KATHMANDU, Oct 16: Celebrity writer Subin Bhattarai, who first made his literary debut with Kathaki Patra — a collection of short stories — has returned to the genre that launched his career. His latest book, Chameliko Phool Baijani Rumal, marks his seventh literary work and his first story collection after years of writing novels that explore the complexities of human relationships — their joys, sorrows, and contradictions.
Asked what drew him back to short stories, Bhattarai smiled and offered a thoughtful explanation. “The foremost reason is that my literary journey began with stories. My first book Kathaki Patra was a story collection. From my second to sixth books, I kept writing novels. Over time, my mind began to think only in terms of novels, which demand a lot of time and patience,” he said.
He continued, “Lately, I’ve realized that Nepali literature has been leaning heavily toward novels while neglecting the power of short stories. Instead of blaming others, I admit I hadn’t returned to stories myself. This time, I felt compelled to write them — long stories, almost like short novels — putting aside the novel I had been working on. That’s how this collection came about.”
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Chameliko Phool Baijani Rumal, which took Bhattarai more than a year and a half to complete, features seven long stories that, as in his earlier works, revolve around the dynamics of human relationships. “Until Monsoon, my focus was on love. In Priya Sufi, I explored motivational themes, and in Ijoriya, I took up a social issue. As always, I’ve tried to offer something different this time. As the title suggests, the book reflects many shades — like colours in a violet scarf,” he said.
The book’s release comes in the wake of the Gen Z protest movement, a time of social and political flux. Yet, Bhattarai remains optimistic. While the public grapples with instability and corruption, he believes readers still yearn for meaningful art. “Literature can restore hope and heal hearts fractured by difficult circumstances,” he said.
The Gen Z movement, he added, has also deeply moved and inspired him. Though he has long written about relationships, he now feels drawn toward political themes. “We read plenty about politics in the media, but those writings don’t answer all human questions,” he noted. “A good piece of art, however, can illuminate truths about people, society, politics, and youth — their emotions, aspirations, and struggles. I want to explore those aspects in the future.”
The title Chameliko Phool Baijani Rumal is drawn from one of the stories in the collection, and even the book’s colour palette mirrors its emotional tone. Bhattarai said he invested significant time in developing ideas and characters, undergoing multiple rounds of rewriting and restructuring. “Some stories were even discarded and rewritten from scratch,” he revealed.
Ultimately, Bhattarai believes that readers are the best judges of his work. “I’m grateful to have such loving readers — they’ve kept me going all these years,” he said with a laugh. “I only hope for constructive feedback — not just flattery that weakens my writing, and not harsh criticism that destroys my spirit.”
Chameliko Phool Baijani Rumal will be launched on Friday at 2 PM at the Nepal Academy in Kathmandu. Published by FinePrint Publications, the book is priced at Rs 575, with at least a 20 percent discount available during the launch event.
