‘Bir Ganeshman’: A theatrical tribute to a freedom fighter

At a moment when history is on the cusp of major transformation, creating a play based on the life and work of a dedicated politician and freedom fighter feels like deeply meaningful ‘karma’.

I was struck by an invitation from Ashesh Malla, the director, creator and pioneer of the Sarwanam theatre group, to see the play— Bir Ganeshman — on August 30, 2026, at Sarwanam Theatre in Kathmandu. The play, which he wrote and directed, is about the widely respected politician and freedom fighter Ganesh Man Singh (1925-97). I woke from the shock and confusion of the Bhotekoshi deluge of August 26, 2026, as it were. Sarwanam, Malla declared, also held donation programmes for the flood victims.