Bhuwan Hari Sigdel is a 74-year-old Nepali poet and novelist who has 10 books to his credit. Some of his notable works are ‘Aamoi’, ‘Ramila Nani’, and ‘Jadau Malik’. Babita Shrestha from ApEx talked to Sigdel about his writing career. You started your writing career a little late. What inspired you to write?  I worked for a company in the private sector before becoming a writer. Although I enjoyed reading, I didn’t write much. I first started writing poetry after I retired in my 50s. The first poem I ever wrote was ‘Aartanada’ back in 2002. It’s based on a soldier’s history as well as the works of half a dozen other poets. After 2009, I decided to try writing prose. Since then, I have published several other writings. But initially, my friends thought writing prose would be challenging. And it was. It was the will to pursue that challenge that motivated me throughout the journey. I like to test my limits and push my boundaries with my work.

Can you run us through your writing process?

I write in a pretty conventional manner. I still write stories on paper rather than typing them out. For the first draft, I let my writing flow without any corrections and while editing I make the changes. Before anything else, I create chapters for my novel to avoid redundancy. Then I decide on the plot for the chapters. I try to employ hooks in the initial pages to draw the curiosity of the readers and use other strategic approaches. I get completely lost when I’m writing. I actually detach from all social activities, turn off my phone, and just write. What has been the most challenging part of your literary journey? I was nominated for the Madan Puraskar for my book ‘Aamoi’. But I didn’t win. The fifth edition of the book has just been released since it’s still in demand. To avoid paying shares, the market publishes and sells the book while keeping the writer in the dark. So, the market has been my greatest challenge in the writing world. But I believe I was able to overcome that, establish myself, and receive numerous honors. I took a break from writing for a while, due to some health issues. Now, I’m working on my autobiography. Which among your books do you think readers should not miss out on? I would specifically recommend ‘Aamoi’. It’s a story about the life of a woman from 104 years ago. ‘Sarangi’ is a good choice too. It tells the story of a member from the Gandarva community, who lost his hearing. I think people should also read my other book called ‘Jadau Malik’, which tells the story of the Chaudhary community in Bardia. It portrays the custom followed in Bardia where the male head of the village (Malik) marries a laborer. In my writings, I strive to assemble the dark aspects of society, including the gloomy pasts of many regions of Nepal. What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Digital technology is deteriorating the new generation’s capacity to be creative. There is also a decline in the reading culture. So, I’d advise them to develop a reading habit. Read literature related to your field and interests. It will help you develop your ideas as well as express them clearly. The first person to read your writing is you. Make sure you are satisfied with the work you have done. Don’t be afraid to rewrite. Be persistent and patient. Most importantly, try to be original and create your writing style. Sigdel’s picks: Char Khola Ko Aaganima by Bhabani Khatiwada It’s a verse poem about Khatiwada’s travel journey to Ilam. Anurag  by Jaya Ojha This is a contemporary fiction about women empowerment and motherhood.