- In a foreword written by Govinda Raj Bhattarai for the poetry anthology “Sagarmathako Nrityamagna Aatma” compiled by Momila [break]
This line says that a creator does not have a particular geography and a creation too transcends the borders of geography.
Writers are very insightful people and their thoughts cannot be limited within a perimeter or boundaries. Their insights are pervasive and their imagination is infinite.
Take for example Laxmi Prasad Devkota who was born is a small country like Nepal.
Way before people had even thought of a spacecraft that would land on the moon, he was writing about aiming to touch the moon. The imaginative power of writers is very vast.
Creative writers reach the heights of imagination, consciousness and insights. I think this line captures the pervasiveness of creativity.
Besides, writers and creative people are creatures of freedom. They love freedom; they nurture it; they passionately support and advocate freedom. They oppose confinement.
If confined under any authority, I believe, it gives rise to explosions. Any writer or creative persona will always try to break out of confinements with explosive and radical thoughts. They’re meant to oppose oppressiveness, and their thoughts know no bounds.
About the author
Growing up as a daughter of one of Nepal’s most prominent literary figures, Bhim Nidhi Tiwari, Benju Sharma says she was naturally driven to write. With newspapers, literary magazines and books around all the time and with frequent visits of litterateurs to her house, her environment itself enriched her with a sense of literary expressions.
Recently having retired as a Professor from Tribhuvan University, Sharma is now an Academician at The Nepal Academy. With four poetry collections published, she is currently working on another anthology and a short story collection as well.
Despite a Ph. D and double Masters, Sharma says she is still hungry for knowledge. An avid reader, she reads many books at a time – from fiction to non-fiction and a lot of poetry.
And because she has been a constant reader, she says it is very hard to pinpoint her favorites, as there are just too many. Here she picks out her recent favorites and the books she is currently reading.
As told to Ujjwala Maharjan
Tiwari Naatya – Sahityako Vishleshanatmak Adhyayan by Tiwari Sahitya Samiti
Bhim Nidhi Tiwari remains one of the most important playwrights in Nepali literature. This book is another collection of writings about his plays. Some 100 Nepali writers have discussed and analyzed Tiwari’s plays and their relevance today.
Some of his close writer friends and contemporaries have also presented their thoughts on what circumstances and influences shaped Tiwari as a playwright. I’m still reading this book and I think it’s a great book for anyone who wants to learn about Tiwari as a playwright and his works in detail.
The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing
I once saw a photograph of Doris Lessing when she had come back from her grocery shopping, completely unaware that she had just won the year’s Nobel Prize for Literature and then was surprised by a host of photographers and reporters waiting for her at her house.
Reading about that incident was quite interesting. I’ve just picked up this book by Lessing and I’m finding it really good. I just figured I couldn’t go wrong with any book by Lessing.
Sukaratka Aatmakatha: Sukaratka Muddha, unko mrityu ra adbhut bichaar) Translated works of Plato
Socrates is undoubtedly one of the greatest philosophers of all time. I love how he was a radical thinker; he always revolted against tyranny and challenged authority. That’s why he had many youth followers as well.
Right from his teachings to unconventional way of thinking, his interesting personality to his death, every part of his life is interesting.
This book has recorded a lot of his conversations and discussions with his pupils. I’m having a lot of fun reading it as well as gaining a lot of philosophical insight.
Tarini Prasad Koirala Ek Drishti: Anek Smriti by the Tarini Rosha Smriti Kosh
Tarini Prasad Koirala has been a very important literary influence for me. This book is a recently launched book about him wherein many writers and people close to him have talked about his works.
Koirala was not just a great writer but one of Nepal’s senior journalists as well. He was also a great supporter of democracy and revolution. This book discusses his works and his personality and it is very interesting getting to know him through the writings.
Speaking for Myself: An Anthology of Asian Women’s Writings Edited by Sukrita Paul Kumar and Malashri Lal
This is an anthology of works of women writers of Asia. It has compiled poetry, short stories, fiction and non-fiction writing from contemporary women writers of all Asian countries.
I found this particularly interesting because I found I could easily relate to most of these women’s writings. Asian culture throughout seems to be very similar, so you know what they are talking about. Besides, this book has covered a range of topics from gender exploitation to Asian beliefs and cultures. It’s definitely worth a read.
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