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Bookworm Babbles: Portraying reality artistically
With poetry anthologies like Koseli Uslai and Bhawana ka Taranga, a novel Sikka ka Dui Pata, and several popular lyrics to her name, Unnati Bohara is a literary figure with many different hats.With poetry anthologies like Koseli Uslai and Bhawana ka Taranga, a novel Sikka ka Dui Pata, and several popular lyrics to her name, Unnati Bohara is a literary figure with many different hats. Bohara who describes herself as a lyricist first and foremost, has also dabbled with children’s literature, a genre she describes as the most difficult to write in. In this interview with The Post’s Samikshya Bhattarai, Bohara talks about why she enjoys reading writings that are rooted in reality and how Nepali literature has evolved over the years. Excerpts:
What first inspired you to read and write?
I was interested in reading and writing from a very young age. I vividly remember participating and winning a district-level poetry writing competition when I was 12. This win was a great boost for my confidence and I started to write more, as well as participate in other competitions. Besides this, my father was also an avid reader and a writer; he was a great source of inspiration for me as I took my initial steps towards literature.
You have written in many genres—poetry, lyrics, novels, as well as children’s books. What is your favourite genre to write in?
I think above all, I love creating new ideas, so it doesn’t really bother me what platform those ideas take. But if I were to pick one, I would say that poetry and lyrics are my forte. I started off by writing poems and it was through lyrics that I first found recognition, so those two genres remain close to my heart. Besides this, poems and songs come naturally to me—I don’t need to mull over it too much. Furthermore, because they are full of emotions, it makes them much easier to relate to for my readers. I love how minimalistic these two forms are, and that for me is why they are beautiful.
You have written books for children as well. How different was it from your other works and what were the challenges?
I think it is easier to write for adults, as you need to put a lot of thought and care when you write for younger readers. Children are very sensitive and because of the the way they process information, writing for them is indeed a daunting task. The biggest challenge while writing for children is understanding their psychology—what they like, how they engage with the narrative and what makes a text interesting for them. Also, you need to make the stories playful and disguise the learning lessons in interesting ways so that the children don’t feel bored by the book. It was a lot harder than I had anticipated.
You have been engaged in the Nepali literary scene for a long time. How has it evolved over the years?
There have been quite some changes in Nepali literature over the years—both positive and negative. Today, there are a lot of books being published and the readership is growing, but, on the other hand, the publishing industry has also become highly commercialised. We no longer have writers who are writing for the craft and the pleasure of writing; it is mostly just for fame and money these days. We come from a very rich literary tradition—with towering powerhouses like Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Bhanubhakta and Lekhnath Poudyal. But today we hardly have any writers who are as prolific as they were; we don’t even come remotely close. So, yes, the industry has changed, but I would not say that it has enhanced the quality of the literature being produced all that much.
What for you is good writing?
I love non-fiction. Even when I read or write fiction, I prefer them to be based on true events. So, for me, good writing reflects reality and everyday situations. Though I respect people who write stories that are imaginative, I personally prefer to read about the society, the world that we live in and the people that surround us. Having said that, good writing for me is something that portrays reality and truth in an artistic way. I think the difference between good and bad writing is the way the story is presented rather than the content.
What advice do you have for readers?
I would request readers to read more as reading is very important in life. Being well-read is a great asset to have, regardless of what profession you are in. Also, as the internet is connecting readers to authors like never before, I would like to ask readers to review books honestly and to give suggestions to authors so that they can make improvements in future.