Suresh Badal is a Nepali writer and translator who became a published author in 2021, after the launch of his first book ‘Rahar’. He is also the translator of ‘Hippie’ by Paulo Coehlo. He published his second book ‘Maya Ka Masina Akshar’ in 2022. Anushka Nepal from ApEx talked to Badal about his reading and writing styles. Did you always want to become a writer? I don’t believe a lot of Nepalis think of pursuing writing as a career. But the signs are always there. Even for me, I used to read a lot as a kid. I remember going through every book or magazine that was placed in front of me. And I would often try to write my own pieces, as a way of copying authors that I loved. I think it was because of the societal pressure of having a stable career that I chose to become a microbiologist. It was years later when I finally got back into writing and actually became a published author.

What theme do you like to play with while working on a book?

My books are usually based on the life experiences of a young adult. Being one myself, I’m able to relate with the struggles and challenges they are going through. It’s mostly relatable for individuals in their 20s or 30s. So I think it’s fair to say that the theme for my books mostly come from my own life experiences.  Can you please run us through your process of translating Coelho’s ‘Hippie’? I had read the book before I began working on the translation. But while translating I think I understood the book from more than just one perspective. Usually while reading any book, we try and enjoy the story, finish it, and that’s the end of it. But while translating, I had a chance to go deeper and convey what I understood through my translation. It was like reading something and then making everyone else understand what I perceived. Translating ‘Hippie’ has been the best experience so far.  Which authors inspire you? When I was in school, I was mostly inspired by writers like Diamond Shumsher Rana, BP Koirala, and Bijay Malla. I would read every book I could find from these authors. If you talk about my writing, Bhairav Aryal has been the biggest influence. I think, like him, I also like to add subtle humor in my writings, although his works are one of a kind. But like most people, I have an author whom I absolutely idolize. For me that’s Dha Cha Gotame (Dhanush Chandra Gautam). There isn’t a single book of his that I haven’t read. But my favorite is ‘Yeha Dekhi Teha Samma’.  Do you have a to-be-read list of books? If you look at my shelves, there are nearly 40-50 books that have been there for almost four months. All of those are on my to-be-read list. I have been a bit busy so I haven’t had a chance to get started. But there are a few books among those I want to read as soon as possible. One is ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’ by Shehan Karunatilaka and the other is ‘The Satanic Verses’ by Salman Rushdie. I’m also looking forward to reading ‘Shunya ko Mulya’ by Dr Nawaraj KC.  What do you think Nepali readers are looking for? I think Nepali readers need a variety of books. We have some established authors but there aren’t that many books being published. This creates a vacuum for readers when they cannot get books that are as good as the ones they read previously. It only pushes them back from reading and hinders establishing a reading culture, especially among youths. I think we need to focus on promoting a bunch of writers so that readers won’t have to wait for a long time to find something they like.  Badal's picks Yeha Dekhi Teha Samma by Dha Cha Gotame This book can be considered as the continuation of the author’s book ‘Gham Ka Paila Haru’. The characters are similar to that book. It’s about the life lived in the villages of Nepal, and takes off from where the previous book ended.  The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka  The Booker Prize 2022 winner written by the Sri Lankan writer Shehan Karunatilaka is a satirical book. It’s actually historical fiction based on the murderous mayhem during the civil war in Sri Lanka.  The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie Written in 1988 by Salman Rushdie, ‘The Satanic Verses’ is a book that was inspired by the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was banned in India and there was even a fatwa against Rushdie because of it.  Shunya ko Mulya by Dr Nawaraj KC ‘Shunya ko Mulya’, written by Dr Nawaraj KC, is based on the gruesome reality of women living in Karnali, including but not limited to the suffering and health issues they endure.