16 April - 15 May 2025 | Personal Journal 24
Welcome to the 24th 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 and connected literary community. I warmly invite you to join me on this journey and share your invaluable insights to enrich our collective learning and endeavours.
NAI Youth of the Year Award 2025 – Saturday, 19 April 2025
Nai Academy Australia organised the NAI Youth of the Year Award 2025 at Guildford Community Centre to commemorate the 88th birth anniversary of the legendary Parijat.
During the event, Mr. Ram Prasad Koirala was honoured with the Nai Parijat Literary Award. Ms. Niru Tripathi (Melbourne) received the Nai Parijat Journalism Award, and Mrs. Sita Rasaili (Sydney) was honoured with the Nai Parijat Special Award.
Shabdamala Nepali Language School was also recognised, along with five outstanding young talents (ages 12–24), in the following categories:
Singing: Sandesh Paudel (Nepal)
Sports/Athletics: Miya Pun (Sydney)
Dance: Simon Sreepali (Sydney)
Dance: Gorima Rayamajhi (Melbourne)
The program was emceed by Pragya Paneru, Mukti Ram Pokharel, and Pranjali Khadka. Special thanks to Sima Roshi, Founder and President of Nai Academy Australia, for her dedication to promoting Nepali literature. Heartfelt gratitude to all organising committee members, participating writers, poets, and performers for your remarkable contributions in making this event a memorable success.
Highlighting Nepali Authors in Australia Through Book Introductions – Sunday, 20 April 2025
As part of my ongoing initiative to showcase Nepali heritage writers in Australia, this month I introduced Ghazal Mushayara: Special Edition 2081 — a powerful anthology of 57 ghazals by 57 Nepali poets, presented by Ghazal Mushayara Pariwar, Australia. Thank you to The DMN News for featuring this special edition on your online platform.
14th Anniversary Celebration of International Nepali Literary Society (INLS), New South Wales Chapter, Australia- 22 April 2025
The International Nepali Literary Society (INLS), New South Wales Chapter, Australia, celebrated its 14th anniversary with a special virtual literary event. More than 30 poets and literary figures from various states of the USA and Australia participated in the program.
Founding members and former presidents—including Bhimsen Sapkota, Sanu Ghimire, Maheshwar Sharma, and Mamata Tiwari—shared memories of the chapter’s early days and expressed their happiness at its 14 years of success.
The program was chaired by Chapter President Dr. Prakash Poudel, who extended heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all poets and presenters, including Mamata Mishra, Mehta Ghimire Chapagain, Nanda Bhandari, Pragya Paneru, Prabin Tandon, Saurav Kiran Shrestha, Jenish Gautam, Ram Koirala, Prakash Tiwari, Bishnu Ghimire, Chaturbhuj Kharel, Muktiram Pokharel, Damanti Parajuli, Aayam Ghimire, Bhawana Parajuli, Rahul Aryal, Netra Poudel, Dr. Raju Manandhar, and Dr. Madhu Pudasaini.
The event was jointly hosted by General Secretary Bhawana Parajuli and Public Officer Muktiram Pokharel.
Crying Gorgeously; 4:37 am Lunch – Thursday, 1 May 2025
I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Crying Gorgeously; 4:37 am, a poetry collection by J. Marahuyo, held at WestWords Academy, Parramatta. As one of my Academy fellows, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to her on this debut collection.
It was inspiring to witness her creativity and passion shine through — from an award-winning poet to a published author. My best wishes for her book’s success — may it resonate widely with readers!
Curriculum and Textbook Development – May 2025
I’ve been actively involved in curriculum and textbook development for Shabdamala Nepali Language School. I’m pleased to share that My Nepali Lesson – Level 3 (Term 2) and Level 4 (Term 2) have been completed and are already being used in the classroom.
I’m deeply grateful to the school committee for their trust and support. Based on positive feedback, I am now working on the Lesson Book for Level 3 (Term 3) and Level 4 (Term 4), which I aim to complete by next month.
Feedback Sessions
This month, I also conducted several one-on-one feedback sessions with writers, reviewing their poems and children’s chapter books. It’s always a pleasure to engage deeply with emerging and established voices and contribute in small ways to their creative growth.
This month’s journal captures key moments in my journey to promote Australia-based Nepali literature—from celebrating talent at the NAI Youth of the Year Award 2025 to supporting new voices like J. Marahuyo at her book launch. I also introduced Ghazal Mushayara: Special Edition 2081 and continued curriculum development for Shabdamala School. Through ongoing feedback sessions with writers, I’m reminded of the power of community and storytelling. These experiences deepen my gratitude and reaffirm my commitment to building a literary space where diverse voices are valued and nurtured.
