Seven Questions with Asmita Bista on writing, society and self-reflection

From personal memories to social inequalities, the author reflects on how writing can turn lived experiences into deeper questions about society

KATHMANDU: Active in poetry, essay, and criticism writing, Asmita Bista, who has been teaching the English subject at Mahendra Multiple Campus in Dharan, is active in writing poems, essays, and critiques. Holding a Ph.D. on gender roles in Nepali fiction and cinema, her first poetry collection, Black Hole Ma Githaru was published in 2025. Recently, her essay collection Samayashalama Nrityamagna Akriti has been released. Published by Ratna Pustak Bhandar, the collection contains 17 essays connected with life’s experiences, memories, society, and personal introspection. Below are the responses to seven questions asked to Bista by Tumaraj Koirala regarding poetry and essay writing, her new work, and literary concerns:

The title of your essay collection is Samayashalama Nrityamagna Akriti. This title itself sounds interesting and meaningful. What do ‘Samayashala’ and ‘Nrityamagna Akriti’ indicate in it? What is the core idea connecting the essays in the book?

The word ‘Samayashala’ contained in the title of this essay collection indicates the continuous flow and vastness of time, while ‘Nrityamagna Akriti’ denotes human beings and their activities, which remain continuously active and dynamic alongside the flow of time. The core ideological threads connecting the essays of this book are time and experience. In the collection, the author has presented the subjects observed and experienced closely from society at various times with a philosophical perspective. To put it generally, the combination of time, social activity, human experience, and philosophy of life appears as the core sentiment of the essay collection within its essays.

Cover of Samayashalama Nrityamagna Akriti

Where did the inspiration to write this essay collection come from? Do the essays contained in it lean more towards your personal experiences, social observations, or academic contemplation? Which essay agitated you the most and why?

Since essays are a powerful medium through which one can present one’s thoughts without obstruction, whenever my mind was agitated by existing problems in society or when an event or subject seemed interesting, I used to put them into words. When readers began to appreciate my articles published in newspapers and magazines, I decided to publish my unpublished manuscripts as a book, which has come before you all as Samayashalama Nrityamagna Akriti.

The essay that agitated me the most is Jindagiko Rukhbata Khaseko Pahelo Pat. This essay contains the story of a dog that unexpectedly came to be connected with me. Every creature on this earth has the right to live with dignity, but how we are depriving them of that right and violating their rights always disturbed me. I have expressed this sentiment and question in this essay.

This essay contains matters of my daily life, my fears and compassion, my childhood experiences, and the story of a character whom I loved dearly. That character had come to be connected in my life unexpectedly, but I lost him unaware. I could never forget him. For me, this essay is an expression of my love, separation, compassion, and sensitivity toward the existence of every creature and its right to live with dignity, as well as an appeal.

When presenting personal experiences in literature, the private world of the author can also become a subject of public debate. While writing essays, how have you connected your personal experience with the broader reality of society? How difficult is it for an author to be ruthless toward oneself?

I am a part of this society itself. In this sense, my personal experiences cannot be separated from the broader reality of society. The incidents, experiences, and feelings I have lived through in my personal life are also somehow connected with the social environment, relationships, values, norms, and anomalies. Therefore, when presenting my personal experiences and lived realities in literature, I try not to limit them merely to personal experiences but to highlight the social reality inherent in them.

Interviewee Asmita Bista

Being ruthless toward oneself is somewhat difficult for an author. Because just as it is difficult to identify one’s mistakes and weaknesses, it is even harder to accept them unhesitatingly. The infatuation that society should see only the beautiful and heroic aspects within oneself constantly captivates a person. It is not easy to expose one’s weaknesses, contradictions, and unappealing aspects before others. However, to be honest in literature, an author must be able to observe not only the lives of others and society but also oneself ruthlessly. Only when this courage is demonstrated does writing become credible and meaningful.