Spotlight On Writers
Suman Pokhrel
@sumanpokhrel
- Where, do you hail from?
I hail from Biratnagar, Nepal, where I was born. However, I spent an equal amount of my childhood and adolescent years in two different places: Biratnagar in the terai, and Dhankuta, which is my ancestral place located in the hilly region.
Throughout my teenage years, I had an undeniable attraction to the great outdoors. One of our cherished pastimes involved sliding down the hillsides on the tin sheets over the beds of fallen pine leaves, relishing the sensation of fear of getting scolded by our guardians whipping through our hearts and minds. Additionally, we children would enjoy playing army games in thick jungle terrain, where we would imagine ourselves performing heroic feats. When I was in the plains, I would occupy myself with cricket and football, as well as spending endless afternoons playing in nearby ponds and streams with my peers. These formative experiences instilled within me a lifelong passion for nature and a courageous outlook on life. During my university years, I had the opportunity to study in both Biratnagar and Kathmandu.
My upbringing played a significant role in shaping my beliefs and values. I was fortunate to be mentored by bibliophile parents who instilled in me a love for books and a thirst for knowledge. They encouraged me to read about diverse cultures and traditions, which broadened my perspective and helped me develop an appreciation for different viewpoints. My politician grandfathers also had a considerable influence on me as they discussed world and national political issues, which helped me understand the importance of being well-informed about current events.
After completing my education, I joined the civil service but later resigned to work for an international organization as a social development practitioner, with a focus on improving the lives of children, women, and marginalized communities. Over the years, I worked with organizations that focus on issues such as education, health, and social justice. These experiences have given me a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by these communities and have motivated me to continue working toward creating a more equitable society. I have been further fortunate to visit and live in several remote places around the country as part of my professional work, which allowed me to immerse myself in the diverse ethnicities, languages, and cultures of people of my country, gaining a thorough insight into its rich cultural heritage. I was particularly moved by the resilience and resourcefulness of the people I met, who taught me valuable lessons about compassion, generosity, and kindness. As I look back, I realize that these experiences not only shaped my professional aspirations but also influenced my personal values and worldview, thus impacting my writing.
- What is the greatest thing about the place you call home?
Nepal is my home, a land of many wonders, but the greatest of them all is its unparalleled diversity and rich heritage. Its natural wonders are awe-inspiring, ranging from the lowest point, seventy meters above sea level, to the majestic peak of Mount Everest, the highest point on the planet. The country boasts of countless rivers, streams, dense jungles, and varied terrains including plains, hills, and mountains, making it a place of exceptional fascination.
But the true beauty of Nepal lies in its people, who speak a staggering one hundred and twenty-one languages and belong to one hundred and twenty-six ethnic groups, each with their own unique culture, tradition, ritual, and belief system. We celebrate a plethora of cultural festivals throughout the year, each reflecting our distinct and indigenous traditions and customs. The most remarkable aspect of our society is the mutual respect and understanding that exists between people of diverse cultures, beliefs, and ways of life. It creates a harmonious environment that is truly unique. A potent illustration of ethnic and cultural harmony could be seen in the form of the celebration of cross-cultural festivals by people of different cultural heritage.
Within this larger home, I have my own small space, which I cherish. What makes my place special is the almost perfect ambiance amidst a garden with a variety of trees, vegetation, and resources that are available to me. In addition to my own collection of books, my parents and grandparents have accumulated a wealth of knowledge that has allowed me to absorb an array of perspectives and visioning about the past, present, and future. It keeps me constantly curious and hungry to try to become a person with a stable and clear vision about the existence of the universe and the components that keep it alive.
Furthermore, our family relies on our own products to source our regular food and livelihoods. We have been continuing the traditions of our ancestors by maintaining a kitchen garden teeming with organic produce, and by keeping cows to meet our household dairy needs. These are the things that I miss when I am away from the embrace of my home and homeland. However, the actual charm of my dwelling is the love and concern we exhibit towards each other, irrespective of the various challenges we face. This generates an environment of complete contentment and delight, allowing us to live life to the fullest.
- What turns you on creatively?
I share Maslow and Heidegger’s belief that incompleteness can inspire creativity. As humans, we seek ways to fill gaps in our lives through love, food, pleasure, challenges, and more. Our knowledge, feelings, and experiences have empty spaces we long to fill. It’s our nature to create and innovate, and fulfilling voids motivates creative expression. Personally, I’m no exception to this.
What sparks my creativity, in particular, is the human experience in all its complexities. Witnessing people’s grief or the state against them moves me deeply and inspires me to write my thoughts and feelings. I’m passionate about encouraging compassion, hope, and resilience, even in the toughest circumstances. These values drive me to create works that inspire and uplift others. When I feel my poetry touches someone’s heart or mind, I’m fulfilled.
Moreover, raw emotion, struggle, beauty, and hope fuel my desire to create. As poetry has the power to bring change, challenge established norms, and inspire people, I believe that every blank space I strive to fill and every word I tend to write with my pen is an opportunity to work towards the goals of poetry, hence towards the betterment of the existence.
In conclusion, anything that strikes my heart or mind tenderly or forcefully attempting to fill up any of my vacant space has the potential to inspire me to create something anew.
- What is your favorite word, and can you use it in a poetic sentence?
The most commonly used word in my poems is you, especially in lyrical ones, I think. Other words that I frequently use in my poetry include ‘life’, ‘moment’, ‘time’, ‘love’, ‘dreams’, and ‘heart’, among others. With that said, I would like to present a poem written some years back that contains the word YOU.
FEVER
Fever painted me all over the body
with its warm kisses of love
for a duration unknown
Taking everything aside of my own being
it was a marvelous feel
to be cocooned into the grip
of this thin frenzy from head to toes
it was immensely ecstatic to
feel the passionate warmth over the skin
and was delirious, to be
caressed by its softness beneath the shell.
I want the fever to grab me forever
and want YOU
to be MY fever.
- What is your pet peeve?
I possess some idiosyncrasies that tend to irk me. Among them, I place great importance on punctuality and feel exasperated when individuals are ignorant of fulfilling their time commitments. While I acknowledge that people are not obligated to undertake anything, I firmly believe that they should keep their word once they have made a commitment. Additionally, it deeply disheartens me when people exhibit ‘too much hypocrisy’ (as a handful of hypocrisy is the very nature of the human race) by claiming to be virtuous while engaging in unsavory behavior.
Inadequate parking, rude behavior, early mornings, conflicting messages, unannounced video calls, and imposing actions are some tiny things that can be irksome for me.
- What defines Suman Pokhrel?
As an individual, I strive to live life on my own terms. I do not want societal norms or expectations to dictate my actions; I tend to base my decisions on my values and beliefs. I firmly believe that everyone should be free to pursue their desires as long as it does not harm others or society. This principle is fundamental to me. I live by it, and it serves as a guide for my decisions and actions.
I have realized that the pursuit of personal freedom cannot come at the cost of the well-being of others. Instead, we must strive for a balance between individual desires and societal needs. As a result, I always aim to be mindful of the impact of my actions on others and society as a whole. In doing so, I hope to live a life that aligns with my values and beliefs while also making a positive impact on the world around me.
In summary, Suman Pokhrel is a common human being with a compassionate heart who strives to live his own life and wants not to impede on others’ individuality, and enjoys learning from his mistakes.
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