Nayan Raj Pandey ( नयनराज पाण्डे in Nepali) is a popular Nepali novelist, short-story writer and screenplay writer. Famous for his figurative portrayal of contemporary Nepali society in his writing, Pandey has written several critically-aclaimed bestselling Nepali books.
Some of Pandey’s most-popular works include novels such as Ular, Luu, Ghamkiri and short story collections such as Khor Bhitra Ko Joker, Nidaye Jagadamba and Chocolate.
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Early Life & Education
Nayan Raj Pandey was born in Kathmandu’s Pyukha Tole on 9 June 1966. At the time of his birth his father Dilli Raj Pandey was working in the Department of Information as a civil servant and his mother Bhagbati Devi Pandey was a housewife. Soon after, his father was appointed Headmaster in a school in Nepaljung, Banke and since the family moved to Nepalgunj, Nayan Raj spent most of his childhood in Nepalgunj. He completed the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examination and a higher secondary degree from Nepalgunj.
 | NATIVE NAME: | नयनराज पाण्डे | |||
 | BIRTHDAY: | 9 June 1966 | |||
 | BIRTHPLACE: | Kathmandu, Nepal | |||
 | EDUCATION: | Bachelor in Law (BL) | |||
 | PROFESSION: | Novelist, Screen writer | |||
 | NOTABLE WORKS: | Ular, Luu, Ghamkiri | |||
 | AWARD(S) | Several | |||
 | HEIGHT: | 5’ 8” | |||
 | WIFE: | Sanu Pandey | |||
 | NATIONALITY: | Nepali | |||
 | ETHNICITY: | Asian | |||
 | RELIGION: | Hindu | |||
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In 1987, Nayan Raj moved to Kathmandu to pursue a Bachelor of Law degree and started his literary career from Kathmandu. Because he spent most of his childhood and youth years in the Terai, though now based in Kathmandu, his literary works mostly focus on social, cultural, political and economic issues of that region.
Literary Career
Initially Pandey’s literary creation was mainly focused on writing novels and short stories, however, slowly he started writing screenplays for television series and video documentaries. He also started producing and directing TV-series and documentaries mainly for Nepal Television. Pandey produced and presented a literary and cultural TV program called Avibekti (expression) which was aired by Nepal Television for many years. He has written scripts for more than 2 dozen Nepali movies.
After being engaged in audio-visual production for almost two decades, Pandey decided to dedicate himself to writingfull-time.
In 1987, Pandey published 2 novels Nango Manchheko Diary (The Diary of a Naked Man) and Bikramaditya Euta Suun Katha. Then after 10 years in 1997 he published another novel Atirikta. In 2000 his fourth novel Ular was published which received many positive reviews. Pandey’s Ular is included as a curricular read for Tribhuvan University’s Bachelor-level students majoring in Nepal.
In 2011 he published another popular novel Luu and in 2013 yet another novel Ghamkiri.
Awards & Honors
Nayan Raj Pandey has received various awards for his various literary works and for his contribution to Nepali literature and movie industry. Some of the awards that he received include:
- Best Drama Writing Prize 1988 by Nepal Pragya Pratisthan
- National Talent Award 1996 (2053 BS)
- Lokendra Literary Award 2001
- Motion Picture Award for Best Screenplay 2001
- Garima Prize 2005, awarded by Sajha Prakashan
- National Prize for Best Screenplay- Maina Nepali film
- The Diamond Shamsher Memorial Literary Award 2011
Personal Life
Nayan Raj Pandey is married to Sanu Pandey and the couple has two sons Nilav Raj Pandey and Nishant Raj Pandey.
