Author Samrat Upadhyay on Nepal's Transformation and Enduring Spirit

Born in Nepal and now a professor of Creative Writing at Indiana University, Samrat Upadhyay has spent decades writing about his homeland from afar. His latest work, "Dark Motherland," continues to explore the nuances of the Nepali context for a global audience.

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I was born and raised in the Kathmandu of the early eighties, which was a far more spacious and walkable city. Today, that has changed entirely.

Upadhyay observes a stark transformation in Kathmandu since he left in 1984. The city has grown from a spacious, walkable place to a bustling metropolis shaped by technology. He notes the vibrant restaurant scene, where authentic Nepali dishes can be found alongside international cuisine, all prepared to a high standard. Infrastructure has also seen major improvements, with highways now resembling those in the U.S.

Despite these physical changes, Upadhyay believes certain aspects of the Nepali psyche, particularly their inherent kindness and social nature, have remained constant. He finds this enduring quality beautiful.

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One thing I find absolutely fabulous now is the restaurant scene in Nepal. I brought a group of my students here recently, and we found world-class cuisine.

He attributes his continued focus on Nepal to a deep-seated attachment formed during his first twenty-one years. For many in the diaspora, this connection intensifies with distance, often mixed with nostalgia. Upadhyay also feels a responsibility to tell Nepal's stories in English, believing many narratives remain untold and that non-Nepali writers often lack a complete understanding of the country.

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While the physical transformation is significant, certain attitudes, the Nepali psychology, if I may, remain the same. There is a specific kind of kindness and a social nature inherent to Nepali people that hasn’t changed, which I find very beautiful.

Even after publishing his seventh book, Upadhyay feels he has only just begun to tap into the wealth of stories Nepal offers. He views the Nepali story as "exclusive" for a writer based in the U.S., a perspective he continues to explore through his work.

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It is something of a mystery, really. A writer is often attracted to certain subject matters instinctively. I lived in Nepal for the first twenty-one years of my life, so my attachment to this place is constant.