Mahesh Paudyal

Personal life

Paudyal was born to Mr. Khum Prasad Paudyal and Ms. Pushpa Kumari Paudyal in a small hamlet in Eastern Nepal. His father, a job holder in India, arranged for his early education in Manipur, the North Eastern province in India, where he passed his childhood and teenage. From his father, he acquired tastes for literature and language, and prepared himself for a career in the same line. Though he earned his intermediate degree in Science, he entered Manipur University as a student of English Literature. Back in Nepal, he continued as a student of English literature in master's degree at Tribhuvan University, and M.Phil at Pokhara University. Presently he is a lecturer of English at Tribhuvan University.

Early career

Paudyal cleared his high school in 1997 and studies science. In 2002, he enrolled himself as a student of English literature and has continued ever since. Quite early, he started writing stories and poetry. His first published work was a poem in English in 1995 while he was still in High School. His teenage is also marked by social activism. He was the General Secretary of All Manipur Gorkha Students Union, a student organization of Nepali-speaking people in Manipur, India. He quit the responsibility in this origination in 2002, when he left for Nepal. He has been living in Kathmandu since then.

Literary career

Paudyal developed flair for literature quite early. His first published work appeared in the year 1995 as a poem titled "O Chair, My Chair." Since then, he published parallelly in English and Nepali. His first book-size publication came in 2008, which was a novel "My Share" for children. This publication was followed by a series of novels for children in English, that were titled "When the Earth Sleeps", "Parrot and the Red Rose", "Midnight Bell" and "Luck in the Bedroom." In 2011, he published his first Nepali story collection titled "Anamik Yatri." The same year, he published "Pushkar Lohani: Sijo, Sex and Beyond," a book of criticism. His latest deliveries include "Aama Nahuda Ek Saanjh" a collection of plays for children, "Little Masters", a collection of stories for children, "Sapanako Pul" a Nepali collection of stories for children, and "Tadi Kinarko Geet", a novel for children. The latest name book was termed 'best-seller' in 2015 by Rashtriya Samachar Samiti, a news agency of the Government of Nepal.

Paudyal is also a renowned translator. He holds the credit of translating the highest number of Nepali poem into English. The collection "Dancing Soul of Mount Everest" is by far the largest volume of Nepali poems rendered into English. The book collections 354 poems by 151 poets of Nepal, and was launched by Nepali Art and Literature Dot.Com Academy.

Novels

Paudyal published his first novel "My Share" in 2008, which did not draw much attention. This novel was followed by four novels, "When the Earth Sleeps", "Parrot and the Red Rose", "Midnight Bell" and "Luck in the Bedroom." All published by Vidyarthi Publication, the works established Paudyal as one of the most prominent children's novelist in Nepal, as the works were widely circulated. These five works take up psychological issues of children, who suffer mainly because the adults do not understand their sensitively. The novels are written in gaps between children's expectations and adults' understanding.

Paudyal's latest novel "Tadi Kinarko Geet" is by far his most successful work. The novel features two child characters—Bikawa and Malshree—who are orally betrothed soon after their birth. Children of Majhi families from Dolalghat area of Nepal, they pass through several psychological trepidations as they are inspired to assure roles as man and wife since quite early in their age. A Majhi man, who is a traditional fisherman, usually fishes or ferries passengers on his boat to support his family. Bikawa, in order to win the heart of Malashree takes up several risky feats in fishing and boating, until he gets swept away by a strong river current and is left badly wounded. Since these incidents, the Majhis change their practice of child marriage, and move towards modernization.

This novel was awarded with Gothale Young Adult Literature Award 2015, and was voted to be bestselling Nepali novel of that year.

Short Stories

Paudyal has three story collections to his credit. "Anamik Yatree" is his first story collection. Published from Kathmandu in 2010, the anthology collects eighteen stories in Nepali, all of which are psychological. The setting of his stories range from urban to rural areas, including a few from India where he passed his early childhood and teenage. His characters basically come from rural background, and stand at the interface of changing values and times.

"Sapanako Pul" is his collection of short stories for children. Published in 2011, the stories feature children and their hurt psychology, mainly because there is a gulf between their aspirations and adults' (mis)understanding of them. "Little Masters" is his collection of stories, where he brings in his personal experiences with children. These stories are not for children, but about children, and the messages are understandably for adults.

Besides these collections, Paudyal's stories have appeared in several newspapers and journals. He writes both in Nepali and English.

Criticism

Paudyal is a well-read literary critic. Several of his critiques have appeared in periodicals and journals. He holds the beliefs that Nepali literature, in order to face the globe, should turn more and more towards local stuff and indigenous epistemology. He believes, there is no effect of theoretical post-modernism in Nepali literature, and the issue of diaspora, a term recycled by postcolonial critics, does not apply to the case of Nepal, which is a never-colonized space. He is also famous for this argument that Nepali children's literature does not have a heroic character, and has thus failed to instill national Nepali character in Nepalese children. His periodical criticisms basically echo these contentions, while his book reviews that appear quite frequently are traditional impressions about new books appearing in the market.

Paudyal has published on book on criticism, which is based on Sijo poems by veteran author Pushkar Lohani. The book not only interprets, but also critiques the Sijos, its traditional development and its adaption in Nepal.

Plays

Paudyal's contribution to Nepali theatre as an actor, playwright and translator is very significant. Until recent times, he was a regular actor with Shailee Theater, a theater group that performs at Russian Centre of Science and Culture. Besides translating Western plays of Anton Chekhov, Alexander Pushkin, Nikolai Gogol and other playwrights, he has himself penned original plays. His translated plays have been collected in "Shailee ka Natak", while his original plays have been published as a collection "Aama Nahuda Ek Sanjh". All the five plays collected in this anthology have been performed by different theater groups in different parts of Nepal.

Translations

Paudyal is also a translator. A teacher of translation studies at Pokhara University, he is well-informed about the theory as well as craft of translation. He has translated from English to Nepali and from Nepali to English. The Writers he has translated include Anton Chekhov, Nikolai Gogol, Alexander Pushkin, Tomas Transtromer, George Orwell, Adrienne Rich, Octavia Paz, O. Henry, Langston Huge, Maya Angelo and others. Prominent Nepali writers he has translated include more than 170 poets, but living and dead. The collection "Dancing Soul of Mount Everest" is a collection of 35o poems by 150 Nepali poets, and this is by far the largest anthology of translated poems in Nepal till date. Besides this, he has book-size translation of the poems of Rajeshwar Karki, Momila, Krishna Prasai, Bhisma Upreti, Rajeshwar Khanal, Ramesh Shrestha, Matrika Pokharel, Phulman Bal and Deepa Rai Pun.

Paudyal has translated novels of award-winning writers too. Krishna Dharabasi's "Radha", Jagadish Ghimire's "Thunder in the Mountain" and Kavitaram Shrestha's "Light of the Himalayas" are some of the prominent ones. His translation of Everest Summiteer Lhakpa Phuti Sherpa's "Forty Years in the Mountain" has been received quite well in the market. He has also translated a lot of children's literature authored by Kartikeya Ghimire, Jaleshwari Shrestha, Bijay Raj Acharya, Binaya Kasajoo, Laxmi Upreti and others. "Birthday Present" by Indian author Kirtiswaroop Rawat is a translation he did from Hindi to English while the work "Pralayamajha Kedarnath Trashadi" is a memoir by Indian politician and author Dr. Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank, which he translated from Hindi to Nepali.

School Texbooks

1. Celandine English Reader (Jay Book Dipo, 11 books).
2. Modern English (Jay Book Dipo; 5 books, )
3. Colloquy Interactive English Textooks (Initially Millennium Publication, and later Megha Publication, 6 books)
4. Pragyan’s Integrated English Grammar (Pragyan Prakashan, 5 books)
5. Pragyan’s Senior School Grammar (Pragyan Prakashan, 1 book)

Literary Books

1. Anamik Yatri (A collection of stories): Bhudipuran Prakashan.
2. My Share, (Children’s novel) Children’s Literature Foundation, Nepal.
3. When the Earth Sleeps, (Children’s novel): Vidyarthi Publication.
4. Fish in the Bedroom, (Children’s novel): Vidyarthi Publication.
5. The Midnight Bell, (Children’s novel): Vidyarthi Publication.
6. The Parrot and the Red Rose, (Children’s novel): Vidyarthi Publication.
7. Pushkar Lohani: Sijo, Sex and Beyond (Criticism): Nuwakot Literary Foundation.
8. Aama Nahuda Ek Saanjh (Collection of one-act plays for children): Ketaketi Media.
9. Little Masters (Collection of stories for children): Pragyan Publication.
10. Sapanako Pool (Collection of stories for children: Pragyan Publicaiton.
11. Little Lovers (Children’s novel): Ketaketi Media.
12. Taadi Kinarko Geet (Young adult’s novel) BookArt Publication.

Translated Works

1. The New Village (Novel): Vijay Raj Acharya
2. The Restless Mind (Elegy) : Shambhu Karki
3. The Last Page of My Poem : Rajeshwor Karki
4. Sun Shower (Zen poems): Krishna Prasai
5. Our Ideals (Collection of biographies): Bijayraj Acharya
6. The Dancing Soul of Mount Everest (collection of poems): Nepali Kala Sahitya Dot Com Foundation, as a project under Nepal Academy
7. In Love of Soil (by 11 authors)
8. Interesting Stories for Children (Kartikeya Ghimire’s stories)
9. Nepali Babu (poems by Pushpalata Acharya)
10. A Flower Amidst Thorns (Poems by Maina Bhandari)
11. Kokle Kyak ( Picture story; Bijaya Raj Acharya)
12. The Spiny Porcupine (Picture Story; Bijay Raj Acharya)
13. Vanka (Theatrical Version of Anton Chekhov’s story ‘Vanka)
14. Pinki and the Butterflies (A collection of story by Jaleshwari Shrestha)
15. Diaspora Nepali Poetry (poems, Nepal Academy)
16. Birthday Present and Other Ghost Stories (Dr. Kirti Swaroop Rawat; digitally published with Amazon.com)
17. The War is Breaking (Bishwambhar Chanchal’s stories; Mount Rogers, USA)
18. He Stopped Bringing Balloons (15 Children’s Stories by Basushree Pandey
19. Taro (Theatrical Version of Puskin’s story ‘The Shot’; performed by Shailee Theater)
20. Baipankhi Mann ((Nepali Version of Chekhov's Play 'The Bear' performed by Shailee Theater)
21. Overcoat (Theatrical Version of Nikolai Gogol's story 'Overcoat' performed by Shailee Theater)
22. Noonko Katha (Theatrical Versionof Russian story "The Story of Salt" performed by Shailee Theater
23. Baba Yaga (Theatrical Version of Russian folktale "Baba Yaga" performed by Shailee Theater
24. Antim Geet (Theatrical Version of Chekhov's play "The Swan Song" for Shailee Theater
25. Pralayamajha Kedarnath Trashadi (Memoir by Ramesh Pokhariyal 'Nishank', Published by Ratna Pustak Bhandar)
26. World Classic stories of several writers including Octavia Paz, Sadat Hassan Manto, Kete Chopin, B. Tavern, O. Henry, Ursula Le. Guin, Donna Smith Yackel, published in Tanneri, Nagarik, Garima, nepalikalasahitya.com, Saurya Daily etc.
27. More than ten other picture stories of several writers like Kartikeya Ghimire, Bijay Raj Acharya, Bishnu Poudel, Binaya Kasajoo etc.
28. Many articles on children’s and other contemporary issues in online magazines
29. Many stories, book reviews, interviews, feature articles, poems and critical literary writings in scraps, published in periodicals including The Kathmandu Post, Nagarik, Annapurna Post, Naya Patrika, Madhuparka, Garima, Manobhav, Mahamandal, Ketaketinews, Bal Bagaicha, etc.

More translations in the line

1. Proposal for a New World (Poems; Gopal Parajuli)
2. Radha (Novel: Krishna Dharabasi)
3. Essays on Folk Culture (Music Nepal)
4. Word Procession (Poems of Krishna Prasai; in press)
5. Poems by Matrika Pokharel
6. Thunder in the Mountain (Novel: Jagdish Ghimire)
7. Light of the Himalayas (Novel: Kavitaram Shrestha)
8. One Act Plays by Krishna Shah Yatri
9. Children’s Stories by Babita Shah
10. Children’s Stories by Sharmila Ghimire

EDITED WORKS

Piriri’s Patriotism (collection of stories): Kartikeya Ghimire

The Droplet (Novel): Dr. Kavitaram Shrestha

The Forest Goddess (Novel): Dr. Kavitaram Shrestha

Internet Child Journalism and ketaketi.org (research): Kartikeya Ghimire

The Tale of Master Pumpkin (Collection of Stories): Kartikeya Ghimire

The Flying Duster (Collection of Stories): Kartikeya Ghimire

Children’s Stories from Nepal: Nepalese Society for Children’s Literature

Interesting Stories for Children (Kartikeya Ghimire; Ketaketi Media)

Vertex (Novel): Ganesh Aagam Dhungana

The Himalayan Bard (Selected Nepali Poems, NRNA)

Aama (Collection of short stories by Devi Prasad Thapa: Gorkha Jyoti Publication)

Baba (Collection of short stories by Devi Prasad Thapa: Gorkha Jyoti Publication)

Sasu (Collection of short stories by Devi Prasad Thapa: Gorkha Jyoti Publication)

Maiti (Collection of short stories by Devi Prasad Thapa: Gorkha Jyoti Publication)

Aha-Chah (Collection of poems by Kamal Thapa Prakash: Gorkha Jyoti Publication)

Tinyati (Drama by Kamal Thapa Prakash: Gorkha Jyoti Publication)

Harmony (A literary journal of Devkota Lu-Hsun Academy, Kathmandu)

Literary Icons of Nepal (Two volumes of biographies by Gopal Parajuli: Ratna Books)

The Boy and the Time Pocket (Novel by Himanshu Nibha Kunwar; Ketaketi Media)

The Great Poet Siddhicharan (A collection of critical essays; Siddhicharan Foundation)

Riverside English Reader (Textbook Series for Schools; Scholars’ Publications)

Scholar’s Pre-School Series (15 books for Kindergarten; Scholar’s Publications)

Crossroads (Stories: IACER, Pokhara University)

Malati Robot (Young Adult's Novel by Mukti Upadhyay Baral: BookArt Nepal)

Shaken (Nepal earthquake memoires by Children: NRNA)

RESEARCH WORKS AND DISSERTATIONS:

i) Distortion of Reality in George Bernard Shaw and Marsha Norman: A Comparative Study (Unpublished dissertation, TU)

ii) Acculturation of Gender Roles: A Comparative Study of Nepalese and Japanese Fairy Tales (Unpublished dissertation, Pokhara University)

iii) Works papers on Nepali literature presented at Kathmandu, Dharan, Hetauda, Butwal and other places

iv) Research papers published in different journals including Discovery, Of Nepalese Clay, E-pages, kreativenepa.com etc.

PRESENTATIONS ABROAD

1. A lecture on Nepali Diaspora Literature at Sylhet, Bangladesh, 2017.

2. A paper on “Dramatizing the Local” presented at Dhaka in 2015

3. Lecture on “Introductions to Nepali Literature” delivered at Renmin Univesity, Beijing in 2015.

4. Poetry Recitals in South Korea, 2011

5. Poetry Recitals in Hong Kong, 2011

6. Poetry Recitals in Siliguru, Kalimpong and Gangkot of India, 2014

AWARDS/PRIZES

a. Rebita Devi Memorial Gold Medal (Manipur University 2002)

b. Narendra Mani Aa Di Gold Medal (TU, 2005)

c. Jamarko Bal Patrakarita Puraskar (Ketaketi Nepal 2005)

d. Nepal Bidhya Bhusan (President of Nepal, 2005)

e. Gothale Young Adult’s Literature Manuscript Award, 2014

f. Mahamandal Honor (Nuwakot Literature Foundation, 2016

g. Several prizes for competitions at school and college levels

Links

"Detranscendentalizing Everest"

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2016-03-26/detranscendentalising-everest.html

"From Deep Roots"

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2015-07-17/from-deep-roots.html

"Poetry of Our Times"

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2015-03-27/poetry-for-our-times.html

"Illuminating Hope"

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2014-06-20/illuminating-hope.html

"Verses of the Systematically Othered"

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2014-11-07/verses-of-the-systemically-othered.html

"Archaic Hues"

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2014-02-07/archaic-hues-259041.html

"On Children and Crime"

http://nepaliheadlines.com/children-crimemahesh-paudyal/

"Redefining Contemporaneity"

http://onlinesahitya.com/?q=samakalin-nepali-kathaharu-samalochana

"Hulaki"

http://www.pearlstjournal.com/hulaki-story-by-mahesh-paudyal/

"Shrestha’s Account of Buddha: De-centring of Myths"

http://abckhabar.com/3288

"New Nepal is a chimera; you can never make Nepal new"

http://www.annapurnapost.com/annanote/news/677/-New-Nepal-is-a-chimera;-you-can-never-make-Nepal-new

"Postmodernism in Nepali Literature: A Theoretical Mismatch"

https://issuu.com/kreativnepa.com/docs/postmodernism_in_nepali_literature_

"True Nepali Diaspora"

http://ceslam.org/index.php?pageName=newsDetail&nid=2689

"Assessing our Reading Culture"

http://admin.myrepublica.com/the-week/story/34059/assessing-our-reading-culture.html

"Desperately Seeking a Hero"

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/ampnews/2013-05-12/desperately-seeking-heroes-371510.html

"Call for resuscitation: children's literature"

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2011-08-12/call-for-resuscitation-childrens-literature.html

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mahesh-Paudyal/e/B01FGZ3MYO

"A harbinger of revolution"

http://onlinesahitya.com/?q=nepali-literature/harbinger-revolution-mahesh-paudyal

"Metaphors and Poetic Freshness"

http://nepaliheadlines.com/metaphors-poetic-freshnessmahesh-paudyal/

"Theory is Not the Beast"

http://onlinesahitya.com/?q=nepali-literature/theory-not-beast-mahesh-paudyal

"Detranscendentalizing Canons"

http://www.annapurnapost.com/annanote/news/524

"Reading is the Best Therapy for Improvement"

https://rajeshnatamsha.blogspot.com/2013/07/reading-is-best-therapy-for-improving.html

http://pustakalaya.org/view.php?lang=en&pid=Pustakalaya:4469

"Anamik Yatri: Voices from the villages / Basanta Basnet"

http://bibhor.com.np/onlinesahitya/content/anamik-yatri-voices-villages-basanta-basnet

"A Romantic Renaissance"

http://www.onlinesahitya.com/nepali-literature/romantic-renaissance-mahesh-paudyal-prarambha