Neelam Karki Niharika ( ne, नीलम कार्की निहारिका) (born April 9, 1975) is a Nepalese novelist, poet and short-story writer. She is best known for writing ''Beli'', ''Hawaan'', ''Cheerharan'' and ''

Yogmaya Yogamaya (), also venerated as Vindhyavasini, Mahamaya, and Ekanamsha, is a Hinduism, Hindu goddess. In Vaishnavism, Vaishnava tradition, she is accorded the epithet Narayani, and serves as the personification of Vishnu's powers of illusion. ...

''. Her first novel ''Maun Jeevan'' was published in 1994.

Literary career

Her works are highly sought by newspapers, television and radio media. Her popularity extends beyond

Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...

, especially in Nepali communities abroad. Her themes commonly cover male-dominated society, caste, class, poverty, corruption, and tyranny. She cites

Parijat ''Nyctanthes arbor-tristis'', also known as the Night-flowering jasmine or Parijat (Parvati chi phula), is a species of ''Nyctanthes'' native to South Asia and Southeast Asia.Flora of Pakistan''Nyctanthes arbor-tristis''/ref>AgroForestry Tre ...

as an inspiration and influence in her books.

''Yogmaya''

''Yogmaya'' is one of her most popular works. ''Yogmaya'' is based on the life of female protagonist Yogmaya Neupane (1860-1941), a religious leader and women rights activists born in Bhojpur, who fought against the autocratic Rana regime. Karki's research and book is attributed to being a large influence on bringing

to the Nepali mainstream.

Publications

Awards

She won Padmashree Sahitya Puraskar for her novel ''Cheerharan'' in 2016. The novel was also shortlisted for Madan Puraskar. She won the Madan Puraskar for her novel ''Yogmaya'' in 2018. She is the fourth woman writer to win that award.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karki Niharika, Neelam Living people Nepalese women short story writers Nepalese short story writers Nepali-language poets Nepalese women poets 21st-century Nepalese poets Madan Puraskar winners 21st-century Nepalese women writers Nepalese women novelists Nepali-language writers Nepalese writers Padmashree Sahitya Puraskar winners 1975 births Nepalese nurses