Bhojpure's novel in English launched

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu,  June 16: The English translation of renowned musician, singer, and writer Hiranya Bhojpure’s novel 'Aang Sherpa and Ocean of Heights' was officially launched on Saturday in Colorado of the USA.

'Aang Sherpa and Ocean of Heights' is the English translation of Bhojpure’s acclaimed Nepali novel 'Sagarmatha Bhanda Mathi'. The book translated by poet Bhuwan Thapaliya was published by Nirala Publications, New Delhi.

The launch event was held in memory of celebrated musician, singer and writer Ganesh Rasik who passed away on June 1. 

The book was jointly unveiled by poet Yuyutsu RD Sharma, the author’s wife Urmila Shrestha, grandchildren Yahvi Bhojpure, Pravar Raja Moktan, and Prahar Raja Moktan, along with Karma Sherpa of Sherpa Restaurant and his granddaughter Pasang Maya Sherpa.

Poet and editor Sharma praised the novel for amplifying the unheard voices of native climbers. “Ang Sherpa is a powerful and long-awaited novel," he said. "Translator Thapaliya has done a remarkable job in conveying a voice that is lyrical, raw, and profoundly human."

Speaking at the ceremony, Bhojpure shared insights into the novel’s protagonist, Aang Chhatre Sherpa, a native of Pangboche village nestled at the foot of Mount Everest. Although Bhojpure has never visited Lukla, his novel vividly captures the landscapes, emotions, and lived experiences of the Sherpa people, depicting Lukla, Everest Base Camp, the South Cole, and even the summit with powerful literary precision.

In the novel, Aang Chhatre summits Everest 10 times. Following a dramatic incident at the South Col, he is banned from further climbs and exiled to Australia. The narrative traces his exile, eventual return to Nepal, and his internal journey of coping with a life away from the world’s highest peak, rendered in a poignant and deeply human style.

Bhojpure also paid a heartfelt tribute to Ganesh Rasik, calling his passing an irreparable loss to Nepal’s musical and literary heritage, as well as a personal loss of a close friend. 

Urmila Shrestha, Bhojpure’s wife and a legendary singer herself, spoke about the legacy of Ganesh Rasik, recalling how he rose to prominence in Nepali music through sheer perseverance and talent despite his humble beginnings in rural Bhojpur.

Born in November 1952, in Deurali, Bhojpur district, Bhojpure is a revered figure in Nepali arts. A founding member of the Lekali Parivar musical movement of the 1960s, he helped introduce a new wave in Nepali music by blending folk, modern, and experimental elements.