121st Birth Anniversary of Mikhail Sholokhov, a Great Figure of Russian Literature, Celebrated in Kathmandu

Kathmandu — A literary evening was held on the occasion of the 121st birth anniversary of the world-renowned Russian writer, journalist, screenwriter, and Nobel Prize laureate Mikhail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov, jointly organised by the Nepalo Russian Literary Association (NRLA) and the Russian House in Kathmandu.

The programme was led by chief guest writer, philosopher, and translator Gopi Raman Upadhyaya, former Ambassador of Nepal to Russia, Professor of Kathmandu University, author and translator Jangab Chauhan, and President of the Nepalese Society of Writers, Shankar Bharati. Approximately 35 participants, including writers, diplomats, translators, and literature lovers, paid tribute to Sholokhov’s contribution to world literature and to the cultural ties between Nepal and Russia.

Mikhail Sholokhov is remembered as a great Russian writer, whose works reflected the spirit, struggle, and resilience of Russian society in difficult times. He is best known for his epic novel ‘And Quiet Flows the Don’, written in his youth, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1965, securing his place among the major literary figures of the twentieth century.

Vice President of NRLA, Chandra Kant Acharya, delivered the introductory speech, emphasising the importance of a literary dialogue between the two countries. Kiran Darnal, a member of Mitra Kunj, read a short poem that added a special creative atmosphere to the evening.

Director of the Russian House in Kathmandu, Anastasia Khokhlova, spoke about Sholokhov’s literary legacy and the role of such events in developing bilateral cultural relations. Professor Jangab Chauhan and reviewer Lok Bahadur Thapa shared deep reflections on the writer’s life and the significance of his main work, the novel ‘And Quiet Flows the Don’. Vice President of Mitra Kunj and Secretary of NRLA, Ram Bindu Shrestha, offered personal observations on Sholokhov’s creativity, while writer Gopi Raman Upadhyaya spoke about Russian literature, the art of translation, and the enduring influence of Sholokhov on readers and authors.

Mikhail Sholokhov is remembered as a writer who lived through historical cataclysms and reflected in his work the spirit, struggle, and resilience of Russian society in tragic years for the country. His novel ‘And Quiet Flows the Don’ is not merely a historical saga but a profound philosophical study of human nature during times of change, for which the author was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1965. The programme concluded with closing remarks by Vishnu Bahadur Singh, President of NRLA, who thanked all guests and participants for their presence and contributions.

The organisers expressed confidence that events like this strengthen the literary and cultural friendship between Nepal and Russia and inspire participants to explore the richness of Russian literature more deeply and to develop meaningful intercultural literary exchange.