Spiny Babbler's Edition on "Poverty" Launched

  People's Review, February 25, 1999

 

Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, chairperson of SAARC Poverty Alleviation Commission and former prime minister of Nepal, launched the newest edition of Spiny Babbler at the Summit Hotel on February 17. Vice-chancellor of Royal Nepal Academy Madan Mani Dixit chaired the event.

 

Among the guests were Henning Karcher, resident representative of the United Nations, former chancellor of Royal Nepal Academy, Lain Singh Bangdel, and noted writers, development workers, and poets of Nepal.

 

Called "Hunger is Home" the collection features five leading poets of Nepal, Bhuwan Dhungana, Toya Gurung, Greta Rana, Manjul and Manju Kanchuli, and addresses the issue of poverty. The publication leads a series of Spiny Babbler editions that present Nepalese literature to English readers. Among the titles to be scheduled are Swasthani and a new book covering one hundred living poets of Nepal.

 

The book launch was supported by International PEN, Nepal Chapter. President of PEN Nepal, Greta Rana, also spoke on the occasion.