Sahityapost has announced the shortlist of five books for ‘Sahityapost Uttam Akhyan Puraskar 2080’. The award is presented to the debut authors who have entered Nepali literature through fiction.
The shortlist for the “Sahityapost Uttam Akhyan Award 2080” includes Bishnu Sapkota’s novel Adiyeka Paila, Bhagwat Khanal’s short story collection Baba Mero PR Aayo, Khem Batas’s short story collection Budhipolli, Pragya’s novel Vishanu Rae, and Sagar Khadka’s novel Raipali Bhanjyang.
Earlier, Sahityapost had released a longlist of ten works of fiction out of thirty-seven it received from different debut authors whose woks were published within the year 2080. The shortlist of five narrative works was chosen based on evaluations of those ten works.
The previously longlisted works included Bishnu Sapkota’s novel Adiyeka Paila, Anu Bigyati’s micro-story collection Akshar Rekha, Basanta Bayung Rai’s novel Kathuwa, Pragya’s novel Tejaswini Sadan, Bhagwat Khanal’s short story collection Baba Mero PR Aayo, Khem Batas’s short story collection Budhipolli, Rabindra KC’s short story collection Sambandhko Dobato, Pragya’s novel Bishanu Rae, Sagar Khadka’s novel Raipali Bhanjyang, and Dr. Kusumakar Sharma Gautam’s micro-story collection Heu ko Raap.
One outstanding work from the five shortlisted debut work of fiction will be declared the winner of ‘Sahityapost Uttam Akhyan Puraskar 2080,’ and the debut author will receive a cash prize of 50,000 rupees.
Aswini Koirala, the chief editor of Sahityapost and coordinator of the evaluation committee, stated that the shortlisted works of of fiction signal for a brighter future of Nepali fiction. He said, “The five books selected from the longlist of ten works indicate a prosperous future for Nepali narrative literature. The novels and short stories showcase creativity, deep thinking, unique perspectives on a subject, and dedication of our emerging writers.”
Sahityapost has been conferring different awards to debut authors in three genres; Poetry, Fiction and non- Fiction. Five works of poetry have already been shortlisted for ‘Sahityapost Uttam Kavya Puraskar’ for this year. While, the shortlist for ‘Sahityapost Uttam Gairakhyan Puraskar’ will be announced on Friday, May 17.
