KATHMANDU, August 21: The first edition of ‘Karma Yatra’, a series of conversations that center on reading and readership, took place at the Nepal Tourism Board on Friday.
According to a press statement, the program was moderated by Dambar Bhatta, a lecturer at National College, Baluwatar. The event had a discussion session with three popular Nepali writers -- Nayan Raj Pandey, Kumar Nagarkoti, and Buddhisagar.
The program was jointly organized by Bookmandu, an organization that has been working to build libraries in rural parts the country, and Bookaholics, a group of book enthusiasts that has been in existence since 2012.
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Kumar’s entry at the event grabbed everyone’s attention as he came from behind the crowd, reciting his poem, Aula, much to the delight of the attendees. During the conversation, the writers spoke about their journeys as both readers and as writers, as per the press statement.
Kumar also talked about how he discovered a library and fell in love with books. Quoting Kumar, the statement read, “I grew aloof when I started trying to find the answers to my queries through reading and writing.” He shared a story, for the first time in public, about how the first story he published, Bindu, was named after a female teacher in his school.
“I’m not a celebrity,” said Nayan Raj Pandey, starting the program on a modest note, “In fact, I don’t think any of us really are celebrities. We are accessible to our readers, and sometimes you may even find us in regular momo shops in Kathmandu.”
Meanwhile, Buddhisagar talked about being attached to all his book characters and that he takes criticisms personally during the first year after his book is launched because of the proximity he feels with his characters.
All three writers shared personal stories and talked about authors they admire during the program.
