Risk, Responsibility, and Insurance Principles in the Social Context of Guru Prasad Mainali’s Paralko Aago: A Qualitative Textual Analysis

Bharat Raj Dhakal; Yog Raj Lamichhane

doi:10.32674/jj6gps83

Authors

Bharat Raj Dhakal Pokhara University, Nepal Author
Yog Raj Lamichhane Pokhara University, Nepal Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/jj6gps83

Keywords:

Insurance principles, marriage, risk, social realism, social security

Abstract

Purpose: The study explores how Mainali’s classical short story Paralko Aago (1935), translated as A Blaze in the Straw (1991) by Michael James Hutt, reflects modern insurance principles by drawing parallels between the dynamics of insurance contracts and the institution of marriage.

Design/ methodology/ approach: This qualitative study examines how the four foundational insurance principles, indemnity, insurable interest, subrogation, and utmost good faith, are metaphorically enacted in the marital relationship between the major characters. The study employs a textual analysis method to reflect how these contractual principles surface within the narrative’s emotional, social, and moral dynamics.

Findings: The study identifies that insurance principles and marital relationships are symbiotic as loss and gain, value and upset, rights and liability, trust and morality, and social security bind both.

Conclusion: The study establishes that contemporary insurance business concerning the relationship between insurer and insured cannot escape the central subtleties of hitherto social practices, particularly the relationship between husband and wife in a marital relationship.

Implications: The study supports understanding that modern insurance business is not purely a financial act, but a deep social contract rooted in shared human responsibilities.

Originality/value: The novelty of this study lies in its interdisciplinary approach, integrating insurance theory with literary analysis to deepen the understanding of business principles as they emerge through human relationships, thereby distinguishing it from conventional management studies.

JFL Classification: G22, K12, K20, Z11, Z13

Author Biographies

Bharat Raj Dhakal, Pokhara University, Nepal

Bharat Raj Dhakal, is Assistant Professor at School of Development and Social Engineering, Pokhara University, Nepal. He completed a Master of Arts in English from the Central Department of English, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. His research interests focus on ethnic literature, ecocriticism, and communication.
Yog Raj Lamichhane, Pokhara University, Nepal

Yog Raj Lamichhane, PhD, serves as an Assistant Professor of English at Pokhara University, Nepal. His scholarly endeavors are marked by a dedicated exploration of diverse academic domains, notably including life writing, communication, culture, social media, and trauma studies. Moreover, his academic journey is distinguished by his contributions to the scholarly community, as evidenced by his presentations and participation in esteemed national and international conferences, alongside publications in multiple academic journals.

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Risk, Responsibility, and Insurance Principles in the Social Context of Guru Prasad Mainali’s Paralko Aago

A Qualitative Textual Analysis

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