Indian Embassy and B.P. Koirala India-Nepal Foundation organized 22nd edition of Conversations on Friday, December 26 at Nepal Bharat Library, Nepal Airlines Building in New Road.

According to a pres release of Indian Embassy, this edition of Conversations discussed the literary journey of eminent author/poet Bhisma Upreti. Senior surgeon and poet of Nepal Dr. Saroj Dhital introduced Bhimsa Upreti as one of the most contemporary poets of Nepal whose literary works are spontaneous and consistent.

“He does not plan what he will write and that is the whole beauty of his writing. They are fresh, they are free, they make you pause and wonder, they are full of metaphors, puns and they evoke the silences of our day to day lives. I would call him a romantic poet. I also see advocacy in his writing,” shared Dr Dhital as he was introducing the author Bhisma Upreti.

Upreti added, “Yes, I am a romantic poet, who however does not romanticize about everything in writing. Grief, tragedy, loss, social ills can also be romanticized for they are such an integral part of our lives. I would not say that my poems try to advocate anything in particular but certainly all poets write with an inspiration and their poems end up advocating something or the other.”

Dr. Dhital further recited some of Upreti’s poems from his anthology “Just as I am” while Upreti recited selected poems in Nepali from his “Kabitaa Ma Pahaad.”

Upreti also shared how he came to Kathmandu in 1986 and met poet Manjul who appreciated a young poet inside Upreti.

“I became very fond of Manjul and his poetry and learn a lot about poetry from him. Sometimes, people ask me if I would still have been a poet had I not been a banker by profession – I reiterate this that yes I’d still be a poet,” Upreti explained.

 The event concluded with interaction between the audience and Upreti on poetry, its scope in Nepal and the technicalities that come along.

Abhay Kumar, Secretary of B.P. Koirala India-Nepal Foundation presented token of appreciation to Upreti and Dr. Dhital.