Ethnic Tolerance and Nepali Nationalism in D.B. Gurung'sBreaking Twilight

Abstract

This dissertation explores the issue of ethnic tolerance and Nepali nationalism that D. B. Gurung raises in his collection of short storiesBreaking Twilight. If Gurung not only praises the ethnic tolerance feeling of his characters for their unity,but also critiques nationalism; especially Nepali nationalism for not being inclusive. The problem of nationalism in Nepal context is that, it does notpromotecultural diversity, inclusiveness and heterogeneity butinspiresexclusiveness and nativism or at least majoritarianism and coming close to racism. D. B. Gurung depictsthese problems of nationalism in his novel through the technique of story telling and forwards the concept of multi nationalism bygoing beyondsthe rudimentary concept of nationalism which is more inclusive and democratic. InBreaking Twilighthis characters; Major Himal Ale, Kopila, Pashmina suffer a lot from the Nepali elitist, hierarchical nationalism because of its tendency of excluding the people in terms of race, religion, gender and ethnicity. Presenting the scholars views on Breaking Twilight and its presentation of social harmony D.B. Gurung expresses his vision of ethnic tolerance while presenting the tolerance and blurring the hierarchy between different problems. Gurung has justified his vision.