I was born in Kathmandu, but I had the privilege of living in strange parts of the world. Unfamiliar places were a gift to my formative years (and for my reading habits). Through college, when there was no obligation to continue with literature, I chose to be immersed poetry and writing. Although a Management and Philosophy major, my vocational studies combined classes with courses heavy on the reading scale (not so true for the Management major). During and after college I worked my way through a mixed collection of capacities till I came back to Nepal. I have been here for the last two-and-a-half years–working with the arts. Several projects later, I am currently involved with the Climate + Change event at the Nepal Art Council, a science/art/photography exhibition that functions as a platform for climate change dialogue. I used to conduct a writing session (a year ago) for those interesting in honing their skills but because of work I wasn’t able to continue even though the programme had been around for several months.

What are you presently reading?

I am currently reading Kafka’s Metamorphosis. In an attempt to help a cousin with her winter assignment, I got a copy. Now that she’s done with it, I have been reorienting myself with the novella. It is interesting re-reading a book from your younger days. There is this opportunity to learn about what has changed within you, through the words of another. It is a process of understanding what was (once) picked up and how the experience begins to change the memories dedicated to what was played out in the narrative. I imagine, having read Kafka a long time ago–it might have been for school, an essay or tests–there could have been  an agenda then, but today I am taking it slow, paying attention to each comma and period.

How did you first come to love books?

I am a big fan of short stories; I guess that is how it started. I can still recall this one instance, in the sixth grade, reading a science-fiction short (could have been an excerpt, not sure). It was about space-travel and the protagonist narrated his arrival on a strange planet with unimagined creatures. For me, that’s when reading became fun: the potential to create entire worlds (sounds a bit like Inception) from unrestrained thought. I also remember a picture, supplied with the story–an eerie black-and-white sketch of a spaceship, suspended somewhere in space.  

Who are your favourite writers, and why?

Issac Asimov is by far my most-read author. The conceptual, metaphoric, simple eloquence of Asimov, for me, is unmatched. Kurt Vonnegut’s humour, the philosophy of Albert Camus and the surreal humanscape of Gabriel Garcia Marquez have shaped my thoughts to a certain extent. Robert A. Heinlein, Raymond Chandler, Alejo Carpentier, Toni Morrison and many others are also on my list. Oh, and I used to revel in Dickens as a young reader. I cannot confidently speak about Nepali authors yet, but I am working on it.

What is good writing for you? What would you say makes a good writer?

It all about getting yourself across and being careful about the choices you make. All the words in the dictionary could be combined to make billions of connections, ideas, emotions, dialogues and rhymes. A good writer is able to synthesise that right combination, and play out extremely delicate narratives with ease.

 How do you select books to read? One book that inspired you a lot, and why?

It’s definitely passive: some things I come across on the net; a review, or a friend’s bookshelf (at passing) are things that might inspire. But I never place importance on the medium or the length; the content is what counts, so most of the time I read randomly. And there have been times when I have actively tried to pick up books at random. The time I spent in New York, I used to pick up books from the streets, so chance decided what I read for that entire period (I do not regret that decision).

One book that has inspired me a lot, was Heinlein’s Job: A Comedy of Justice. In Manhattan, I started out as a dishwasher and worked my way up. Heinlein’s protagonist in that particular book (I was reading at the time) is sent from one reality to the next. Regardless, he ends up being a dishwasher in each of those realities. There is one epic line“ “A competent and reliable dishwasher never starves. (He’s more likely to die of boredom).” That was me at the time.

 How do you evaluate the present trend of Nepali Literature?

I don’t think we (as a people) have really tried to make kids enjoy reading. Regardless of where Nepali Literature is, it can grow and excel when the audience is ravenous for more.

Your advice for young readers?

Just read, whether it is a well-written post on Facebook, hopefully, an article, a play, a novel, graffiti or a worn-out flier on the street. Read. There is no better way to live vicariously!