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Novelist Suman Barsha’s story collection ‘Abhyantar’ was launched on Thursday at a program held at the Parijat Hall of the Nepal Academy. The event featured prominent guests including chief guest Abhi Subedi, Gyanu Pandey, Nayanraj Pandey, Jagat Timilsina, Binod Chandra Pant, and Pushpraj Poudel.

Chief guest Subedi discussed Barsha’s storytelling, highlighting its uniqueness and her commendable efforts to introduce new themes. While Barsha, who teaches English, has stories that may seem simple at first glance, they exhibit influences from Western storytelling. Subedi noted that her collection stands out due to its inclusion of social issues, science fiction, environmental themes, and robotic tales, and added that Barsha has written some stories from different perspectives and styles, demonstrating a high degree of authorial freedom.

Similarly, in her remarks, Pandey pointed out that Barsha’s stories portray the realities of society by addressing various societal issues. She mentioned that Barsha’s collection provides a good depiction of society, stating, “Writers are the psychotherapists of society. They expose the inner wounds of society through literature and show paths for healing.”

Another speaker, Pandey, shared his reading reflections on Barsha’s collection, mentioning that some of her stories present diverse themes and styles. He described her as a courageous storyteller who effortlessly depicts various subjects and narratives in her works.

Other guests, including Jagat Timilsina, Binod Chandra Pant, and Somika Basnet, also shared their thoughts. Barsha, in her authorial remarks, discussed the inspirations and influences behind the stories in her collection. The two-hour program was chaired by Pushpraj Poudel, the Founder of Shikha Books, and was conducted by writer Ranjana Niroula.

Previously, Shikha Books had published Barsha’s novel ‘Antatah Yantrana’.

In honor of World Cleanup Day on Sept 20 and World River Day on Sept 21, communities across Nepal participated in a week-long River Cleanup Campaign. This initiative, aimed at tackling river pollution, saw local residents, youth groups, and prominent figures come together to promote environmental awareness. Major cleanup efforts took place in areas including Lalitpur, Hetauda, Bharatpur, Ichchakamana, and Gajuri.

The campaign came at a critical time as recent floods caused by the overflowing Bagmati River on Sept 28 and 29 left behind significant debris and plastic waste along the riverbanks. The floodwaters, which also resulted in the tragic loss of over 236 lives, including 40 fatalities in Lalitpur, exposed the growing issue of plastic pollution in Nepal's rivers. Similar scenes were observed in Saptakoshi, where plastic bottles clogged the dam.

Throughout the cleanup campaign, over 1,500 kg of waste was collected. Lalitpur led the efforts with 900 kg removed by 74 volunteers, while other cities, including Hetauda, Bharatpur, and Gajuri, also contributed significantly to the campaign. The involvement of local leaders, such as Lalitpur's Deputy Mayor, Manjali Shakya Bajracharya, highlighted the importance of community participation in these efforts.

The initiative also focused on youth empowerment through the VFC (Volunteer for Change) Youth Cohort program, a project by CREASION that promotes plastic waste collection and recycling. Twelve young leaders were selected from 187 applicants to spearhead local advocacy efforts, with grants supporting their activities to create lasting environmental change.

The Russian House in Kathmandu and the Museum of Modern Nepalese Art (MoNA) jointly hosted an art exhibition titled Tales of Two Worlds: Myths and Legends of Russia and Nepal, in honor of the 150th anniversary of Russian painter Nikolay Roerich. The event, which took place on October 2, also saw the signing of an Agreement on Intent to Promote Russian Culture in Nepal, further solidifying cultural ties between the two nations.

The exhibition showcases a diverse collection of reproductions from renowned Russian painters and graphic designers, including Andrei Rublev, Victor and Appolinari Vasnetsov, Ilya Repin, Mikhail Nesterov, Vasily Surikov, and Nikolay Roerich, among others. Representing Nepal, the works of celebrated artists such as Manik Mann Chitrakar, Tej Bahadur Chitrakar, Gyankar Badrachary, Rajan Panta, and Seema Sharma Shah were on display.

Through these reproduced masterpieces, the exhibition delves into the myths, legends, and folklore that have influenced the civilizations and contemporary societies of both Russia and Nepal. The collection aims to familiarize visitors with the artistic heritage and cultural narratives that have shaped both countries over centuries. This event is considered a significant step toward enhancing cultural cooperation between Nepal and Russia.

Annapurna Media Network (AMN) celebrated its inaugural ‘AMN Day’ on the occasion of Ghatasthapana, marking a new tradition for the company. During the event, AMN announced plans to hold the celebration annually. 

Staff exchanged festive greetings for Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath, while top-performing employees were recognized from every department for their achievements.

Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Editor of The Annapurna Express, was honored with the ‘Chairman’s Excellence Award’ at the ceremony. Pratik Ghimire, News Coordinator of The Annapurna Express, along with Meena Kumari Singh of Annapurnapost.com, Dinesh Gautam of Annapurna Post, Keshar Raj Chhetri, Butwal Correspondent of Annapurna Post, and Bibhor Adhikari of Radio Annapurna were also recognized.

Additionally, Binod Koirala, Senior Marketing Manager, and Binod Pun of the Circulation Department received awards. Likewise, Bikesh Shakya from the Human Resources and Administration Department, Rupak Ghimire from the Finance Department, and JK Deula, Office Assistant, were honored.

The company also awarded the best advertising agencies that have consistently collaborated with AMN.

Rajan Babu Shrestha, Managing Director of Join Media House; Ashok Ghimire, Managing Director of Future Hub Media Multipurpose Pvt Ltd; Devraj Gurung, Managing Director of Rainbow Media; Raju Dhungel, Managing Director of Impressions A Creative Design Pvt Ltd; Sanjiv Pokharel and Toran Karmacharya of Kite Advertising Agency; Sujan Bagale of Karobar Media; Sabin Shakya, Managing Director of Max Media; Uma Khanal and Sujit Singh of Outreach Nepal; and Shiva Neupane, CEO of Media Sense, were all honored.

Chairperson Capt Rameshwar Thapa acknowledged the challenges facing the global media industry, stating, “The global media business is in crisis, and we are no exception. Yet, we are striving to improve the situation.” He expressed gratitude to the staff for their dedication and hard work during difficult times.

Tejeswar Babu Gonga, a retired professor and cultural expert, praised AMN’s contribution to Nepali journalism and society. Gonga, a regular contributor to Annapurna Post, commended AMN for its consistent efforts.

AMN’s media outlets include Annapurna Post (Nepali daily), The Annapurna Express (English daily), annapurnapost.com, Radio Annapurna, and AP1 HD TV.