Author Rajendra Parajuli’s new collection of short stories, Aghori, has been released. The collection includes 17 stories which, according to the book’s publishers, delve into the various facets of modern Nepali society.

“Everybody has a story to tell, but not everyone can tell them,” a note released by the book’s publisher states. “The book brings to forth what could be commonplace stories that rarely get told, stories about love, anger, misery, happiness, and a wide range of emotions and sensibilities.”

Speaking about the book, Parajuli says, “Our society and societal values are mostly static. This book is my attempt to create a ripple in that still society.”

Aghori is Parajuli’s fourth collection of short stories. Beside short stories, Parajuli has also written poetry and novels. His previous collection of stories, Shukraraj Shastri ko Chasma, was shortlisted for Madan Puraskar in 2017.

Aghori’s characters include a failed politician seeking some respite; a Bhutanese researcher trying to unravel the mystery of the Royal Massacre; and an author desperately aiming at the Madan Puraskar.

Aghori is the newly-founded Kitab Publisher’s second book, following Biman Bidroha, a memoir by democratic rights fighter Durga Subedi.

Contrary to the traditional way of getting noted personalities to launch the book amid a ceremony, Aghori was launched by the author himself at a road in Jawalakhel.