Kathmandu: The English translation of renowned musician, singer, and writer Hiranya Bhojpure’s novel, “Ang Sherpa and Ocean of Heights,” has been launched recently in Golden, Colorado, USA.
According to National News Agency Nepal, “Ang Sherpa and Ocean of Heights” is the English rendition of Bhojpure’s acclaimed Nepali novel “Sagarmatha Bhanda Mathi (Above Everest).” The translation, completed by poet Bhuwan Thapaliya, has been published by Nirala Publications, New Delhi.
The book launch event was held in memory of celebrated musician, singer, and writer Ganesh Rasik, who passed away a couple of weeks ago. The book was jointly unveiled by renowned Himalayan poet Yuyutsu RD Sharma, the author’s spouse Urmila Shrestha, and his grandchildren.
At the event, poet and editor Sharma praised the novel for amplifying the unheard voices of native climbers. He described “Ang Sherpa” as a powerful and long-awaited novel, commending translator Thapaliya for his remarkable work in conveying a voice that is lyrical, raw, and profoundly human.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhojpure shared insights into the novel’s protagonist, Aang Chhatre Sherpa, a native of Pangboche village nestled at the foot of Mount Everest. Although Bhojpure has never visited Lukla, his novel vividly captures the landscapes, emotions, and lived experiences of the Sherpa people, depicting Lukla, Everest Base Camp, the South Col, and even the summit with powerful literary precision.
In the novel, Aang Chhatre summits Everest ten times. Following a dramatic incident at the South Col, he is banned from further climbs and exiled to Australia. The narrative traces his exile, eventual return to Nepal, and his internal journey of coping with life away from the world’s highest peak, rendered in a poignant and deeply human style.
Bhojpure also paid heartfelt tribute to Ganesh Rasik, calling his passing an irreparable loss to Nepal’s musical and literary heritage, as well as a personal loss of a close friend. He expressed gratitude to Nirala Publications and to Sharma for their role in bringing his novel to an English-speaking audience. Praising Sharma as a true ambassador of Nepali literature, Bhojpure remarked that while official ambassadors represent individual nations, Himalayan poet Yuyutsu carries Nepal in his heart and represents its soul to the world.
Adding a musical note to the occasion, Karma Sherpa, whose image graces the cover of the book, performed Bhojpure and Rasik’s iconic song “Rato Bhale (The Red Rooster)” to enthusiastic applause.
Born in November 1952 in Deurali, Bhojpur district, Hiranya Bhojpure (real name Hiranya Shrestha) is a revered figure in Nepali arts. A founding member of the Lekali Priwar musical movement of the 1960s, he helped introduce a new wave in Nepali music by blending folk, modern, and experimental elements.