Shravan Mukarung inaugurated his first narrative novel, ‘Salah’, on Saturday at Nepalaya’s Arshala in Kathmandu. Mukarung reminisced about his four-decade-long literary journey, during which he has worked across essays, drama, poetry, songs, stories, and films. The novel ‘Salah’ spans 436 pages and is priced at 995 rupees. It is available for purchase at major bookstores and online platforms. On Saturday morning, the Arshala venue was packed with an enthusiastic crowd as Mukarung, renowned as a poet and songwriter, presented himself as a fiction writer.
Introducing his first narrative novel, Mukarung addressed those seated outside the hall, saying, “As an outlier and marginalized writer, I first address all of you standing outside listening.” The overwhelming presence of readers with pre-registered as well as on-the-spot registrations at the launch compelled the organizers to open the coffee shop doors for the first time to accommodate everyone.
During the event, Mukarung became emotional recalling his father and reflecting on his extensive literary career. He said, “Before I was a poet and songwriter, I was an essayist and playwright. In seventh grade, I wrote the essay ‘Aspiration to Become a Postman,’ and in ninth grade, the play ‘Existence’.” Mukarung emphasized that he has been actively involved in several literary forms from the beginning. “Along with essays, drama, poetry, songs, stories, and films, I have now arrived with the novel ‘Salah’. The subject chosen by a writer naturally dictates the form, and this topic inspired me to write ‘Salah’.”
