Born in 1960, Krishna Dharabasi is one of the bestselling Nepali writers. He has several books to his credit and they are mostly based on past and present societal issues. Some of his notable works are ‘Radha’, a novel published in 2005, and a short story ‘Jhola’, that was adapted into a motion picture in 2014. He is also a literary critic. Anushka Nepal talked to Dharabasi to find out what he reads, how and why he writes, and whether we are all capable of telling stories. Can you tell us a little about your reading habits? My reading habit is a bit diverse. I used to read ever since I was a child, and back then I was into ready fantasy books. After completing my schooling, I was more interested in reading books based on spirituality. I mostly read books by Dr Narayan Dutt Shrimali, and I still do. I don’t exactly remember the number of books that I have read but I read both fiction and non-fiction. I also read books in Nepali, Hindi, and English. These days, I’m more into audiobooks. It’s quite a comforting feeling.

What books are you currently reading?

I’ve always read across genres but one thing I missed out on reading was science. I think I’m yet to unlock the mysteries of the world. So currently, I’m reading ‘A Brief History of Time’ by Stephen Hawking. It’s something which I believe will give me a greater knowledge about the reality and the universe we are living in. After finishing this book, I’m planning to dig deeper in the field of science, especially physics. It will be a completely new journey for me. Which are some of your favorite books? It’s difficult to pick my favorites because there are many books that I’ve enjoyed reading. I think that’s true for every reader. But then if I absolutely had to name a few, those would be ‘The Good Earth’ by Pearl S. Buck, ‘Chapaieka Anuhar’ by Daulat Bikram Bista, ‘Atma Britanta’ by BP Koirala, and ‘Shesh Prashna’ a Bengali novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. You write essays and stories. Which one do you enjoy more?  I started my writing journey with poems. I wrote a lot of those during my 30s. But then, I wanted to do something different. That is when I decided to work on essays, stories, and novels, but that didn’t happen till I turned 40. Although I have written quite a few novels, my preference has always been essays. Even now, I keep writing essays on different topics, even though none of them have been out yet. I also write descriptive essays on the topic of social issues and politics. I enjoy them. It gives me immense mental clarity When you sit down to write, what do you focus on?  I focus on two things when I write a book. First, I want to explore the issue I’m writing about in depth. I don’t want it to be superficial and vague. Second, I try to highlight the struggles faced by the marginalized community in Nepal. That requires me to understand and empathize with what that community might have gone through. Every time I write, I try to put myself in my character’s shoes. Are you biased towards any of your published works? I’m specially attached to Jhola because it feels personal. I lost my father when I was young, and my mother raised me and my siblings. Just imagine if Sati Pratha was still around at that time. I would have lost my mother on the same day too. Would I have become a writer? Would I have even survived this long? What would have happened to my siblings? All these thoughts inspired me to write this story from the perspective of a son. Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers? I think, as a writer, it’s important to have vast knowledge of a lot of topics. That will give you an idea for an angle while writing a book. If you read multiple books about the same thing, you will be able to view the same issue in different ways. Then, being able to put things in perspective, in your own way, is what will make you a good writer. So my only suggestion is that you read a lot. Collect as much information as you can and then unleash it all.