What started as a third-level publication of Gorkhapatra, Nepal’s first newspaper, on Jestha 30, 2025 (June 12, 1968) has prolonged through the country’s socio-political changes, setting a benchmark in the country’s literary publishing history.[break]
Nepal entered the printing press age in 1908 BS with Giddhe Press but it wasn’t until 1955 BS that Nepal penetrated a market for literary journalism with Sudha Sagar.
However, the magazine was short-lived for a mere eight to 10 issues.
Nepal’s literary meadow then harvested magazines like Sharada in 1991 BS — which ceased after 28 years and 180 issues — Udhyog, Indreni, Dharati, Sahitya and Himani: all of them history now.
But for the monthly Madhuparka, Shreeom Shrestha, the magazine’s current editor, said that it’s because of the backup of an institution like Gorkhapatra Corporation, a government undertaking, that the magazine has been able to come so far.
“Not to forget the brand name it has created for itself, and the readers,” said Shrestha who started as a sub-editor with the magazine two decades ago.
Since its inception, Madhuparka has been able to bring writers to the forefront. From notables of Nepali literature like Bal Krishna Sama and Kali Prasad Rijal and Bhawani Bhikchhu in its first issue to contemporary writers and poets, the magazine has had an elaborative menu. So far, some 20,000 write-ups have been published in Madhuparka, and the magazine has published 43 special issues incorporating different literary genres.
“I was romanticized by its name,” said national poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire in the magazine’s 500th issue.
‘Madhu’ means the sweet secretion in the bees’ hive and ‘Parka’ means the mixture of honey, sugar, ghee and water offered to gods or guests. Nepali publishing was missing something like this.
And since its beginning, Madhuparka has been helping in the flourishing of Nepali literature.”
Shrestha, a writer himself, thinks on the same notion as the poet. But in order for Nepali literature to thrive, he said there should be more readers.
“Our main problem here is that writers couldn’t be readers on a large scale,” Shrestha said.
Despite this problem, the magazine reaches distant places in Nepal where Gorkhapatra is available, and for many Madhuparka is their monthly dose of literature.
Hari Prasad Paudel first read the magazine during his secondary level at Pragatinagar, Nawalparasi.
Since then, the 28-year-old has been consistent in reading Madhuparka.
For him, his loyalty to the magazine is because of its contents and his love for literature. Madhuparka’s contents comprise of essays, poems, reviews, memoirs, stories and like.
Paudel, a post-graduate student of Nepali at Tri-Chandra College, is also doing his dissertation on the magazine.
“At least, this will be my contribution to the magazine,” he said.
And it is through contributions as such and countless contributors who send their write-ups that the magazine continues to deliver its purpose.
However, it is not easy to get to the pages of Madhuparka.
“You have to understand the sentiments of the write-ups,” the editor said. “We have certain criteria, and you also have to consider the commercial aspects.”
Remembering one of the instances, Shrestha laughed and shared that once a “poet” sent his poems to be published along with the letter of praise from the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of Bangladesh.
“But that didn’t work,” he chuckled.
However, apart from its content, some think the magazine should have a facelift when it comes to production standard.
Bandana Dhakal, a long-time Madhuparka reader and a researcher with Martin Chautari, an academic non-profit organization, said though the magazine has had a long life, it still hasn’t set standards in terms of market value.
“If it’s to consider the market value, then the paper quality and the print should be highly emphasized,” said Dhakal who has been researching on literary magazines in Nepal with Martin Chautari.
In terms of Madhuparka’s content, Dhakal points that the writers are too repetitive at times. But Shrestha argued that some of the notable contributors have to be repeated, as it helps to add sales value to the magazine.
Readers like Dhakal and Paudel also think that the magazine should give new writers more opportunities.
Kapil Ghimire, the longest serving editor of Madhuparka and currently the deputy general manager of the Gorkhapatra Corporation, however, denies that the magazine is an outlet of established writers only.
“It has helped establish writers,” he explained how the magazine has been a forum for novice writers who have been helped by the publication to “push them forward.”
And the magazine has not only been pushing the values of Nepali writers and literature but also advancing with time.
Considering the technological encroachment in the print world, Madhuparka has also gone online; the magazine’s contents are on the Web two weeks after the magazine is on the newsstands.
The readers and the editorial team are happy that this helps to reach more readers and makes it more accessible.
Currently, the magazine’s print circulation is about 5,000 copies monthly.
Ghimire, the former editor, said that despite the boom of electronic medium and other distractions, Madhuparka has set its standards and remained an iconic literary magazine in Nepal.“Madhuparka defines an era of Nepali literature,” he said.
According to Shrestha, the magazine has helped “create, establish and maintain the position of Nepali literary magazines.
” But 43 years later, challenges persist. Shrestha points that one of the major tests is to “maintain its literary value and historic importance.” However, he added that the magazine cannot be molded as a complete literary magazine since it has to survive commercially too.
It has been a long journey for Madhuparka, 43 years, and the magazine is still going strong and its devotees are dedicated to it.
“In seven years, we’ll have our golden jubilee,” Shrestha said.
“With every issue, we want to make Madhuparka better and more brilliant. Today, it still retains the same position of 43 years ago, and its future is definitely prosperous and bright.”
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