Projection of old age in selected Contemporary Nepali Short Stories

Abstract

This research explores the projection of old age in eleven contemporary Nepali short stories. The research studies the elderly characters in the selected stories from the three anthologies: Durga Karki's Kumari Prasna Haru (2020), Nayan Raj Panday's Jiyara (2020) and Ramlal Joshi's Ba Ama (2022). The study critically evaluates how these authors depict the socio-culturally constructed status of old age, often neglecting the elderly people's needs for agency, identity, and intrinsic value. Using the sociocultural lens of aging literature, Margaret Morganroth Guellette's concept that sociocultural perceptions guide progressive or declining narratives of old age is central to this study. The analysis shows that the elderly characters are presented with stereotypical aging that features degeneration and loss. So, aging characters in the stories are economically and physically weak, socially fragile, and politically marginalized. The study reveals the intergenerational gap, with younger characters undermining the lives of elderly people. This study, thus, unfolds the bitter portrayal of old age, which is seen only through the lens of the decline discourses in the selected short stories. Studying aging through sociocultural dimensions that predominantly highlight negative perceptions overlooks the agency and diverse experiences of elderly people. By focusing on these stereotypes, the dissertation seeks to foreground the voices of elderly people, contributing to academic discourse and debates. This research expects to provide a deeper understanding of aging that accepts their contributions and individual agency within the broader societal settings. Keywords: Aging literature, old age, intergenerational gap, decline narratives.