Mani Lohani: Nepali writer on love and death ^{CEFR B2}

Mani Lohani is a Nepali writer and television journalist who has spent more than three decades writing poetry and fiction. He was born in Nuwakot town in Bagmati Province and spent much of his life in the Kathmandu Valley, which he views as rich material for literature. His notable books include the poetry collection Malami Saajh and the story collections Parast Prem and Nirbastra Man; his book Mrityuko Aghiltir earned a major national award for outstanding literary creation.

Lohani explores love, life, human relationships and the mysteries of death. In an email interview with Sangita Swechcha of Global Voices he said love gives energy and happiness, and that many social problems arise from failed or unhappy relationships. He reads Eastern philosophy to study death and argues that, because death is inevitable, it should not be feared. Acceptance of death, he believes, allows people to live joyfully and to serve others.

He treats poetry and fiction as different tools: poetry is concise, inward and linked to meditation, while story writing connects to society and can change social behaviour. His poems and stories have been translated into multiple languages and are included in school curricula. Lohani also points to global challenges such as climate change, coronavirus, terrorism and technology-driven frustration, and he believes progress needs social cooperation with the help of sports, literature and creative work.