Sahityapost has longlisted 11 fiction works for the prestigious award ‘Sahityapost Uttam Aakhyan Puraskar 2081’. This longlist was selected from 44 fiction works published in the year 2081 that were received by Sahityapost for the award. The selection was based on scores provided by journalists, writers, editors, and well-wishers associated with Sahityapost. The award carries a cash prize of NPR 50,000.
The selected works include: Ujyalo Aunsi (novel) by Anita Koirala, Katha Hun Katha Hainan (short stories) by Raman, Chindrabinod (micro-fiction) by Mahendra Neupane, Dheemahi (novel) by Jayaram Timilsina, Nilo Prem (novel) by Purushottam Bajgain, Naula Shikshakharu (novel) by Gyanendra Raj Kafle, Pyauli (novel) by Balika Bantawa, Pahichan (novel) by Mamata Mishra, Muna-Madan Ko Divorce Party (short stories) by Deepak Samir, Royal Charghare (novel) by Rajkumar Shrestha, and Supreme Supriya (novel) by Kiran Nepali.
A shortlist of five works will be published in the second phase of the award process followed by the top three titles in the third phase. Among them, one will be declared as the winner of the Sahityapost Uttam Fiction Award with a prize of NPR 50,000.
“As in previous years, we are honoring three debut works—one each in fiction, poetry, and non-fiction—with a cash prize of NPR 50,000 and a certificate of honor, as part of our annual initiative to recognize the first works of emerging writers,” said Ashwini Koirala, coordinator of the award committee and editor-in-chief of Sahityapost. “New authors are showing an impressive inclination toward fiction. The selected works suggest a promising future for this genre. We’ve observed that the new generation’s fiction writing is becoming increasingly rich.”
According to Koirala, the 11 works in the longlist reflect what the new generation is writing, what kind of experimentation is happening in fiction, and hint at the evolving future of Nepali literary writing.
Initiated in 2077, the award was first presented under the name Sahityapost Uttam Kriti Puraskar to Kedhar Bashistha’s Nepal Vidya. In the second year, the awards were presented in two categories: Sahityapost Uttam Kriti Puraskar and Sahityapost Uttam Kavya Puraskar, which were awarded to Ghaam Bhanda Pahile by Bhawani Khatiwada and Jil Khairahako Ekkaisau Shatabdi by Shanti Priyabandana, respectively.
In 2079, the awards were given in three categories: Pradeep Rodan’s Muffler (ghazal collection) in poetry, Haribol Kafle’s Yashodhara in fiction, and Dr. Avanibhushan Upadhyay’s Mutu Sanga Sahayatra in non-fiction.
Likewise, last year’s winners were Devbrat’s poetry collection Ashwatthama Ko Nidhar Bata Bagmati Bagchha, Sagar Khadka’s novel Raipali Bhanyjang, and Umakanta Paudyal’s Buddhakalin Samaj in non-fiction.
As in previous years, this year too, three outstanding debut works—one from each genre—will be honored with NPR 50,000 each.
“These selected works will be reviewed by subject editors and independent judges,” said Sahityapost editor Krishna Dhungel. “We are committed to recognizing debut works that offer both depth and literary merit,” he said. “This strong list gives us full confidence that the final winner will be a deserving one.”
The Sahityapost Uttam Aakhyan Puraskar is sponsored by literary figure Chaitanya Adhikari, who holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Saga University, Japan, and also serves as the secretary of the Pokhara-based Yuwa Sanskritik Pariwar. His poetry collections Juddha Shamsherka Naam Ma and Jhariko Kinar have been published.
The longlists for the Sahityapost Uttam Kavya Puraskar and Uttam Gairakhyan Puraskar have already been announced.
