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.

Nepali Writers and Literature in Australia – My Vision, Plan, and Action: Journal 31

16 November – 15 December 2025 | Personal Journal 31

I welcomed readers to the 31st edition of my monthly journal, 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 invited everyone to join me on this journey and to share their invaluable insights to enrich our collective learning and creative endeavours.

Some Catch-ups with Like-minded Writers – November 2025

During my personal visit to Brisbane, following my attendance at the 2025 National Settlement Conference held from 19–21 November 2025 at the Sunshine Coast, I had the opportunity to meet Ms Isha Sharma Koirala, Secretary of the International Nepali Literature Society (INLS) – Queensland Chapter, on Sunday, 23 November 2025.

    
We had a warm and meaningful conversation about promoting Nepali literature and writers in Queensland and across Australia. I was also pleased to present her with a contributor’s copy of Sharada Magazine, which features her published poem.

Likewise, I met renowned poet and lyricist Dinesh Adhikari on Sunday, 30 November 2025, at a restaurant in Lutwyche, Brisbane. He has written songs for more than 65 Nepali films, published 17 books, released 17 CDs, recorded around 500 songs, and received the Madan Puraskar in 2056 BS for his book Atirikta Abhilekh. The meeting was truly inspirational.

INLS – Sydney Chapter’s Initiative for a Literary Souvenir

The International Nepali Literature Society (INLS) – Sydney Chapter has announced the publication of a literary souvenir “INLS Australia Darpan (an adhoc title) in 2026, marking 15 years since the establishment of the INLS New South Wales Chapter.

On this occasion, INLS has invited literary contributions from Nepali writers across Australia. Writers are encouraged to submit one original Nepali-language piece—such as a poem, ghazal, muktak, fiction, short story, or essay. Submissions, along with one passport-size photograph, should be emailed to inls.nsw@gmail.com by 31 December 2025. All submissions will be reviewed, and final publication decisions will rest with the editorial group.

It is my privilege to be part of the editorial team for this special publication. I sincerely thank Mr Prakash Paudel, President of INLS, for entrusting me with this opportunity.

Narayan Gopal Musical Evening-Friday- 5 December 2025: 

I attended the Narayan Gopal Musical Evening commemorating the legendary Nepali singer on his 35th memorial anniversary at Raato Ghar, Granville. The event featured singers Raj Sagar and his band, along with other talented artists including Rabisan Khatri, Aurana Karki, and Aarif Raut.

It was heartening to learn about their initiative to establish a musical learning centre for the Nepali community in tribute to Narayan Gopal. My best wishes go to Ronison and his team for this meaningful endeavour.

Sharada Monthly – Australia Special Edition Discussion and Writers’ Meet-up Program- Sunday, 7 December 2025
                   

The discussion and writers’ meet-up program for Sharada Monthly – Australia Special Edition was successfully held with the participation of more than 45 writers and audience members.

This special edition features articles, stories, and poems by Nepali-speaking writers living across Australia, showcasing the strength, depth, and quality of contemporary Nepali literature in Australia. My sincere thanks go to Editor Bimal Bhaukajee for trusting me and providing 56 writers with the opportunity to publish their work in the esteemed Nepali monthly Sharada. It was my privilege to coordinate this special edition.

                                

The program featured four key speakers. Amar Pradhan provided an overview of Sharada magazine and analysed the stories in this edition. Gargi Sharma presented an analysis of the poems, while Sanu Ghimire discussed the portrayal and presence of women in the stories and articles. Dhurba Adhikary offered an overall review of the magazine along with insightful suggestions for future writing.The program was emceed by Pratigya Adhikari, and the summary and conclusion were presented by Pragya Paneru.  Heartfelt thanks to Max Webber Library, Blacktown, for providing a welcoming community space that supports language, culture, and writers. 

I would like to sincerely appreciate the support of Ram Koirala, Puspa Acharya, the Association of Bhutanese in Australia, and the International Nepali Literary Society Australia (INLS Sydney). My special appreciation goes to Sanu Ghimire Jyotsana for her significant contribution and unconditional support throughout this initiative. Lastly, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all 56 writers whose creative works made this publication possible.

Interested readers can order a copy of the magazine through Saramsha Books Australia (Facebook ). Special thanks to Ramesh Adhikari for organising this. Please note that every purchase helps encourage similar initiatives, celebrates Nepali writers abroad, preserves our literary heritage, and strengthens the creative bridge between Nepal and Australia—contributing to the global upliftment of Australian–Nepali literature.

Related news about the event in medias:

Teendhara Media:

विदेशी भूमिमा नेपाली ‘शारदा’ पत्रिका अष्ट्रेलिया विशेषाङ्क २०८२ - Teendhara Media presents 

Lukla TV Australia's Post:

 (6) Facebook

Baithak Mushayara 2 – Saturday, 13 December 2025

Mushayara Pariwar successfully organised the second edition of Baithak Mushayara in Kogarah on Saturday, 13 December 2025. I would like to congratulate event coordinator Jitendra Malla, along with all participating ghazalists and poets including Rahul Aryal, Bishal Khadka, Narayan Baral, Prakash Panthi, Maheshowar Sharma, Surendra Dawadi, Gyanu Walker Poudyal, and others.

The program was beautifully emceed by Mahima Dip. The soulful performances by Raj Sagar and other ghazal singers were deeply melodious, and the ghazal recitations brought immense joy to the audience. It was truly an enriching and beautiful literary evening- that we always look forward to.

During this period, I remained deeply engaged in promoting Nepali literature and cultural connection in Australia. Through my literary meetings, participation in literary events, and coordination of Sharada Monthly – Australia Special Edition, I witnessed the strength and unity of our creative community and reaffirmed my belief in collaboration and shared responsibility to nurture literature in Australia. 

Nepali Writers and Literature in Australia – My Vision, Plan, and Action: Journal 30

16 October – 15 November 2025 | Personal Journal 30

I welcome readers to the 30th edition of my monthly journal, dedicated to showcasing and promoting Australia-based Nepali literature and writers. This initiative aligned with my vision of fostering a vibrant and connected literary community. I warmly invited everyone to join me on this journey and share your invaluable insights to enrich our collective learning and creative endeavours.

Muktak Festival 2025 – Saturday, 18 October 2025

The International Nepali Literary Society (INLS) – NSW Chapter successfully organised the Muktak Festival 2025 in Blacktown, Sydney to celebrate the 116th birth anniversary of Mahakavi Laxmi Prasad Devkota.

The event was held with enthusiasm and joy, featuring nearly two dozen poets along with respected special guests including Dhruba Hari Adhikary, Gargi Sharma, Gyanu Walkar Paudyal, Raju Manandhar, Jeev Raj Ghimire, Mukti Ram Pokhrel, Santosh Sharma Timilsina, Kedar Pokhrel, Tripura Paudyal, Jitendra Malla, Sanu Prem Jyotsna, Pratigya Adhikari, Richa Gautam, Saurav Kiran Shrestha, Daya Ram Simkhada, Prabhav Dhakal, Komal Khatiwada, Nagendra Bhattarai, Pralhad Dhakal, and others.

The event was conducted under the chairmanship of Dr. Prakash Paudel and was emceed by General Secretary Bhabana Parajuli. I expressed heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the organizers and all participating poets for their lively Muktak recitations.

Sharada Monthly ‘Australia Edition’ – Saturday, 18 October 2025

After four months of continuous effort, I finally felt a huge sense of relief and accomplishment when the Australia Special Edition of Sharada Magazine was published and officially released in Nepal. This milestone became even more meaningful because it showcased the literary strength of Nepali-speaking communities across Australia.

More than 55 writers and poets who spoke Nepali as their mother tongue in Australia, contributed their creations for this special edition. Their poems, stories, essays, and reflections filled the magazine with richness and diversity. I felt deeply grateful to all of them, as their contributions made this publication not only successful but truly inspiring. It clearly showed how beautifully Nepali literature flourished within the Australian multicultural communities.

This issue became historic for another reason as well—it expanded beyond the regular 60–70 pages and was published as a 132-page extended edition for the first time. Coordinating this special issue was a challenging yet fulfilling experience, and I felt honoured to play this role.

I expressed my heartfelt thanks to Editor Bimal Bhaukaji, whose trust and guidance made this publication possible. I also acknowledged Sanu Prem Jyotsana and Ram Koirala for their unconditional support throughout the process. Their encouragement helped me complete this project with confidence.

As the issue entered the market in Nepal under the publication and editing of Bimal Bhaukajee, I proudly saw the works of writers from across Sydney and other parts of Australia come together in one place. This edition helped readers understand the strong presence and growing capability of Nepali literary creators living in Australia.

This issue of Sharada included the works of the following writers and poets who had been residing in Australia:

Surendra Dawadi	Prakash Panthi	Manoj Regmi
Manoj Regmi	Nagendra Sharma Bhattarai	Santosh Sharma
Sima Roshi	Rahul Aryal	Suman Pandey
Bharat Rai	Rajesh Bhusal	Janaki (Rimal) Paudel
Dr. Prakash Paudel	Keeming Rajbhandari	Mamata Mishra
Keshav Sharma	Muktiram Pokhel	Pushpa Lal Acharya
Pragya Paneru	Dr. Jivanath Lamsal	Ganesh Ghimire
Anjana Karki	Chaturbhuj Kharel ‘Sabibya’	Prabin Tandon
Komal Khatiwada	Mamata Tiwari	Roshni Khadka
Nimesh Bhandari	Shreya Paudel	Krishna Niraula
Asmita Regmi	Mahendra Paudel	Jenisha Gautam
Jitendra Malla	Kumar Giri	Shweta Mainali
Dr. Isha Sharma Koirala	Sanu Ghimire ‘Jyotsna’	Laxman Sanjyal
Sujata Basnet	Ramesh Adhikari	Nisprabh Saji
Padam Kafle ‘Mukti’	Binayak Adhikari	Dev Prasad Pathak
Ramprasad Koirala	Samu Upreti	Shubhechha Kadel
Niru Tripathi	Mumal Shrestha	Prakash Subedi
Richa Gautam	Mahata Ghimire Chapagain	Dr. Raju Manandhar
Deepak Subedi	Aayam Ghimire	Bhabana Parajuli

I looked forward with excitement to holding the physical copies of the magazine and sharing the joy with other writers—a moment I had eagerly awaited.

पुस्तक चर्चा 

1. Shadbapath,साहित्यिक समाचारप्रधान अनलाइन पत्रिका, प्रधान सम्पादक किशोर पहाडी   Facebook

2. प्रवासको प्रशंसनीय प्रयास by Dhurva Hari Adhikari, Himal Press.com - 15 November 2025

प्रवासको प्रशंसनीय प्रयास – Himal Press

Meeting with Suman Thapa Sangam – Sunday, 2 November 2025

I had the pleasure of meeting poet Suman Thapa Sangam at the Max Webber Library in Blacktown. I received her book ‘Abhyudaya’ along with poet Umesh Akinchan’s work ‘Shayad Kinaraharu’ as a collection for the book donation to the library.

During the short meeting, I shared my vision and ongoing efforts to promote Nepali language and literature, and to introduce Nepali writers to broader platforms. I also explained the role of Blacktown Library and the support it had been providing to community languages, including Nepali. I sincerely wished her continued success in her literary and poetic journey.

Book Donation – Wednesday, 5 November 2025

A new addition of 16 books was made to the Nepali collection at Max Webber Library, Blacktown. I facilitated a small but meaningful book donation event. The books were received by Ms Joy Bourke, Manager, Blacktown City Library Services.

I thanked all the writers and authors who could not attend but generously donated their books, showcasing the richness of Nepali literature and the growing cultural enthusiasm within Australia. I offered special thanks to Sanu Prem Jyotsana and Ram Koirala for consistently supporting this cause, and heartfelt appreciation to Blacktown Library for supporting multiculturalism and providing space for writers and their work from diverse backgrounds.

Rendezvous with Senior Nepali Authors – Monday, 10 November 2025

I spent blissful moments with veteran Nepali writers and authors—Gargi Sharma, Dhruba Adhikary, Gyanu Walker Poudyal, Tripura Poudyal, and Shanti Sharma—at Norwest.

The meeting with these inspirational literary figures was arranged by Ram Koirala. We also briefly discussed the book Colossal Love: My Life's Journey by Ram Prasad Koirala, which he dedicated to his grandmother, mother, daughter, and granddaughter—in fact, to all the women in his life who shaped him meaningfully.

I had the opportunity to share the joy of publishing a special edition of Sharada Monthly magazine dedicated to Nepali-speaking writers living in Australia, who continued to passionately contribute to Nepali-Australian literature. 

Like in previous months, I actively promoted Nepali literature in Australia this month. I recited three Muktaks at the Muktak Festival 2025 in Blacktown alongside many talented poets. I coordinated the publication of the Australia Special Edition of Sharada Magazine, featuring works from 56 Nepali-speaking writers living across Australia, highlighting the richness of our literary community abroad. I also met poet Suman Thapa Sangam and facilitated book donations to Max Webber Library, further spreading Nepali literature to wider audiences.

Reflecting on these experiences, I felt proud and inspired, reaffirming the importance of connecting writers, promoting Nepali literature, and nurturing our creative community in Australia.