Kitab Jatra Festival Brings Nepali Literature and Culture to London

London: The Kitab Jatra Foundation organised the Kitab Jatra Literature Festival on Tuesday in collaboration with the Embassy of Nepal in London. The event, held at the Embassy premises, featured an award ceremony, poetry recitals, panel discussions and a book exhibition, marking the second UK edition of the festival.

According to the organisers, since its inception in 2018, the Kitab Jatra Festival has been held four times in India and six times in Nepal.

Promoting Nepali literature and culture abroad 

Chief Guest, Nepal’s Ambassador to the UK, Chandra Kumar Ghimire, praised the Foundation’s role in promoting Nepali art, culture and literature within the diaspora community.

In the first session, moderated by senior journalist Tikaram Yatri, Ambassador Ghimire reflected on the difference between serving as a civil servant in Nepal and working as a diplomat abroad. “In the civil service one can feel constrained, but as an ambassador, one has both freedom and immense responsibility,” he remarked. He emphasised his focus on economic diplomacy, streamlining consular services and working towards a double-taxation agreement. He also added that efforts are underway to secure a visit to Nepal by the UK Prime Minister.

On a lighter note, he also advised that rather than creating numerous Nepali organisations in the UK, the focus should be on strengthening existing ones.

Special Guest Lord Rami Ranger urged attendees not to forget the habit of reading and preserving cultural identity in the digital age. He added that such festivals energise the younger generation, noting his personal respect for the Gurkha community as a role model.

Awards recognising diaspora excellence

On the occasion, the Kitab Jatra Foundation honoured individuals from the UK Nepali community for their achievements and contributions in different fields:

Khagendra Nepali, former head of BBC Nepali Service – Kitab Jatra Diaspora Lifetime Achievement Award

Writer Krishna Bajgai – Kitab Jatra Diaspora Literature Award

Nabin Pokharel, UK correspondent of Online Khabar & Editor of Nepalilink.com – Diaspora Journalism Award

Kushal Shrestha, Media professional, videographer and photographer – Diaspora Media Award

Dr Raksha Thapa, entrepreneur – Diaspora Female Entrepreneurship Award

Chhong Sherpa, Director of Iro Sushi – Diaspora Male Entrepreneurship Award

Bikas Nepal, Director of Nepal Foods – Youth Icon Award

The awards were jointly presented by Ambassador Ghimire and journalist Tikaram Yatri.

Discussion on globalising Nepali literature

In the second session, panellists Prof. Michael Hutt, Dr Sangita Swechha, Gopi Sapkota, and Krishna Bajgai engaged in a discussion on “Globalising Nepali Art, Culture and Literature”. The session, moderated by journalist Yatri, covered themes such as the status of Nepali literature in the international arena, the quality and challenges of diaspora writing, and the way forward.

Foundation’s broader mission

Director of the Kitab Jatra Foundation, Rishi Ram Adhikari, expressed gratitude for the support received and highlighted the Foundation’s mission to integrate a reading culture into daily life. Beyond literature festivals, the Foundation has also established libraries in 20 locations across Nepal and provided scholarships to talented students.

The event, conducted by Sibira Lama Ruit, also included poetry recitals from writers such as Jagat Navodit, Nirvik Jung Rayamajhi, Nripesh Upreti (ghazal poet), and Indian poet Shahaj Khan.