Nepali Writers and Literature in Australia – My Vision, Plan, and Action: Journal 34

16 April 2026 – 15 May 2026 | Personal Journal 34

I welcome readers to the 34th edition of my monthly journal, which highlights activities, reflections, and literary engagements. As many of you know, this journal is dedicated to showcasing and promoting Australia-based Nepali literature and writers. This initiative reflects my vision of fostering a vibrant, connected, and collaborative literary community. I warmly invite everyone to join me on this journey and share valuable insights that enrich our collective learning and creative endeavours.

Poetry Writing Workshop – Saturday, 18 April 2026

I attended a writing workshop facilitated by J. Marahuyo, a neurodivergent Filipino-Australian award-winning poet and author. Participants explored both poetry and short story writing, and the session was incredibly helpful in generating ideas for the Living Stories Writing Prize, organised by WestWords.

https://www.westwords.com.au/living-stories/

I am grateful for the opportunity to learn, create, and be inspired alongside fellow writers. Special thanks to Dennis Johnson Library in Stanhope Gardens for hosting this wonderful workshop.

Catch-up with Padam Kafley – Monday, 20 April 2026

It was a pleasure catching up with Padam Kafley ji, who has recently published his debut novel Yog Yatra. The novel beautifully portrays the journey of Bhutanese Nepali-speaking communities—from their displacement from their homeland, to their arrival in eastern Nepal, and eventually their resettlement in Australia. Yog Yatra thoughtfully documents this long and emotional historical journey with depth and sensitivity.

The author has skillfully woven the lived experiences and struggles of Bhutanese Nepali-speaking people into the narrative, while also reflecting how they preserved their identity despite displacement and migration. Best wishes to Padam Kafley for his continued creative journey. I look forward to the launch and celebration of Yog Yatra on 13 June 2026 at Blacktown Library.

International Nepali Literary Society (INLS) 8th AGM – Saturday, 25 April 2026

The 8th General Assembly and 15th anniversary celebration of the International Nepali Literary Society (INLS) NSW Chapter was held in Rockdale. The event, chaired by  Prakash Paudel, President of INLS NSW Chapter, and attended by Lal Gopal Subedi, Senior Vice President of the INLS Central Executive Committee, once again reaffirmed the growing significance of Nepali language and literature in Australia and around the world.

Congratulations to outgoing President Prakash Paudel for your dedicated leadership and remarkable contributions. Your efforts will always be remembered. A new committee for 2026–2028 was formed under the leadership of Bhabana Parajuli ji.

The newly formed committee is as follows:

President – Bhabana Parajuli

Vice President – Raju Manandhar

General Secretary – Nagendra Bhattarai

Secretary – Netra Prasad Paudel

Treasurer – Preksha Kandel

Public Officer – Saroj Pandey

Members – Bal Krishna Basyal, Situ Shrestha, Dayaram Simkhada

Australia Darpan was launched

During the occasion, the literary souvenir/journal Australia Darpan was launched. It was a wonderful feeling to contribute to the souvenir as part of the editorial team of  Prakash Paudel, Surendra Dawadi and Saurav Kiran Shrestha.

This souvenir is not merely a collection of literary works; it is also a historical document reflecting the contributions made by INLS towards the development of Nepali literature in Australia from Bhimsen Sapkota to Mahendra Paudel, Sanu Ghimire “Jyotsna”, Maheshwar Sharma, Mamata Tiwari, and the current President Prakash Paudel, the journey of INLS stands as an inspiring example of dedication and continuity in literature. 

The souvenir also attempts to include diverse literary genres. It contains more than 70 pieces, including poems, short stories, ghazals, essays, travel writing, and one-act plays. The poems, ghazals, muktaks, essays, stories, songs, travelogues, and other creative works included in this publication powerfully express human emotions, love for the homeland, the pain of displacement, unforgettable memories, social realities, cultural awareness, women’s voices, human relationships and sensitivities, awareness of time, and hope for the future.

My best wishes to INLS and the new committee as they continue spreading the light of Nepali language, literature, and culture across Australia and throughout the wider global Nepali community.

‘Writing Worlds: Crafting Children’s Books with the Library’s Collections’ – Wednesday, 29 April 2026

I attended the inspiring workshop Writing Worlds: Crafting Children’s Books with the Library’s Collections at the State Library of New South Wales and had the opportunity to meet Libby Hathorn, who shared her experiences as a children’s author and poet. One idea that stayed with me was her belief that children take from a book what they are ready for.

I explored the library’s collection and viewed original manuscripts and illustrations up close. There was also an insightful presentation by Susan Mercer about the library, its collections, and ways to discover materials that inspire creativity.

Another highlight was a curator-led tour of the exhibition The Curious World of Pamela Allen. Pamela Allen was a celebrated children’s writer and illustrator who published more than 50 picture books since 1980, with sales exceeding five million copies worldwide. The exhibition celebrated her creative works and memorable characters. I learned how her books were thoughtfully designed with children and families in mind, focusing on what children enjoy and connect with in stories.

Special thanks to Artelle Lenthall for sharing the event information and for the warm company throughout the day.

2026 Academy and Alumni Meet & Greet – Sunday, 3 May 2026

I attended the welcoming event 2026 Academy and Alumni Meet & Greet at the WestWords Western Sydney Centre for Writing in Parramatta, NSW.

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet and connect with fellow 2026 Academicians as well as alumni of the WestWords Academy. The event created a warm and inspiring environment that celebrated the vibrant writing community.

On this special occasion, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Richa Gautam on being selected for the WestWords Academy 2026. Wishing her great creative success and many proud moments as she represents Nepali writers in this year’s Academy.

On the same occasion, it was also a pleasure to hold the debut novel Sing To Me, written by my WestWords Academy fellow and friend Jelena Curic. She is a writer and performer from the western suburbs of Sydney and a first-generation Australian-Croatian whose work reflects the experience of growing up between two cultures. I wish her every success with this book and all her future creative endeavours.

This month’s literary journey was filled with learning, connection, and inspiration. From attending writing workshops and engaging with established authors to participating in literary gatherings and community events, each experience deepened my appreciation for the role of literature in preserving identity, culture, and shared histories. The launch of Australia Darpan and the formation of the new INLS committee highlighted the growing strength of Nepali literature in Australia. Meeting fellow writers, creators, and emerging voices reinforced the importance of collaboration and community in creative spaces. I remain grateful for these opportunities and hopeful for the continued growth of Nepali literary and cultural expression worldwide.

Nepali Writers and Literature in Australia – My Vision, Plan, and Action: Journal 33

16 March 2026 – 15 April 2026 | Personal Journal 33

I welcome readers to the 33rd edition of my monthly journal, which covers activities and reflections. As many of you know, this journal is dedicated to showcasing and promoting Australia-based Nepali literature and writers. This initiative aligns with my vision of fostering a vibrant, connected, and collaborative literary community. I warmly invite everyone to join me on this journey and share their valuable insights to enrich our collective learning and creative endeavours.

INLS Children’s Literary Program - Saturday, 21 March 2026

The Children’s Literary Program, organised by the International Nepali Literary Society (INLS) NSW Chapter on Saturday, 21 March 2026, at Grand Palace Function Centre, Auburn, was successfully held with the aim of nurturing children’s literary talents.

Around 20 children showcased their creativity through poetry, short stories, essays, personal reflections, and dance performances. In recognition of their efforts, all participating children, as well as those present on the occasion, were awarded certificates and prizes by Nari Nikunja NSW Coordinator Asha Shrestha and senior literary figure Saurav Kiran Shrestha.

Heartfelt congratulations to the President Dr. Prakash Poudel, General Secretary Bhabana Parajuli, Jenisha Gautam, the organizing committee for the successful event. And special thanks to Raju Manandhar and Lukla TV for media coverage and encouragement.

Nepali Literature and Cultural Expression – Literary Festival 2026- Saturday, 28 March 2026

March 2026 became a very special month for Nepali literature and authors in Sydney. More than 100 participants, including children, attended the Nepali Literature and Cultural Expression – Literary Festival 2026, held on 28 March 2026 for the first time at Max Webber Library, Blacktown, on the occasion of International Mother Language Day.

This may have been the first event in Australia where 16 published authors from a Nepali language background were honoured and felicitated on a single stage, with their books also showcased.
The event was successfully held after a long process of detailed planning and the enthusiastic efforts of the working committee, authors, poets, children, and parents. The event was directed by Saurav Kiran Shrestha, coordinated by Sanu Ghimire, and emceed by Divya Shri Acharya. Special thanks to Prakirti Shrestha, President of BNC; Prakash Poudel, President of INLS; Suman Chhetri, President of ABN; and Richa Gautam for their valuable support and leadership in their respective sessions of the program.

This event was organised in collaboration with the Blacktown Nepalese Community, the International Nepali Literary Society – Sydney Chapter, and the Association of Bhutanese in Australia, with support from Blacktown City Library.

The program ran for almost four hours and was conducted in the following four sessions.

1. Authors’ Recognition and Book Showcase

In the opening session, we felt privileged to have Councillor Susai Benjamin OAM from Blacktown City Council as a special guest. In his presence, we appreciated and acknowledged all participating authors — Om Dhungel, Janaki Paudel, Nisprabh Saji, Sanu Ghimire, Shweta Mainali, Sima Roshi, Pragya Paneru, Prakash Panthi, Asmit Regmi, Kedar Pokhrel, Bharat Rai, Mamata Tiwari, Prabin Tandon, Kumar Sharma, Bhabana Parajuli, Maheshwar Sharma, and Saurav Kiran Shrestha — for their continuous contribution to the Nepali language and for promoting literature within Australia’s diverse multicultural society.

2. Poetry Recitation
   The second session of the event, dedicated to poetry recitation, was a grand success. It was marked by both the high quality of the poems and the powerful performances of 20 poets: Shweta Mainali, Sanu Ghimire, Nisprabh Saji, Prakash Poudel, Bishal Khadka, Pragya Paneru, Badal Phokhrel, Kumar Sharma, Bharat Rai, Janaki Paudel, Prabin Tandon, Bhabana Parajuli, Buddhi Sagar, Richa Gautam, Santosh Timilsina-Sharma, Komal Khatiwada, Prakash Panthi, Raju Manandhar, Kamal Shishir, and Asmit Regmi.

Guest singer Mathura Shrestha also performed the song Jahan Chhan Buddhaka Aankha. The audience received every recitation with great enthusiasm and appreciation.
Special thanks to Sanu ji and Shweta ji for their extra effort in delivering a meaningful and memorable poetry performance. It was noted that their performance received more than 4,280 likes, was shared by 820 people, and viewed over 108,000 times on Kitab Adda’s TikTok platform.

Sincere thanks also to Abbas Raza Alvi for his inspiring presence and poetry recitation. A respected community leader, poet, musician, and writer, he creates in Urdu and Hindi and uses arts and culture to foster harmony and reduce social divisions. We hope Nepali poets will have opportunities to collaborate with him in creative initiatives in the future.

3. Cultural Performance

The third session of the event was both entertaining and uplifting. Spectacular cultural performances were presented by children representing the second generation of the Nepali and Nepali-speaking Bhutanese community. It was truly a proud moment for parents and the audience to witness the passing of cultural values, language, and traditions to the younger generation.

This cultural session was coordinated by Samjhana Pathshala under the Blacktown Nepali Community. Dance performances were also presented by children representing the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese community, with support from the Bhutanese Association in Australia. Likewise, students and teacher Sabhyata from Pahilo Step – The Nepali Dance School also performed beautifully.

Sincere thanks to all the children, their parents, and teachers for continuing to encourage children to speak the Nepali language at home and to participate in Nepali gatherings and events. It was truly a proud moment for all of us.

4. Panel Discussion on the Book Mahabi Mika

The final session of the event was designed for interested participants, serious writers, authors, and lovers of literature. This session featured a critical panel discussion on the novel Mahabi Mika, written by Sydney-based Nepali author Prakash Panthi.

The novel has become one of the most widely discussed books among Nepali readers in both Australia and Nepal. The panel included author Prakash Panthi, along with Dev Pathak and Pragya Paneru. The discussion was moderated by Sanu Ghimire.

During the session, several important questions were raised. One focused on what inspired the author to write Mahabi Mika. In response, Prakash Panthi shared that he had read several works of world literature based on magical realism and surrealism, which inspired him to write the novel. He also revealed that he completed the book in just 14 days.

Dev Pathak observed that Nepali literature has long been dominated by writing centred mainly on social issues. He noted that readers are now looking for something with a different flavour, and in that context, Mahabi Mika offers a fresh and distinctive literary experience. He also described the novel as mind-bending in its imagination and approach.
Pragya Paneru reflected on how women characters were portrayed in the novel and examined whether the writer had done justice to them.

 

When the floor was opened for the Q&A session, participants raised an interesting question about whether rewriting or editing a published book is advisable. This could become an important topic for a future event, exploring national and international practices and their outcomes in greater depth.
Thanks to all the enthusiastic participants, panellists, and the moderator for making this session highly interactive and engaging. Their thoughtful contributions made the discussion lively and inspiring, encouraging other writers to explore unique subjects and styles in their own writing.

INLS – Sydney Chapter: Literary Souvenir Update
As a member of the editorial group, I have contributed my time and skills to the development of the souvenir/magazine, helping ensure the quality of articles, poems, and other creative works. This time, I focused on advising and working on the magazine’s cover design and naming, drafting the editorial, and reviewing articles collected from past presidents of the organisation.
I sincerely appreciate Prakash Poudel (President, INLS) for his dedication and hard work in bringing the magazine into the final shape and standard expected for launch during the INLS AGM in April 2026.

This month has been deeply meaningful for me as I witnessed the growing strength of Nepali literature and culture in Sydney. Seeing children confidently express themselves through language, poetry, and performance gave me hope for the future of our community. The Literary Festival showed that collaboration, vision, and dedication can create something historic and inspiring. I felt proud to contribute through planning, coordination, and editorial work while learning from writers, artists, and community leaders around me. Special thanks to Sanu Ghimire ji for always standing for the cause and working together to promote and showcase Nepali writers and literature in Australia. I truly appreciate her leadership,  readiness to contribute, dedication, and passion for Nepali literature and language. These experiences reminded me that preserving language and literature requires collective effort, persistence, and generosity. I remain motivated to continue this journey.

Nepali Writers and Literature in Australia – My Vision, Plan, and Action: Journal 32

16 December 2025 – 15 March 2026 | Personal Journal 32

I welcome readers to the 32th edition of my journal. Since its inception, this journal used to be published monthly; however, from December 2025, I couldn’t maintain that continuity. That does not mean my engagement has decreased—rather, my involvement and participation have been as strong as ever. The only challenge was finding the time to write and publish the journal due to other life priorities.

Please accept this quarterly edition, which covers activities and reflections from mid-December 2025 to mid-March 2026. I hope you will enjoy, appreciate, and connect with it as much as before.

As you know, this journal is dedicated to showcasing and promoting Australia-based Nepali literature and writers. This initiative aligns with my vision of fostering a vibrant, connected, and collaborative literary community. I warmly invite everyone to join me on this journey and share their invaluable insights to enrich our collective learning and creative endeavours.

Catch-up with Anjana – Monday, 5 January 2026

It was a refreshing moment to catch up with Anjana Karki, an emerging and passionate poet and storyteller. I have always admired her bold writing on women’s empowerment. During her visit to Sydney, we captured some moments in Parramatta and revisited the time we spent in 2024/2025 working on creative initiatives with WestWords, including our dedicated efforts on the story writing workshop.

Our creative women’s group remains hopeful about presenting our collective work in 2026—what an achievement that would be!

Kitab Adda Opening – Sunday, 25 January 2026

Finally, Sydney now has a place where Nepali literature enthusiasts can visit and purchase books. KITAB ADDA officially opened on Sunday, 25 January 2026. Nepali books are also now accessible online

( https://kitabadda.com.au/ ). 

 

Thank you to Shweta Mainali for inviting us to witness something that has come to life through your courage and initiative. This is a significant step that will contribute greatly to Nepali literature and culture.

Wishing you continued success—it was truly a pleasure to be part of this moment.

Book Launch: Company by Kumar Sharma – Saturday, 8 February 2026

The book launch of Company, a novel by Kumar Sharma, was held at Blacktown City Library, drawing more than 30 attendees for a lively two-hour literary event. The novel was jointly unveiled by Gargi Sharma, Gyanuwakar Paudel, Kumar Sharma, Sanu Ghimire, and Shaurav Kiran Shrestha.

The program was moderated by Sanu Ghimire, who guided discussions on the themes, characters, and literary significance of the book. Authors and critics Prakash Panthi and Pragya Paneru shared insightful reflections, while senior poet and ghazalist Gyanuwakar Paudel delivered a blessing and keynote address. The event was energetically hosted by Pratigya Adhikari.

Kumar Sharma, who has lived in Sydney for nearly a decade and currently works with Australia Post, has a strong background in journalism before transitioning to fiction writing.

Set in Seoul, South Korea, Company explores the intertwined lives of a student and a worker. The novel presents a coming-of-age narrative of a young man who chooses to follow his inner calling rather than conform to traditional expectations.
The event concluded with congratulations to the author and appreciation for the support provided by Blacktown City Library.

INLS – Sydney Chapter: Literary Souvenir Update

As a member of the editorial group, I contributed my time and skills to the development of the souvenir/magazine, ensuring the quality of articles, poems, and other creative works. I would like to thank the International Nepali Literature Society (INLS) – Sydney Chapter for this opportunity.

I look forward to the publication of the magazine, hopefully around April/May 2026. It is encouraging to see such a high level of participation from writers and authors in this collection.

International Mother Language Day Celebration – Sunday, 22 February 2026

Representing the Nepali language and literature, Richa Gautam and I recited poems in both Nepali and English at the International Mother Language Day celebration organised by Blacktown City Library at Nurragingy Reserve.

It was a joyful moment to see Nepali books placed in the Blacktown Mobile Library alongside books from over 30 community languages.

Thank you to the library and the council. Whether small or large, such events truly matter—they strengthen identity, preserve cultural memory, promote understanding of diversity, and foster community harmony.

International Women’s Day – Friday, 6 March 2026

It was a proud moment to see Richa Gautam, an emerging poet, recite her poetry dedicated to women around the world on the occasion of International Women’s Day, organised by SydWest Multicultural Services at Glenwood Community Centre, Blacktown, NSW.

Her confidence and dedication are truly inspiring. I wish her all the very best for the debut novel she is working tirelessly on.

Curriculum and Textbook Development – December 2025 to March 2026

During this period, I completed two new lesson books for Shabdamala Nepali Language School: My Nepali Lesson – Level 4 (Term 4) and My Nepali Lesson – Level 1 (Term 4).

To date, I have completed four lesson books for Level 3 and four lesson books for Level 4—a total of eight lesson books. These books have now been implemented in Shabdamala classrooms, supporting continued growth in Nepali language education.

I would like to thank the teachers, committee members, and students of Shabdamala Nepali Language School for their positive feedback and for embracing these lesson books so enthusiastically.

This journal reflects a period of sustained engagement in Nepali literary and community activities, Although time constraints prevented regular writing, my involvement in events, collaborations, and creative initiatives remained strong. From reconnecting with fellow writers to participating in book launches and cultural celebrations, I continued to nurture literary dialogue and strengthen community connections within Australia.

I believe I also made meaningful contributions to language education and literary development through curriculum writing and editorial work for a community publication. Seeing the growing presence of Nepali literature through initiatives like Kitab Adda and public events has been encouraging. Overall, this period represents my continued commitment, community engagement, and a clear vision to help foster a vibrant and inclusive Nepali literary space. 

Thank you all for your support from the heart, mind, and soul.