By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Feb. 11: The Best Literary Work Award -2020 will be presented to writer and journalist Rajendra Parajuli’s memoir “Koteshworko Keto” (Koteshwor’s Boy).
The award established by the International Network of Nepali Journalists (INJA) carries a purse of Rs. 100,000.
The “Koteshworko Keto” has been selected for the prestigious award based on the reviews, sales, and recommendations from the writers and opinions of jury panels published in Nepali literary works in the year 2020.
Writer Parajuli has already five collection of stories including “Bikalpa Yatra”, “Jadoma Bhok”, “Sapanama Mask”, Shukraraj Shastriko Chasma” and “Aghori” to his credit.
He has contributed eight works to the Nepali literary world, including a novel “Anayika” and a collection of poems – “Bharsta Sambedana” and a memoir- ‘Koteshworko Keto’.
‘Koteshworko Keto’ offers a scene of Kathmandu of four and a half decades back.
This work presents a vivid picture of the then local people.
One part of his work covers difficult life of locals, human behaviour, culture, character, struggle and pain. His revelation that the Panchayat government used to compell the locals of Koteshwor to flee and live a poor life can be a hot topic for researchers now.
His ability to express even the smallest aspects of life in depth with a literary coating is truly amazing, said INGJ in its press statement.
He has divided the memoir into four parts and the first part is ‘Koteshwar’. The other three parts are ‘Anuhaarharu’, ‘Anubhuti Sufiana ‘ and ‘Aksharharusang’.
In the last part of ‘Aksharharusang’, Parajuli has brought many bittersweet contexts of journalism to limelight.
Having been a journalist for more than three decades, he has presented his experiences as they were.
He has succeeded in capturing the whole scene of Nepali journalism in this chapter.
Born in 1964 in Koteshwor, Kathmandu, he has a good reputation in Nepali literature and journalism.
“Never rumoured, never talked about, never rewarded or honoured, Rajendra Parajuli is quietly walking through his literary journey. INJA, an international network of Nepali journalists, is proud to reward this decent, talented and calm writer,” said INJA.
“I am very happy to dedicate this award to a powerful writer like Rajendra Parajuli,” said Ambika Gurung, a senior writer who has been sponsoring the Best Literary Work Award.