Basant Chaudhary releases his first novel, Devyani

 Kathmandu, June 19 – Well-known poet and lyricist Basant Chaudhary officially launched his debut novel Devyani on Wednesday at an event held in Lalitpur. Published by Sangri-La Books, the novel was released in digital format. Although this is Chaudhary’s first novel, it is his 23rd published work, following a long career in poetry, songwriting, ghazals, and essays.

The event was held in two sessions. In the first, authors and literary figures including Uma Subedi, Amar Nyaupane, Bishwomohan Shrestha, Usha Sherchan, literary critic Kumari Lama, and journalist Babita Basnet shared their thoughts on the novel. They praised Devyani for exploring hidden layers of love often overlooked in Nepali society. Author Amar Nyaupane noted that the novel insightfully portrays the emotional struggles of a man, while critic Kumari Lama highlighted its portrayal of a woman’s quiet defiance.

In the second session, actor Divyadev sat down with Chaudhary to discuss the inspiration and themes behind Devyani. Chaudhary said that while many stories have been written about love, his novel focuses on a kind of love that society often avoids or ignores.

“Love is universal—it’s just the way we express it that differs,” he said. “Devyani tells the story of a kind of love our society rarely talks about, and that’s exactly why I wanted to write it.”

Reflecting on his writing process, Chaudhary explained that his stories come from observing real life and the emotions that shape it.

Anbika Giri, Director of Sangri-La Books, described Devyani as a unique and refreshing contribution to modern Nepali literature, offering a theme that stands out from the usual narratives.