Renowned Poet Shrawan Mukarung Debuts as Novelist with 'Salah'

Kathmandu. The Nepalaya Arashala in Kalikasthan, Kathmandu, was packed with readers and literature enthusiasts on Saturday morning. The atmosphere was highly enthusiastic as Shrawan Mukarung, long known as a poet and lyricist, presented himself as a novelist for the first time.

The crowd at the launch event for Mukarung's debut novel 'Salah' was so large that organizers had to open additional doors to the hall. Addressing the readers who could not fit inside and were listening from outside, author Mukarung stated that he is a writer for the marginalized and the excluded.

During the launch, Mukarung became emotional while remembering his father. Reflecting on his four-decade-long literary journey, he mentioned that he initially entered literature through essays and plays. Having started his journey by writing the essay 'Hulaki Banne Dhoko' in grade 7 and the play 'Astitwa' in grade 9, he later established himself in poetry and songwriting. Explaining that he has written across various genres, Mukarung clarified that certain subjects demand their own form, and that is how the novel 'Salah' was born.

Sharing a poignant anecdote from his childhood, Mukarung expressed the belief that imagination and memory are what sustain people. Recalling an incident from his time in Jhoda, Udayapur, where he burned down his own hut in search of a great light, he subtly alluded to political movements, noting that seeking too much light can also lead to darkness. Having reached the pinnacle of fame with his poem 'Bise Nagarchi ko Bayan' during the 2062/063 People's Movement, he noted that he ventured into the novel genre late, encouraged by friends and the narrative flavor inherent in his poetry.

Nepalaya editor Bimal Acharya expressed confidence that Shrawan Mukarung's arrival would further enrich the fiction genre. Over his four-decade journey, Mukarung has published acclaimed poetry collections such as 'Desh Khojdai Janda', 'Jeevan ko Laya', and 'Bise Nagarchi ko Bayan', as well as song collections like 'Hiun ko Darbar'. At the event, the author launched the novel by gifting copies to musician Kali Prasad Baskota, director Rambabu Gurung, and his wife Gita Thapa Magar.