Earlier that same year, Manjushree Thapa’s A Tutor of History had been published by Penguin India.[break]
Nepal’s English literature had long remained unsure of itself long after writers in English from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries had gained popularity and were being widely read. But the publication of literary fiction by Upadhyay and Thapa opened the floodgates for many young aspiring Nepali writers.
Then there also appeared Sushma Joshi and Sheeba Shivangini Shah.
Joshi’s End of the World, her book of short stories, was long-listed for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award in 2009, and Shah’s third novel, Facing My Phantoms, was received well by readers.
Illustration: Sworup Nhasiju
Penguin published Nothing to Declare, an anthology of short stories by Rabi Thapa in 2010, and now there seems to be no dearth of Nepali literature written in English.
In 2011, Kathmandu Literary Jatra and Ncell Literature Festival brought together national and international writers who read from their works and talked about their writings besides having discussions with the audience. By the notable sizes of the crowds gathered in these events, it was evident that reading culture, too, was blooming with more and more people opting to pick up a book instead of switching on the television.
The recent news that Suvani Singh, the director of Kathmandu Literary Jatra, became one of the jury members for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature for the year 2013 makes a strong case for Nepal’s evolving literary scene.
The Week pays homage to the flourishing literary scene in this special edition. With a poem by slam poet Ujjwala Maharjan to an intriguing story by Rabi Thapa, this power-packed Literature Special contains pieces from different genres that are sure to delight readers of all ages.
Happy reading! And a joyous Dashain 2012!
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