AN INTERVIEW WITH SUBASH SINGH PARAJULI

Credit: The Hemingway Post, a literary magazine.
 

The significance of poetry and the way it is perceived have evolved due to shifts in cultural barriers, societal norms, literary values and dimensions of necessities, and ever-changing human desires: Subhash Singh Parajuli


Subash Singh Parajuli is the published author of three books. Mr. Parajuli’s poems have already been published at home and abroad. He is an ambassador and core administrator of the Indo-Nepal Pictorial Forum. For the forum, he has conducted various poetry workshops, recitations in Nepal, and even a World Book Record-holding Pictorial Poetry Exhibition in 2019.   

Mr. Parajuli is the 2017 winner of the Pentasi B Universal Inspirational Poet Award from the Philippines. In 2018, he received the Epitome for Peace and Literature Award from Nigeria. In the same year, he received the Eternity for Peace Award from Odisha, India. In 2019, he was awarded the Youth for Peace Ambassador Award by WYPF Korea. In 2021, Mr. Parajuli received the "Sahitto Academy," one of the most prestigious awards in Bangladesh.  

The other day, LB Thapa, the publisher and editor of The Hemingway Post, a literary magazine, talked with the poet about his poetry and his literary contribution. He was also asked about his involvement in award-winning literary projects. An exclusive interview is given below.  


THP: Poetry has been defined in many ways by different litterateurs at different times. How would you like to define modern poetry? 

SP: Writing poetry is more like generating feelings that transcend through human hearts, minds, and souls. It often conveys such emotion that at times it revolts within the creator, and at other times, it stirs the feelings of readers. A poet adopts different ways and techniques to share his or her feelings and observations; personal experiences of poets help arrange words into thoughts. Modern poetry is like a catapult of self-expression, a form of liberation, and a way of capturing fleeting moments.  

THP: Do you see any perceptible change in the way modern poetry is written from the earlier ones? 

SP: The significance of poetry and the way it is perceived have evolved due to shifts in cultural barriers, societal norms, literary values and dimensions of necessities, and ever-changing human desires. In different eras, human civilization has witnessed different dimensions stemming from literature. Such human development has constituted promising poetry to serve human purposes.  

In ancient times, poetry often had a strong affinity for religious or mythological themes. That surpassed a form of oral ritual and the daily routine of heroic deeds. The Romantic era was mostly preoccupied with individual expressions, sentiments, and the essence of nature in poetry. Poets emphasized personal experiences and human nature in totality to improve this society and make it a better place to live. 

In the modern era, poetry has continued to evolve. Poets regularly experiment with new forms, styles, and themes to express their feelings and emotions to wider audiences. There has been a greater emphasis on free verses, unconventional structures, and a more diverse range of voices. Poets have employed these tools to serve the purpose of their poetry.  

THP: Nepali poets are often blamed for not writing poetry about the present crisis prevalent in society; rather, they write books after books praising a woman’s bewitching beauty or elucidating nature’s grandeurs. What's your opinion? 

SP: Poetry cannot be fundamental, nor can it be judgmental. Sometimes what is casually written can bring more admiration to the writers and vice versa. In the recent time writing, most of the Nepalese verses are personified for the self-esteem ideology instead of taking on the serious issues of the people in general. However, the way poems are composed may be superficial and not address the reflections of human transition. This could be taken as the poet's own prerogative. You can say that to some extent most poets today eulogize corrupt politicians for their vested interest. My suggestion is that all poets should try to earn national and international recognition by producing quality work.   

THP: In recent times, more poets have emerged with their anthologies of poems. At the same time, several poems are regularly published on various online websites. It seems that today’s poets are more prolific, but they vastly lack quality. Do you think poets should pay more attention to producing quality poems than churning out scraps? 

SP: Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between quality poems and substandard poems. Different people have different likings and dislikes. Poetry, like any other form of art, is subjective, and what one person considers a "quality" poem may not resonate with another. Poets need to find the right balance between rasping their craft, taking the time to cultivate thoughtfully and make more productive and significant work, and sharing their creativity with the world. However, the rise of social media and digital platforms has indeed given poets the opportunity to get their work published more easily now than in the past. However, quality does always matter over quantity, no doubt.   

Moreover, poets must hone their skills by writing on a regular basis. The act of writing regularly and exploring different styles and themes can also be beneficial for their growth as artists. Sometimes, what may initially seem like "scraps" can lead to the development of more refined and impactful work.  

THP: It is a known fact that poetry books have low sales. Many publishers don’t want to risk spending more money on the publication of poetry books. Despite this, we see many poets spend money and self-publish their books. How do you see this trend? 

SP: This is a fact that cannot be denied: poetry is written a lot but less consumed. Many individuals prefer to express their emotions in the form of poetry. After having written a few poems, they want to publish them for self-gratification.  

Self-publishing allows poets to have full creative control over their work. From the content to the cover design and marketing, everything is handled by the self-publisher. It has certain pros and cons. Most self-publishers have neither the patience nor the courage to face rejection from traditional publishers. However, the trend toward self-publishing reflects the changing landscape of the publishing industry and the increasing opportunities for writers. Through self-publishing, they can share their work independently and much more quickly than traditional publishers can.  

THP: You have authored three books. Among them, which one book do you find closer to your heart?

SS: All my books emerged through hard work, and therefore all of them are closer to my heart. Those books have their own significant values as they were written at different times and in different circumstances. Nevertheless, some of my poems are extremely well read and appreciated by the poetry loving community. That is really a motivating factor for a poet and a writer.  

THP: You are an ambassador and core administrator of the Indo-Nepal Pictorial Forum. Will you shed some light on this forum?

SS: Nepali poetry has not received what it actually deserves. There could be many reasons for this. Among others, inadequate translation is the main reason for Nepali poetry not achieving international recognition. Lack of promotion of Nepali literature at the international level is yet another reason why Nepali literature has been left in oblivion. Despite these challenges, efforts are being made to promote Nepali literature on an international level. But those efforts are made too late and too little. 

The Indo-Nepal Pictorial Forum is active in promoting translation, cultural exchange programs, workshops, organizing international poetry feats, and using digital platforms to share works globally. There is potential for Nepali poetry to gain more recognition and appreciation than what it has achieved so far. I am glad that I am a part of this great work.  

THP: You have received awards from South Korea, the Philippines, India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. Will you elaborate on those awards so that the readers of this interview can understand your literary contribution? 

SS: When you pour much effort into your work, that will definitely draw people’s attention, and sometimes the creators are rewarded for their hard work too. I am glad that the international community has recognized my sincere literary contribution and decided to award me. 

However, it is my suggestion to all writers and poets that they should focus on quality works, not on awards or recognitions. When I was busy organizing various national and international literary activities, I never thought of receiving any awards. Let’s keep one thing in mind: if your work has merit, then you will definitely get what you really deserve.  

THP: What is your current literary project? 

SP: I have been busy doing the same type of work for a decade to enrich Nepali literature. To be specific, I am currently working on a new poetry anthology and a novel simultaneously. I hope that I will be able to publish them at the earliest possible time.

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