Anil Giri has authored four collections of poems and two books of critical writings. A Phd in literature, currently Giri is the Head of Poetry Department in Nepal Academy of Fine Arts.

Giri has been invested in the field of Nepali literature since last four decades and in this conversation with Post’s Samikshya Bhattarai, he talks about current trend and his writing habits. 

What got you into reading and writing? 

I got into reading and writing while I was at school. My school encouraged students to participate in various literary programmes. Poetry recitals were prominent, but it also organised other events at which I was always in the audience. I enjoyed these events a lot and eventually got inspired to pen some poems myself. Growing up, I became aware of social injustices that blanketed our society and learnt about the role literature can play in fighting them. It was the desire to confront the social evils with my words that fueled the poet in me.

Is poetry an overlooked genre of literature in the present day?

When one speculates the genre independent of the entire Nepali literature scape, the field has definitely evolved. However, when we look at the larger picture, poetry is not flourishing as rapidly and as impressively as the other genres. Compared to both fiction and non-fiction in prose, poetry is still falling behind in the race. There are many talented poets, but the readership is very limited. The fondness for novels and shorts-stories is very prominent among Nepali readers-but then again, it’s also a trend worldwide. So, poetry isn’t necessarily overlooked or of lesser importance, it’s just a matter of readership and what’s trending. 

In context of Nepal, poets are rarely awarded or recognised as compared to novelists and story writers. Meanwhile, we can also see a host of poets resorting to writing novels, abandoning poetry. Why do you think is this happening?

Yes, it is true. Poets are not widely awarded or recognised as the writers from other genres in Nepal. A poetry collection was nominated for the Madan Puraskar this year—after a really long time—and yet, it lost to a story collection. Again it all boils down to lack of market. Because the readership is limited, the publishers aren’t so keen on publishing poems either. Publishers look at the economic value that a work of literature produces, and poems don’t generate so much profit. Lesser the books published, lesser the books that come in the radar of the award committee and more rigorous the qualifying process gets.

As a poet as well as the Head of Poetry Department in Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, what do you think is necessary to increase the readership of poetry?

Firstly, I think it is necessary to make the language comprehensible and the content more powerful and emotive—in order to attract the reader. The poets need to understand the society inside-out in order to express aptly and allow the poems to resonate with the readers. Secondly, both the writers and publishers need to pay attention to marketing of the genre. When a novel is released, the marketing is often done extensively—with the writers travelling across the country, holding book discussions and interacting with readers. Poets need to start doing the same. 

As the head of poetry department, I am trying to promote and preserve the essence of poetry. Our department has been holding various discussions about contemporary poems and status of poetry as well as various recitation programs to obtain readers’ attention.

Film and literature have a very close relationship with each other, but in the context of Nepal that has not been the case. As a former chairperson of Nepal Film Board, what do you think is the reason? 

Even though literature and film are closely related, they don’t resonate with each other so often in Nepal. I think one of the main reasons is the standard of the Nepali cinema. Most Nepali films are very commercial and they don’t pay attention to the literary aspect of the story much. Few literary figures have tried to involve themselves in movies, but the lack of consideration to the plot and the essence eventually pushed them away from the industry. As soon as the quality and standard of Nepali film industry escalates, I am sure literature and the film industry will start collaborating.

What advice do you have for readers?

Readers’ feedbacks are very important for writers, so, I request the readers to sharpen their awareness about literature and pay attention to details. Only an aware reader will be able to encourage and help a writer grow.