My favorite book is Muna Madan which was written by Laxmi Prasad Devkota, the great poet. The book is a small but epic masterpiece of the writer. It is composed in simple manner, wonderfully in Nepali folk song style. Muna Madan is so small that it can be completed in one hour but its meaning lasts for a lifetime.
It tells the tragic tale of Madan and Muna, a young couple who live in Kathmandu. Madan is the husband, Muna the wife and they live with Madan's old mother. Their family is very poor. Madan unable to see this life of poverty for himself and his family leaves home to earn a descent living. He goes to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet in hope of earning more and sending the money to his family. He plans to do a profitable business in Lhasa and bring home gold. He is very sad to leave his family and home but he has to leave for a better life.
His beloved wife, Muna persuades him to change his mind, but he eventually leaves his family in hopes of earning more. He suffers great hardship on the way to Lhasa but finally reaches Lhasa. On his way to Lhasa Madan became dearly ill, he had caught cholera. He nearly lost his life due to the deadly disease of the time. Fortunately, a local Sherpa takes him to his home and treats him which saves Madan's life .
On the other hand, a wicked man tricks Muna but saying that her husband died on the way to Lhasa. Mother and Muna lament over the false death of Madan. Later, lost with all hope and in despair Muna commits suicide. Madan arrives home to nothing but tears.