The first volume of La.Lit, a literary magazine, was launched in the inner courtyard of the Patan Museum, Lalitpur on Saturday.
The event featured short readings from the inaugural issue, a musical performance, and a talk by eminent Nepali writer, Khagendra Sangraula.
“La.Lit is a literary magazine that celebrates the beauty of writing. We believe in the power of stories to change people’s lives, and La.Lit will feature original and translated fiction, non-fiction, and poetry; photography and graphic art; and exclusive interviews and news from the world of literature. Initially, we will publish in English and Nepali, but we welcome translations from other languages. We aim to bring contemporary achievements in world literature to Nepal and, equally, take Nepali and South Asian literature to the world,” stated a press release issued by the publishers of the literary magazine.
In the inaugural issue of La.Lit, Archana Thapa discards a monolithic Nepali history of the victors for that of the many, and Tom Bell makes his way through the thicket of dubious claims surrounding two Nepali cults of recent years. But memories of a different time remain important to those seeking to make sense of an increasingly complex Nepali reality. Smriti Ravindra captures the whimsy of adolescent girls fascinated by a royal procession, Rajani Thapa contrasts a Nepali childhood with an English retirement home, while Khagendra Sangraula reminisces about his struggles to reconcile fatherhood with revolutionary zeal.
The issue also features an interview with DSC prizewinner Shehan Karunatilaka, poems from Jeet Thayil, shortlisted for 2012’s Booker Prize, and Sarah Kay, founder of the spoken word project VOICE. The magazine also has an excerpt from a short story by Prajwal Parajuly, the Sikkim-based author of The Gurkha’s Daughter.
Other contributors featured in the first volume of La.Lit include Abha Eli Phoboo, Abhay K., Ashutosh Tiwari, Farah Ghuznavi, Kanchan G Burathoki, Manu Manjil, Momila, Ratnamani Nepal, Sharada Sharma, and Tom Healy.
The magazine is produced by Safu Publications and the editorial team is comprised of Rabi Thapa, Anbika Giri, Pranab Man Singh, Prawin Adhikari, NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati, Kanchan G. Burathoki, and Ananda Shrestha.
La.Lit is published in print and online. nepalnews.com
