Saraswati Pratikshya is a well-known Nepali author. Her novel ‘Nathiya’, published in 2018, delves into the issues faced by the Badi people (Dalit community across the Hilly and upper Tarai region of Nepal). Apart from that, she has published three other poetry books, ‘Yadhyapi Prashnaharu’, ‘Bimbaharuko Kathaghara’, and ‘Bagi Sarangi’. Anushka Nepal from ApEx talked to Pratikshya to find out what drives her to write. What made you pursue writing as a career?  There’s nothing else that gives me more happiness than playing with words. I think writing is something that has helped me find myself and attain inner peace. Every time I write, it’s like I’m inventing something new and nothing is more blissful than that. Writing is my passion and that passion gives me happiness. Sometimes, people ask me, ‘What did you get from writing?’ To them, I say, ‘What haven’t I gotten from writing?’ If I were to ever stop doing what I do best, I don’t think I would be doing justice to my true self. I will be left with nothing.

Has the journey been difficult? 

I chose to be a writer so I guess I shouldn’t be complaining. But, in a country like Nepal, being a writer comes with a fair share of struggles. You have to give up a lot when it comes to money and success in this field. There is no certainty. Being a woman writer is another challenge. There are family issues and other obstacles. Rather than judging me based on my professional skills, people would often comment on my character. When that’s the case, it’s difficult to stay focused on your goal unless you have a strong will, motivation, and self-confidence. I’ve overcome every one of those obstacles to get to where I am today. Could you please walk us through your writing process?  Writing feels like meditation to me. I’m fully involved in whatever I’m writing at the moment. Currently, I’m working on a novel. The process of writing a novel is very entertaining. One, there are actual characters, and two, there are characters that I have created, living in my imaginary world. As a writer, I get to live in both of these worlds which is such a fascinating experience. Some authors refrain from reading other writings, fearing that their work might somehow get influenced by someone else’s writing style. I’m the exact opposite. I like to read as many books as I can when I’m writing. It lets me think about what new information I can offer my readers through my work. The happiness I feel when my books get published is only half of it. The best part is how I feel when I’m in the process of writing a book. Some people prefer to write at a cafe or someplace where there is a crowd. But I prefer a secluded environment. I like to play some music on low volume and light-up some incense sticks before I sit down to write. It creates a peaceful environment for me to concentrate and let my thoughts flow smoothly. Do you get writer’s block?  Luckily, I have never experienced writer’s block. But life doesn’t always turn out to be the way you think it will or the way you want it to be. So there have been times when I have been quite detached from writing. One was during my pregnancy. Maybe it was the hormonal changes I was going through, I didn’t feel like writing at all. As my child grew up, I was finally able to get back to my normal self. Soon after that, I lost my brother. I took a break from writing for around two years after that. I was dealing with a lot of mental and emotional trauma. I have finally gotten back on my feet and have started writing again. What are the books you would recommend people to read? I think everyone’s reading preferences are different. It depends on people’s personalities and what they want to perceive from the writings they read. Two people might not like the same book. So, it’s quite difficult to recommend books in that sense. But there are some books that I have loved that I’d love for people to read as well. They are ‘Bichar Bigyan’ by Khaptad Baba, ‘The Prophet’ by Kahlil Gibran, ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ by Gabriel García Márquez, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ by Maya Angelou, and ‘The Color Purple’ by Alice Walker. Pratikshya’s picks Bichar Bigyan by Khaptad Baba This book, written by Khaptad Baba, one of the masters of spirituality, is all about the science behind thoughts. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran The Prophet is a book of 26 prose poetry fables written in English. It’s considered to be one of Gibran’s best works. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez This book tells the story of the Buendía family, whose family head, José Arcadio Buendía, founded the fictitious town of Macondo. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou This is an autobiography, describing the early years of the American writer, Maya Angelou.