My Favorite 20 Books in Nepali Literature
Ramchandra K.C.
November 28, 2021
I love these books because of their diverse contents, characters, and popularity among Nepali readers.
Nepal is known for many things, from the great mountain peaks and Buddhist temples to its trekking trails, historical structures and of course, its literary works.
To that end, I will share with you a list of 20 Nepali books, most of them are fictional works. I love these books because of their diverse contents, characters, and popularity among Nepali readers. A handful of the books on the list have already been translated into English.
Here are my favorite books published by Nepali publishers in no particular order. If you think there are other fictional Nepali books that could be on this list, please let me know in your feedback.
1. Shirish Ko Phool (Sajha Prakashan)
Shirish Ko Phool was translated into English as Blue Mimosa. It tells a tragic story about love, loss, and realization. Set in Kathmandu and Japan and written by Parijat, this award-winning novel narrates the life of Suyog Bir Singh, a war veteran who fought in World War II. Suyog meets Sakambari and her two sisters, Mujra and Sanu, through Sivaraj, his drinking partner. He is particularly drawn to Sakambari because of her striking personality and daring character. Suyog’s friendship with Sakambari leads him to reflect on his past life and actions, causing him to strive for redemption.
2. Seto Bagh (Ratna Pustak Bhandar)
Seto Bagh, which means “The White Tiger,” is a historical novel written by prominent Nepali author, Diamond Shumsher Rana. This novel is set in the times when Jung Bahadur Rana was in power, and after his demise. The plot mainly focuses on the life of his eldest son, Jagat Jung Rana. The novel depicts Jung Bahadur Rana’s loss of his grip on power, the rise of his nephews to power, and the affection between Jagat Jung Rana and the daughter of King Surendra, Bikram Shah. The book becomes even more intriguing, with bloodshed and betrayal taking center stage as the various characters struggle for power and influence.
3. Pagal Basti (Ratna Pustak/Book Hill)
Nepali fiction writing gets no better than Sarubhakta’s Pagal Basti. It is an interesting story divided into two parts. It unveils a deep philosophical aspect of the novel’s main characters, Prashant and Martha. The book describes fascinating events and incidents in their lives. A major focus of the book is on changes in the mental states of the characters. Readers are hooked from the very beginning of the novel and as the story comes to an end, they are left wanting more. This novel is the winner of Madan Puraskar (2048 B.S.), a prestigious literary prize-award in Nepal.
4. Damini Bhir (Phoenix Books)
This novel is set in the eastern part of Nepal and focuses on the social lives of characters living in the village of Damini Bhir. This Award-winning novel depicts the habits, mindset, and situation of the Nepalese society during the 10-year-long armed conflicts in the country. The author narrates the story of each character, fusing them in a simple but creative manner.
5. Jiwan Kanda Ki Phool (Book Hills)
This novel is an encouraging and inspirational autobiography written by Jhamak Ghimire, a renowned Nepali author. In the book, she narrates the struggles and hardships that she endured to fulfil her desires to learn to read and write. Although she was born with cerebral palsy—a movement disorder—she did not allow the condition to discourage her from reading or writing without going through any formal education. Some critics compare Jhamak Ghimire with Hellen Keller, an American author and disability rights advocate who lost her sight and hearing at the age of 19 months.
6. Karnali Blues (Fine Print)
This bestselling Nepali novel is set in the Karnali region of far western Nepal, a remote and underdeveloped area of the country. The novel is based on the relationship between a father and son, who faces the test of time and age. This is a remarkable story told from a young boy’s perspective during his childhood days, the struggles of a middle-class family, the hardships that people in the region face, and the pain of losing a loved one.
7. Seto Dharti (Fine Print)
This is a best-selling Nepali novel written by Amar Neupane. It reveals the terrible cultural practice of child marriage, which was a common practice in Nepal till a few decades ago. The intriguing plot is about the life of a young girl, Tara, who is married at a young age. Her husband dies, and she becomes a child widow. The author chronicles the difficulties and pain Tara endures, after being robbed of her childhood, forced into marriage, and bound to live the rest of her life without company. The book’s author uses a style of writing that captivates and engages the reader from the beginning to the end.
8. Khalangama Hamala: Euti Nurse ko Diary (Nepaaya)
Khalangama Hamala is a captivating story of courage and bravery during the brutal Himalayan conflict. The book is the memoirs of a health worker who describes her experiences during a violent Maoist attack in Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla. The book illustrates her life as a nurse, how she survived during the Nepali Civil War known as the People’s War and the saddening aftermath of the attack on the lives of the district inhabitants.
9. Radha (Pairavi Book House)
Radha is a “metaphysical” novel that starts with a real-life situation and delves into the world of fiction, with a special focus on the lives and relations between Lord Krishna and Radha. Told from Radha’s perspective, this novel reveals delicate and discursive social notions of a time when a woman could not exercise her free will and a man was permitted to follow his unrestrained desires.
10. Paitala (Book-Hill)
Paitala, which means ‘feet’ in English, is a mystical novel by Ganesh Paudel. The story helps readers to better understand the eastern Tantric values in the lives of people. Joshmani, a nomadic male character, abandons worldly affairs in search of Sanjeevani Booti, who wanders through the Tantric Cities, and meets surreal characters and myth-like events. Alexandar Wallet, another character, intends to share with Joshmani what he knows about the Sanjevani Booti, discovered by the mythical character Sukracharya. Letters that Wallet sends to Joshmani leads the reader to ask ‘why’ and ‘how’ about subjects such as science, religion, spirituality, and sexuality.
11. Ulaar (Fine Print)
The meaning of the book’s title in English is ‘Disbalance’ and tells a heart-wrenching story of a rickshaw puller, Premlalawa. Set in a small town in Nepal, Prem’s horse falls sick and eventually dies. Afterwards, readers are told of the misery and difficulty the rickshaw puller faces in life. The storyline has made this book a favorite among many Nepali readers.
12. Basin by Lil Bahadur Chhetri (Sajha Prakashan)
This all-time Nepali bestseller was written by Lil Bahadur Chhetri. Set in the rural area of far-eastern Nepal, the book presents the hardships and struggles of village life. Dhane, the central character, represents the poor people who are exploited by the feudal system. The family of Dhane must sell his small piece of land to pay off the money he borrowed from rich neighbors. The story ends with the family leaving their house. Translated into English as Mountains Painted with Turmeric—a completely new title from the original one—and published by Columbia University Press, this is one of the remarkable stories in this era of immigration and globalization.
13. Sumnima by BP Koirala (Lipi Books/Sajha Prakashan)
The author Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala was the first to introduce sexual psychology in Nepali literature. Koirala explores human psychology, love, and sexual drives that rule human life. Sumnima, 1964, was written in eight days while the author was imprisoned in Sundarijal, a place near the capital city of Kathmandu. The female character, Sumnima, represents materialism while the male character Somdutta represents spiritualism.
14. Madhawi by Madanmani Dikshit (Sajha Prakashan)
This is one of the Madan Puraskar winning Nepali books. It is an intellectual and philosophical novel that uses an array of myths from Mahabharata. In the novel, disciple Gaalaw promises to leave only after offering Gurudakshina to Biwhsamitra, one of the most venerated risis (sages) in ancient India. In the Hindu myth, Gurudakshina is the tradition of repaying one’s teacher or guru after a period of study as an acknowledgement to a spiritual guide. There are many popular characters in the novel. This is one of the biggest works in Nepali literature with a comprehensive plot.
15. Pallo Gharako Jhyaal by Govinda Bahadur Malla 'Gothale' (Sajha Prakashan)
Pallo Gharako Jhyaal is a novel full of sexual psychology written by Govinda Bahadur Malla ‘Gothale’. Considered to be the first psychological novel in Nepali literature, it focuses on the main characters, Misri, Haribhakta, and Hiraman rather than plot developments.
16. Muglan by Govinda Raj Bhattarai (Oriental Publication)
Written by Govinda Raj Bhattarai, one of the top literary critics and translators in Nepal, Muglan is a relevant novel in the present context. It paints a realistic picture of people living in various parts of the country. The plot features typical Nepali characters such as Thule, Subedar, and Sutar. It is a favorite among many Nepali readers because of the strong and artistic presentation of the language. It shows the tradition of leaving the country and migrating to foreign lands for a living. Dr Bhattarai’s novel is relevant particularly during this time of rapid globalization and migration.
17. Aaja Ramita Chha by Indra Bahadur Rai (Sajha Prakashan)
Set in Darjeeling of India, this novel is based on absurdism. It tells a heart-wrenching story of many blue-collar workers who have been living by working in the tea gardens of Darjeeling. One poor character, M. K., always faces poverty but when he gets a good job, he commits suicide. The unstable political nature of Darjeeling is satirized in the novel. Manjushree Thapa, a well-known author and translator has translated this novel under the title: There is a Carnival Today.
18. Palpasa Café by Narayan Wagle (Nepalaya)
One of the winners of the Madan Puraskar, Palpasa Café was based on the Maoist Government War in Nepal. Set in the hilly regions of western Nepal, it tells the story of the Maoist war, the royal massacre, and their effects on normal people, who are the main subjects of this novel. Written by a well-known journalist, Narayan Wagle, this novel is popular among the young and the old, which has led to translations into several languages including English, French, and Korean.
19. Alikhit by Dhruba Chandra Gautam (Sajha Prakashan)
Another Madan Puraskar winner, this popular Nepali novel is set in the Terai region of Nepal. Alikhit sheds light on the lives of people in that community uniquely and interestingly. Written using the technique of magic realism, the story uses the local dialect and is included in the curriculum of Tribhuwan University in Nepal.
20. Chuli by Sarubhakta (Fine Print)
Some critics compare Sarubhakta’s amazing Nepali novella Chuli with Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea because both books deal with the theme of ‘naturalism’ (i.e., human struggles, life, and future are shaped by the geographical, environmental, and even cultural natures surrounding them). The book brings to light the struggles, courage, and challenges of mountaineers when ascending the peak. Like many other books, this descriptive and philosophical mountaineering story is popular among a wide range of Nepali readers.
Ram Khatri
Translator of Franz Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis’ in Nepali, Ram has worked as the managing editor and publishing manager for academic and commercial publishers in the United States. He holds an M.S. in publishing from Pace University, New York, and an M.A. in English literature from Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu. Ram is always fascinated by truly diverse, unrepresented, and heartwarming stories that touch lives.
Hello! All these books sound so good, and I would love to delve into Nepali literature. Where can I purchase English translated books mentioned here?
Hi Samichha, thank you for taking your time to go through this article. For the English translation, you will have to check in the well know bookstores in Nepal.