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Bakhat Bahadur Thapa is a 58-year-old novelist who began writing at the age of 32. He has written several novels, including ‘Pardesh’, ‘Kuiro ra Kaag’, ‘Kaalchakra’, and ‘Jungey’. He has also penned three short story anthologies. Thapa is a computer hardware technician by profession. In Nepali literature, he has gained fame for his style of using technological expertise to portray societal themes. Babita Shrestha from ApEx spoke to Thapa about his experience as a novelist.

What made you want to write?

After finishing school, I went to India to acquire technical vocational skills. There I struggled a lot. Later, after my return to Nepal, I used to tell my friends about those days and they would listen to me with great interest. One of my friends happened to be a journalist at the time and he asked me to write some stories. That was the turning point for me to pursue a career in writing. But later I couldn’t get in touch with him so I published the work myself. That was how ‘Pardesh’ came out in 2001. 

How many books have you published so far?

My first book ‘Pardesh’ is centered on facts regarding the brain-drain in Nepal. It explores various psychological aspects as well as illustrates the plight of Nepalis living abroad. I then published ‘Kuiro ra Kaag’. It’s about polygamy in the western part of Nepal. Following that, I released ‘Kaalchakra’ in 2007. The novel subtly highlights the Maoist insurgency period while making references to the corruption, fraud, and slavery in Nepal. I published ‘Jungey’ in 2014 to reflect the political and economic situation in rural areas in Nepal. After three years, I released its sequel, ‘Jungey ko Diary.’ I authored ‘Deshan’ in 2021. It’s about an epidemic and environmental issues. Besides that, I have written three collections of short stories, including ‘Computer Aatanka’, ‘Sheershak Sangai Sarita’ and ‘Aaghat’.

Can you run us through your writing process?

The majority of storylines and events are inspired by incidents I experience. Turning many social situations into fiction, in my opinion, is the primary method of creating a novel. Take ‘Pardesh’ for instance. My experiences of traveling from Dailekh to Delhi, as well as my first encounter with electricity, trains, and electrical devices, have all been turned into a novel. Simple events establish a plot and I embellish it with words and my own sense of style. As I write, I also strive to balance the plot with themes, give the words a deep meaning, and use figurative and metaphorical language.

Being a novelist yourself, what sorts of novels do you enjoy the most? Are there any authors or novels that have had a significant impact on your writing?

For me, reading literature is about making room to educate, entertain, and inform oneself. So I like novels which embrace social issues, impart knowledge, and have logic. I enjoy narratives that are humorous. I’m passionate about reading. I became a fan of Diamond Sumsher Rana after reading ‘Seto Baag’. I also enjoy reading Maxim Gorky. He is another one of my favorite authors. What really impresses me about these author’s works is how well they portray the story while incorporating fresh vocabulary and deep implications.

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a novelist?

When people acknowledge me for my contributions, I consider that to be my greatest success. There was a time when I had to go to Tribhuvan University to fix a computer. The person I was supposed to meet didn’t recognize me at first but she later came up to me to ask if my stories were included in the Grade 12 curriculum. When I confirmed her suspicions, she told me that I was well-known throughout the institution. Hearing that was like music to my ears.

Thapa’s Picks

‘Alikhit’ by Dhruba Chandra Gautam

It’s Nepali fiction first published in 1983. It’s the story set in an unidentified village in the Tarai region of Nepal.

‘Aama’ by Maxim Gorky 

The Nepali translation of Mother by Maxim Gorky was published in 2018. It’s a story about the lower class women working in a Russian factory and it highlights the struggles and poverty of the society in the Russian Empire.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 300 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 112, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 112, 200 per tola on Monday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 111, 950 per tola. It was traded at Rs 111, 650 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1, 480 per tola today.

Finance Minister Dr Prakash Saran Mahat and Finance Minister of China Liu Kun held a meeting on Monday during the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.

Various issues of mutual interest and bilateral relations were discussed in the meeting, according to Dr Mahat's Secretariat.

"Both ministers shared the same opinion that both sides are sensitive to each other's interests and concerns while Dr Mahat expressed his gratitude for China's continued assistance to development endeavors of Nepal."

The two finance ministers also discussed the commitment of aid made by the President of China during his visit to Nepal in 2019.

On the occasion, Minister Dr Mahat expressed his belief that the projects on roads connecting the two countries from the important transit points could be an important area of aid and that the relevant agencies of both countries should do their homework and move forward soon. He also expressed hope that the Tokha-Chhahre tunnel way construction project will be implemented soon.

In response, Chinese Finance Minister Kun expressed China's desire to help Nepal's development and expressed his belief that the cooperation projects will be implemented soon.

Minister of Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet and the Secretary of State for Health of the United Kingdom Will Queens held a meeting at the Ministry of Health in London on Monday.

During the meeting, Health Minister Basnet praised the British government's support to Nepal's socio-economic development, especially in the health sector, and expressed confidence that it will increase further in the coming days, according to the Nepali Embassy in London.

Expressing his happiness about the recently concluded agreement on employing Nepali nurses in Britain, he also sought support for the capacity building of Nepali health institutions.

British Secretary of State Queens said that UK's support to Nepal's health sector will continue and that the arrival of Nepali nurses in the UK will benefit both countries.

Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy, Roshan Khanal, said that Health Minister Basnet visited the training center, emergency department and wards of the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester on Sunday and acquired information about the training and transfer process of nurses to be brought there from Nepal.

Nepali Ambassador to the UK, Gyan Chandra Acharya, also participated in the meeting.

Minister Basnet arrived here on July 14.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 47.07 points to close at 2,144.16 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 9.95 points to close at 404. 10 points.

A total of 7,634,190-unit shares of 257 companies were traded for Rs 2. 56 billion.

Meanwhile, BPW Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Kumari Dhanabriddhi Yojana was the top loser as its price fell by 8.37 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 15 trillion.

The Kathmandu Valley again faces challenges for the waste management as locals of Kakani Rural Municipality in Nuwakot and Dhunibesi Municipality in Dhading have obstructed the transportation of waste containers to Banchare Danda, the landfill site.

The agitating locals have cited non-implementation of agreements reached with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City before this as the reason for their protest. They claim that despite signing an agreement a year ago, the Kathmandu Metropolis has failed to implement it. As a result, waste management from 18 local levels in the Kathmandu Valley has been disrupted.

Dhunibesi Municipality-1 Chair Man Bahadur Tamang said the waste disposal has been halted beginning today. "It is not possible for humans to live together with waste. We demand either to manage waste in other areas and relocate the locals. If the problem remains unaddressed, frequent obstructions in waste disposal are very likely."

Following the locals' protests, around 50 waste containers were stopped in between Sisdole and Banchare Danda.  The locals accused the Kathmandu Metropolis of cheating them in the name of agreements which also include the segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste and manage just degradable waste there.

The agitating people have accused the metropolis of not implementing the agreement when one year has already elapsed since its signing.

However, KMC infrastructure advisor Sunil Lamsal said the waste management is taking place as per the agreement.  "The locals' main demand is for acquisition of 3,000 ropanis of land around the waste disposal site which is not something that the KMC can accomplish singlehandedly. The KMC is in touch with the federal government regarding the matter. "

Until last year, garbage collected from the 18 local levels in Kathmandu Valley was being managed at Sisdole. Then it was shifted to the nearby Banchadare Danda landfill site bordering Nuwakot and Dhading districts.

Foreign Minister NP Saud and his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar held a meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday.

The duo held the meeting while taking part in the meeting of foreign ministers of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member countries.

Both sides said that the meeting held during the two-day meeting of the foreign ministers of BIMSTEC in Bangkok was productive.

External Affairs Minister of India S Jayshankar said that the meeting with his Nepali counterpart was fruitful.

After the meeting, he said that India is ready to work with Nepal on the issues of mutual interest.

Two days after Nepal Bankers Association (NBA) decided to let the banks set their own interest rates, commercial banks on Sunday published their new interest rates for the month of Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August).

With the banking system flushed with excess liquidity, the NBA, an association of commercial banks’ CEO, on Thursday decided to allow the banks set the interest rate themselves, doing away with the long-standing interest rate cartelization practice.

Of the 21 commercial banks, four banks have decided to increase the interest rate on deposits, ten banks to decrease while six banks have kept the deposit interest rate as it is.

Sudesh Khaling, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Everest Bank said that banks have fixed the interest rate of deposits based on their requirements. "Banks having more deposits have reduced interest rates while those that need deposits have increased," said Khaling.

Since there is a low demand for loans, the majority of banks have lowered their interest rates. “This is what happens in an open and free market. Diversification in interest rates also gives customers the opportunity to choose the banks,” said Khaling.

The NMB Bank, Nabil Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, and Kumari Bank have increased the interest rate on deposits.  Nabil Bank has increased its maximum interest rate to 10.49 percent for fixed deposits. The bank has offered 5.90 to 7.90 interest rates for saving accounts. 

Among the commercial banks, NMB Bank has offered the highest interest rates on fixed deposits. The bank has introduced fixed interest rates for different periods, ranging from a minimum of nine percent to a maximum of 10.98 percent. The bank’s savings account holders will get interest rates from 5.98 to 7.98 percent.

Prime Commercial Bank has fixed interest rates of up to 10.93 percent for fixed deposits. As for the savings accounts, the bank has offered interest rates of 5.93 to 7.93 percent.

Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Global IME Bank, Lakshmi Sunrise Bank, Nepal SBI Bank, Himalayan Bank, and Citizens Bank have decided to maintain their existing interest rates.  The interest rate on fixed deposits of these banks stands at 9.99 percent.

While some banks have adjusted their interest rates upwards, others have opted to lower them. Rastriya Banijya Bank, Prabhu Bank, Nepal SBI Bank, Machhapuchhre Bank, Everest Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Siddhartha Bank, Sanima Bank, Nepal Bank, and Agricultural Development Bank have all reduced their interest rates.

Standard Chartered Bank Nepal has the lowest interest rate of 8.95 percent for fixed deposits. The bank has offered 8.95 percent interest on individual fixed deposits and 6.95 percent interest on institutional fixed deposits.

Commercial banks had decided to keep the deposit interest rate unchanged for the month of Ashad (mid-June to mid-July).

Currently, the banking system has deposits amounting to Rs 5,730bn, while loans totaling Rs 4,853bn. Since Baisakh, the banking system has collected Rs 242bn in deposits. In the first three weeks of Ashad (the last month of the fiscal year), Rs 147bn in deposits have been added to the banking system. With the improvement in liquidity, the CD ratio currently stands at 81.75 percent. Banks can provide loans with a CD ratio of up to 90 percent.

After reducing the deposit interest rate in Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May), the NBA, the association of CEOs of commercial banks, decided to keep it unchanged for the month of Jestha (mid-May to mid-June).

In Baisakh, under huge pressure from the private sector, NBA lowered the deposit interest rate to 9.99 percent for individual depositors. Similarly, the interest rate for institutional deposits was lowered to 7.99 percent from 9 percent.