Kathmandu, August 14, 2025 — Two celebrated Nepali poets, Bhuwan Thapaliya and Amar Aakash, will represent Nepal at the second edition of the International Literature Festival of Kerala (ILFK), scheduled to take place from August 17 to 21 in Thrissur, Kerala.
Organized by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi in collaboration with the Department of Culture, Government of Kerala, ILFK is billed as a “people’s festival” that celebrates literature’s ability to connect, challenge, and inspire. This year’s festival will host more than 200 eminent writers, poets, and thinkers from India and around the world for readings, discussions, and cultural exchanges.
Thapaliya and Aakash will feature in multiple poetry readings and engage with Malayalam poets and international participants. They will also join a high-profile panel discussion, “New Trends in Poetry,” alongside Palestinian poet Asma Azaizeh and Tibetan poet Tenzin Tsundue.
Bhuwan Thapaliya, an English-language poet based in Kathmandu, is the author of four poetry collections, including Safa Tempo (Nirala, New Delhi). An economist by profession, his work has appeared in prominent international journals and anthologies, including Life in Quarantine (Stanford University), the International Human Rights Art Festival, and Poetry and Covid (UK Arts and Humanities Research Council). He has presented his work at literary events in South Korea, India, the United States, Thailand, Cambodia, and Nepal.
Amar Aakash — the pen name of Laxman Adhikari — is recognized for his lyrical and innovative contributions to contemporary Nepali poetry and fiction. His debut poetry collection, Tungana, launched at the New Delhi World Book Fair, earned critical praise in both India and Nepal. A regular contributor to Madhuparka and Pratik, Aakash is also known for literary criticism, film essays, and short stories published in Samakalin and Annapurna Post. His debut novel, Grahan (Eclipse), is slated for release in 2026.
Calling ILFK “a golden opportunity,” Aakash said, “It’s a privilege to introduce Nepali writing to a wider world and to join a galaxy of amazing writers.” Thapaliya echoed the sentiment, describing his participation as “a novel experience—visiting our close neighbor and immersing myself in its vibrant literary scene.”
With thousands of literature enthusiasts expected to attend, the International Literature Festival of Kerala promises to be a dynamic platform for cross-cultural dialogue and exchange.
