतलाग्दा चरित्रले पाठकलाई बाँधेर राख्छन् ।

काम सघाउने विरुप फुच्ची, चोर्ने रोग भएकी किशोरी, विदेशमा मनग्गे प्रगति गरेको सिक्किमेली, जस्तालाई तस्तै उत्तर दिन नडराउने आँटी भुटानी शरणार्थी युवती, पाको उमेरमा कसैप्रति आकर्षित भएर रनभुल्लमा परेकी महिला – यी सबै पत्यारिला र पृथक पात्रको चित्रण गरेर कथाकारले उनीहरुको जीवनीप्रति कौतुहलता जगाइदिएका छन् । यस्ता विविध पात्रको कल्पना गरेर कथाकारले कथानकलाई दोहोरिनबाट पनि जोगाएका छन् । नत्र प्रायः सबै कथाको परिवेश त उही नै होः एउटा बाहेक सबै कथा नेपाल र भारतका सीमावर्ती क्षेत्र वरपर बुनिएका छन् । लेखकले यी ठाउँका मानिसका आम भोगाइ, पीर, समस्या, खुशी र उपलब्धिलाई नै आफ्नो कथासार बनाएका छन् । पहिला मुलधारमा यस्ता पात्र त्यत्ति नसमेटिएका हुँदा यिनीहरुमा अझै पनि एक किसिमको ताजापन छ ।

पहिलो कथा द क्लेफ्ट मा मालिक्नीको दैनिक प्रताडनाबाट छुटकारा पाउन एउटी सानी केटी अनेक योजना बनाउँदै यात्रा गर्दै हुन्छे, तर गन्तव्यमा आइपुग्दा सम्म उसका साथै उसका सहयात्रीको मास्थितिमा निकै परिवर्तन आइसकेको हुन्छ । यो कथा पढिसक्दा नै पाठकलाई लेखकको भाषामाथिको पकड र संवादको उपयुक्त प्रयोगले आकर्षित गर्छ । पराजुलीका पात्र वाचाल छन्, मनमा लागेको कुरा फ्याट्ट सुनाइहाल्छन्, कुनै ढर्रा नपारी सामान्य लवजमा अनूभुति साट्छन् । त्यसैले होला, अनावश्यक वर्णन वा गन्थनमा अल्झिनु भन्दा कथाकारले आफ्ना पात्रलाई नै बोलेर पृष्ठभूमि अथ्र्याउन लाएका छन् । यसले गर्दा प्रायः सबै कथा मिठो बने पनि पहिलो कथाको अन्त्यले भने पाठकलाई निराश तुल्याउन सक्छ । कुनै रहस्य, मोड वा भरपर्दोनिष्कर्ष बिना नै कथा टुङ्गिन्छ, छोटा कथा पढ्दा आनन्द मिल्ने एउटा “थ्रष्ट” को यसमा कमी छ, त्यसैले कुनै रोचक अन्त्यको कल्पना गरिरहेका पाठकलाई यसले झुक्याउँछ ।

सङ्ग्रहका अरु कथा नो ल्याण्ड इज हर ल्याण्ड र द गुर्खाज् डटर मै पनि यो प्रवृत्ति दोहोरिएको छ । दुवै कथामा लेखकले चित्तबुझ्दो निष्कर्ष दिन सकेका/चाहेका छैनन् । यसले गर्दा कथानकमा रस बस्दा बस्दै पनि आखिरमा पाठकले ठगिएको अनुभव गर्नेछन् । यसैगरी द इमिग्रान्ट्स मा विदेशिएका दई नेपाली–भाषी बिचको बढ्दो सामीप्यलाई सुन्दर ढङ्गमा प्रकट गरिए पनि धेरै पाठकले यसको अन्त्यको पहिल्यै अनुमान लाइसक्छन्, उनीहरुलाई कथा नाटकीय लाग्नेछ । तर कृतिको एकमात्र “प्रेम कथा” भएकाले गर्दा यसले धेरै पाठकको मन पनि जित्छ । यस बाहेकका कुशलतापूर्वक रचिएका कथनले भने पाठकलाई प्रसन्न बनाउँछन्, सकिएपछि प्रशंसा गर्न बाध्य तुल्याउँछन् । लेट स्लिपिङ डग्स लाई मा पान पसलेले आफ्ना सामान चोर्ने धनी ग्राहकलाई ठेगान लगाउन अपनाएको सहझ उपाय, मिस्ड ब्लेसिङ मा पाहुनालाई खुशी पार्न एउटा ठिटोले गरेको मेहनत र यसको परिणाम, अनि पासिङ फ्यान्सी मा सेवानिवृत्त भएकाहरुको अर्ध–रोमान्स – यी समसामयिक र हरेकको जीवनमा देखा पर्ने घटनालाई भने पाठकले रुचाउलान् ।

कथावस्तु बाहेक पराजुलीको लेखन शिल्प पनि प्रशंसनीय छ । सरल छ, सहज छ, कताकति सम्राट उपाध्यायको लेखनीको पनि झल्को आउँछ । उनका कथामा जटिलता वा क्लिष्टता छैन, विम्ब र संकेत आदिको पनि ज्यादै कम मात्रामा प्रयोग भएको छ । सामान्य विषयवस्तुका कारण तिनीहरुको कमी खड्किएको पनि छैन । अघि भनिएजस्तै संवादले सबैभन्दा बढी तान्छन् – ती चुस्त छन्, दुरुस्त हामीले नै बोल्ने जस्ता । तर कहीँ कहीँ भने लेखाईमा परिपक्वता आउन बाँकी भएजस्तो भान हुन्छ । लेट स्लिपिङ डग्स लाई का पात्रहरुको भनाभन (वा सामान्य वार्ता पनि) कुनै किशोरले लेखेको जस्तो लाग्छ । अ फादर्स जर्नी मा पिता–पुत्रीको सम्बन्धमा उमेरले ल्याउने परिवर्तनले का छोए पनि यी दुई बीचका केही संवादको तुक नै छैन । तर उता द गुर्खाज् डटर मा दुई साना साथीको बोलचाल, द इमिग्रान्ट्स का युवा मित्रबिचको संवाद, र नो ल्याण्ड इज हर ल्याण्ड मा अनामिकाले आफ्ना पीडकलाई फर्काउने जवाफ भने गजबका छन् । एउटा लफङ्गोले अनामिकालाई सोध्छ, “तिमीहरुलाई अमेरिका जान दिए तिमीहरु हामीलाई बिहे गर्छौ?” अनामिकाले मुखभरिको जवाफ दिन्छे, “तिमीहरु जस्ता काम नलाग्ने बेवकुफलाई बिहे गर्नुभन्दा त बरु यिनै भुस्याहा कुकुरसँग बिहे गर्छौँ ।” धेरै मान्छेबाट खेप्नुपरेको दमनका कारण उसमा रहिरहेको वर्षौँवर्षको तुष र रोष यही एउटा वाक्यमा निस्किन्छ, र यो स्वाभाविक पनि लाग्छ ।

पराजुलीले आफ्नै वरपर छरिएका रहेका विषयवस्तुलाई कथामा सँगालेर एउठा पठनीय कृति प्रस्तुत गरेका छन् । अति गहन र संवेदनशील विषयवस्तुमा बानी परेका पाठकलाई यो साधारण लागे पनि नौलो दृष्टिकोण वा वाद नखोजी सामान्य जनजीवनमा देखे-भोगेको विवरण पढ्न रुचाउने पाठककालागि यो गतिलो उपहार बन्नेछ ।

[Binodan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prajwal Parajuly made it to news when Quercus signed him on for a two-book deal. The hype around him was overwhelming, and why not, he was after all a student of the Oxford Creative writing course. Naturally, there was immense pressure when he started working on his first book, ‘The Gurkha's Daughter’, a collection of short stories. But, the build-up wasn't in vain and once you have read the first story the verdict is clear – Prajwal is here to stay and will definitely be read more.

‘The Gurkha's Daughter’ comprises eight stories chronicling the life and issues of Nepali speaking people around the world. Prajwal's geographical canvas is spread across Nepal, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Bhutan and USA. One of the key challenges for Indian writers living or studying abroad is to write about their roots and narrate their story in all honesty without trying to romanticize the text. In the past decade, many South Asian writers have successfully shown this ability and one of the finest storytelling has come from Jhumpa Lahiri. Prajwal himself considers Jhumpa as a fine story teller, especially of the shorter format. The Gurkha's Daughter is a deserving heir apparent to the Jhumpa's ‘Interpreter of Maladies’. Each story is earthy and revolves around human emotions, which is central to the conflicts arising out of various political and social issues that Nepali or for that matter any community faces. The narrative is simple and becomes a little lazy in a few stories. The themes are varied. Political and social issues of displacement, identity, inequality and governance are interwoven with a human touch in each story. Prior to writing his stories Prajwal travelled around the world meeting Nepali and Nepali speaking people everywhere. This exercise resulted in an in-depth human understanding of the core issues and hence, bloomed into a wonderful read.

Pick it up. This will surely be a good book to have in your library.

My pick has to be ‘Let Sleeping Dog's Lie’ from the lot!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a truly fascinating collection of short stories told by Prajwal Parajuly. I love short stories, I love how with short stories you always have time to read the whole story, rather than having to put a book down to cook the dinner or sleep, and so it can sometimes be hard to find your place again and get back into it when returning to a long story. However, with short stories, you can happily read a complete story, go to make the dinner, and then return to read the next one! It’s also good for readers who may feel a bit put off or intimidated by the thought of over 300 pages to a book, so short stories are great because they come in easier, manageable lengths.

I really enjoyed these stories. Prajwal’s writing is so realistic that whilst reading I could picture every scene clearly in my mind, it almost felt as if I were there watching everything unfold in front of me.

The characters are brilliantly written. Even though these are short stories, Prajwal managed to develop the characters well enough in such a short space of time that I really felt as though I knew them. Their personalities, and more importantly, their emotions, shone out of the pages. I felt I got a real insight into them and everything happening around them, it was compelling to read, unlike anything I’ve ever read before. These short stories provided a fascinating look into a world I admit I know little about, and this made me want to read more.

One thing I did like about the short stories was that at the start of each story, a map is provided showing the location that the particular story is set in, I found this really interesting and it added something extra to the stories.

The Gurkha’s Daughter stories is the best set of short stories I have read in a long while.

[Booksdigger S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was quite hyped about in Nepal so I picked it on my recent trip . This is a collection of short stories of Nepali diaspora living in Nepal ,Kalimpong, Darjeeling , Gangtok , Bhutan and USA. This might be an interesting book for someone who wants to know more about the Nepali culture.

Stories that can happen to any Nepali. The sad stories of displaced Nepali-Bhutanese. An immigrant student's dilemma living and working in NYC. The caste system that we still have in our society . The author has done a good job of portraying the social stigma embedded in Nepali culture through these eight short stories. The writing is pretty brilliant albeit it's the author's first book.

I give it a 3.5 , not even 4 stars although I enjoyed reading the stories because none of the stories were that kind which would linger in my mind for a long time and make me think.

It is enjoy while you read kind of book.

[Baljit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate this 3.5 stars. I’m not a big fan of short stories but this was a pleasant collection of stories of Nepalese background.
What was interesting is the varied tones of the stories depicting Nepali people as a diverse people in their beliefs, their social status, their dreams and aspirations.
I was particularly struck by A Father’s Journey which broached the subject of caste and the choice of freedom from expectations. The Gurkha’s Daughter explores the theme of friendship and loyalty. The Immigrants is a tale of how two Nepali people of v different status come together by chance in Manhattan and the unlikely bond that forms between them.

[Carolinemawer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm. Well, I raced through this book. But don't think I learnt much about Nepal / the Nepalese diaspora. Maybe I spend too much personal and reading time in diaspora-land. Maybe diaspora-land really is pretty generic. But this didnt jolt me out of that. I felt I could have done some basic internet research and got the same level of 'local colour' in my own writing. Maybe its cos they are short stories: a format I personally love, but a major challenge for anyone brave enough to take them on.

[Gurung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished the book. I am a Gorkha's (I spell it the right way) daughter. Everything about the Gorkha story was pitch purrfect. Refering to colleagues as numberee and Johny Atkins. The other stories were spellbinding. I loved the book because its so nicely written and d recommend it to everyone. the language is crisp and uncluttered. this is english writing at its best.

[Skz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nostalgia;of places we have lived, hated,grown into and then left. A good book for a writer's first.

[Pearl Khurana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhhh!!! The last story just had me!
I mean... It was so beautifully written!
My rating for the book: 8.4/10
The extra .6 for the last story to be honest.
Overall it's a beautiful book really. Yes that's the one word I'm repeating and that's the one can use for these anecdotes as well as the simple emotion they create in you. For someone who's lived in the North East, I can only imagine how close to home the reader must've felt while reading the book.
It's really a short one and the writing style is almost melodious, with the words being sung by the winds of the hills with the rhythm of these simple human characters.

[Nar Kumar Chhantyal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains simple yet beautiful stories. I read one story at a time and never more than one as I needed time to think and reflect on them.
They are really just everyday stories that happen, we just needed someone to tell them. Prajwal Parajuly picks themes that revolve around Nepali diaspora and presents them as stories in articulate manner.
I would rate 'A Father's Journey' as my favorite one. It presents the dilemma in all of us trying to be modern yet struggling when in conflict with culture, tradition values and religious beliefs.

Side note: For slow reader like me(and busy schedule), I found stories more enjoyable. I can read one story whenever I have some free time & do not need to worry about losing context even when I come back after a month.

[Nikhil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetic, deceptively simple stories that do you the courtesy of not spelling out the characters' fates. Recommended.

[Divya Pal · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are quaint and immensely readable stories about our Hindu brethren from Nepal and of Nepali origin living in India. The politics (ethnic cleansing from Bhutan, Gorkhaland agitation), culture (caste system, festivals, menstrual taboos, food habits) and social issues are similar and yet subtly different from those of rest of India. I wish the author had included a glossary of Nepali terms. The last story “Immigrants” was the best.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gurkha's Daughter is a collection of eight short stories of the Nepali speaking diaspora in India, Bhutan, Nepal and Manhattan.

My knowledge is limited pertaining to the Nepali speaking diaspora, however, the collection seems to touch upon plausible challenges faced by the Nepalese. A map is illustrated to show the location of where each of the story's take place which is helpful and adds to each narrative. The stories and protagonists reflect both traditional and western cultural scenarios - a fine mixture in content on all stratums.

The stories range from:
The Cleft - a disfigured servant girl who plans to flee Nepal;
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie - a Kalimpong shopkeeper who faces an impossible dilemma;
No Land is Her Land - a Nepali-Bhutanese refugee who pins her hopes on the West;
The Immigrants - two young Nepali-speaking immigrants meet in Manhattan;
The Gurkha's Daughter - a Gurkha's daughter who tries to comprehend her father's dissatisfaction with her.

The collection is emotional, evoking anger and frustration due to individual narratives. Enlightening and tender demonstrating the trials and tribulations of ordinary people with extenuating circumstances. I found all the stories appealing, excellent collection in total.

My personal favorite A Father's Journey - a father and daughter's unbreakable bond evolves as she matures. Dynamics change with the tide of time.

[James Houston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid and energetic collection of eight stories from a young author about the Nepali/Northern Indian diaspora.

A reviled servant with a cleft palate gets her chance to make a break for a new life in a new country, but will she have the guts to do it when the moment comes? ("The Cleft") A humble Muslim shopkeeper knows the daughter of a rich and prominent family is satisfying her kleptomania at his expense, but also knows that confronting her about it is futile. ("Let Sleeping Dogs Lie") Two Nepalis--one a successful IT whiz, the other a maid and cook who barely speaks English--have a chance meeting in New York City, and as they grow closer the dynamic between them shifts in some unexpected ways. ("The Immigrants")

Prajwal Parajuly shows us a lot of fundamentally good or at least decent people stuck in bad or at least uncomfortable situations, often due to gender, class, family obligations, religion, or various combinations of these. A lot of the characters are not happy with where they are in the world--geographically and otherwise--and yearn to escape to America or anywhere else.

Plot surprises and last-page Joycean epiphanies abound, some more plausible than others. Parajuly (a man) has a lot of skill writing from the female perspective, whether in first or third person. At times, the male characters are cookie-cutter (evil Ravi in "No Land is Her Land") or ornamental (the fathers in the title story) while the mothers, daughters, and sisters never are. Not that this necessarily detracts from the collection, but given the author's gender it is, neutrally, noticeable.

[Ming · Rating 4 out of 5]

The inclusion of maps is one of the most appealing features of this book. Various cities in the Nepal-Bhutan-NE India region situate each story and serve as an important part of the context. (And I hop onto my soapbox to say: whoa! The British really did some nasty number during Partition. The current borders as well as so much other social distress and international tension here can be clearly and easily traced to the effects of British colonialism. The list is quite impressive.)

I liked this book. The writing was very good and each story was creative. I liked "No Land is Her Land" and "The Immigrants" the best. I also enjoyed that the majority of the stories was located in a part of the world that is under-represented or too often romanticized.

The short story is not my favorite type of reading. I don't feel that it sustains a certain build up. And in this collection, one irksome element is the seemingly rushed ending. This is exacerbated, too often here, by what I call, the zinger. You're reading along and pow, the punchline happens and it's like a punch in the gut. The zingers in many stories represented a disappointment, usually a cruel twist where hope was dashed after being held and nurtured.

[Pallavi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each story was unique and different. It felt like I was reading snippets of people's life. Only snippets and nothing else because the stories ended so abruptly. I still don't know what to feel about this. I really could relate to some of the stories. This one story called, "Father's Journey" made me take a pause and think about all the beliefs a typical Nepalese family puts in the mind of a child and how we try to rebel it but deep down we still believe what we are taught.
I don't think there was anything extraordinary about these stories. They were not bad and they were not boring. Prajwal Parajuly just told the truth in simple words. And the truth was really normal. Maybe it was normal for me because I grew up listening to stories like these. It might be extra-ordinary for people who have no idea about eastern culture and beliefs.
I don't regret reading this book though I wished the ends were not so abrupt and sort of incomplete.

[Smita Magar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked reading it. It brings the people, culture, religious relation and connection between Nepal, Bhutan and India (even the US through the immigrant story). If the countries were not separated by political boundaries, this book could be read as of one place (except in some stories where the nation-state plays important deciding factors). So, I would say this book needs to be read as a Southasian book.
I think I enjoyed 'A Father's Journey' the most as it brings out different aspects of human-ness. The flaws, the internalisation of cultures, identities and otherness in today's realities where we want to be modern and yet we hold ourselves back by our choices that are influenced by our prejudices. 'No Land is her Land' is also another appealing story in the book. Other six stories are also equally nuanced and enlightening and easy to read.

[Taqi Shah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Nepalese people who are either living abroad (like me) or are missing something in their everyday daily lives. This is a type of book that i can kind of relate to. I was so addicted to this book that I finished it in 3 days and I wish that this book never ended as it was so intriguing and interesting. The different situations the characters are put in make you seem like their problems are yours. I hope that the author releases a sequel to this, hopefully on the same topic.

[Malashree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parajuly writes beautifully, and weaves stories without many words. He doesn't give away much, and reminds me of Hemingway in many aspects. He observes a society without being overtly critical of it, yet he doesn't sugar coat the short comings that become reality for many women and minorities. Almost all his stories deal with misogyny, classism, and casteism. His stories are beautiful, very depressing, and engaging. Parajuly is a fantastic writer, and writing endings that linger on and haunt the heart is his forte.

[William Koon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gurkha's Daughter, a collection of short stories, by Prajwal Parajuly is about something I have never read before: the displaced Nepalese in India (and Bhutan and the U.S.). The stories range from very good to just so-so. The title story I would put into the latter. I felt the most complete was “The Immigrants.” Parajuly has a glossary of Nepalese words. Unfortunately, the reader is not aware of it until he finishes the book. I look forward to his next work. 3 Stars because you cannot give 3 ½.

[Renae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this story collection, which is a series of snapshots of life for ethnic Nepalese (in and out of Nepal) from a variety of different angles. Each story is connected by this thread of Nepalese identity and how that identity takes many different forms. Only one of the stories (the titular "The Gurkha's Daughter") fell flat for me, which I think signals a pretty successful read all around.

[Booksbooksandebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

simply amazing. the way this book is written makes it unputdownable. it is simple, easy and pleasant. the way the characters are etched out is phenomenal. dialogue is the biggest strength but it's the endings that did it for me. every story ends unpredictably but so so so well.

[S S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading the book...for the SECOND time!!
Yes, this book is so nice that I decided to read it twice. Not kidding.

The book is written so simply and yet features some complex social scenes. I think this book is a must read for everyone.
The book cover looks really nice too.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quick read. A collection of stories which, with a good storyline make you feel good about reading stories.
Interesting stories form the collection:
A Father's Journey
No Land Is Her Land
The Gurkha's Daughter
Passing Fancy
and
The Immigrants