Introduction
Readers Jhapa is an independent public forum for discussion. Established informally in 2064 B.S. by a group of youths interested in social, political, economic, and literary issues, Readers Jhapa was officially registered on Falgun 6, 2069 B.S., at the Jhapa District Administration Office. Its registration number is 2062. This is a purely non-profit organization located in Ward No. 6, Mechinagar Municipality, Jhapa. It includes individuals active in various fields, such as education, journalism, business, politics, and literature. The institution organizes weekly discussions on Saturdays, analyzing various societal events from a sociological perspective. The promotion of reading culture is its primary objective. While it is legally registered under the Institution Registration Act 2034, Readers Jhapa remains open to anyone interested in reading and learning.
Background
Readers Jhapa conducts weekly discussion programs focusing on social, political, and literary topics in Mechinagar Municipality. The organization facilitates interactions on contemporary issues with experts in respective fields. It has successfully hosted intellectuals, writers, journalists, and prominent figures in discussions with the local community, fostering a culture of reading and intellectual discourse. Through four editions of the Art and Literature Festival, Readers Jhapa has established a national identity. The organization actively addresses issues of marginalized communities and societal anomalies and remains committed to continuing its efforts in the future.
Key Activities Organized by Readers Jhapa
The primary activity of Readers Jhapa is to invite writers, researchers, scholars, and artists engaged in intellectual endeavors in the fields of humanities, social sciences, arts, and sciences, both within the country and abroad, to interact with local teachers, students, and intellectually curious individuals. These interactions take place either during weekly Saturday morning meetups or through special programs. Over the years, we have conducted hundreds of such discussions on pressing social concerns and topics related to literature and art. To make these interactions more structured and intellectually enriching, Readers Jhapa also organizes reading workshops periodically.
In 2012 (2069 BS), the Art and Literature Festival was initiated to be held every two years. At that time, large literary festivals were being held in places like Jaipur in India and Kathmandu in Nepal. However, writers and readers from regional areas lacked access to such engaging and intellectual programs. Recognizing the potential to expand intellectual discourse beyond Kathmandu and benefit the general readership, Readers Jhapa realized that doing so could make public discussions more focused and democratic. With the aim of enriching and broadening local intellectual spaces, the festival was conceived as a celebratory event.
In the first Art and Literature Festival, in line with its objectives, dozens of writers, poets, artists, thinkers, and politicians from Nepal and India participated. Hundreds of attendees from Jhapa, Morang, Ilam, Panchthar, and Sunsari were able to join the program; several attendees traveled to Kakarbhitta from Chitwan and Hetauda to attend the event. The program featured discussions on various important topics such as drafting of the constitution by the Constituent Assembly (a pressing issue at the time), regional literature, local artistry, reading culture, and the infusion of intellectuality into poetry and fiction. Additionally, workshops and seminars on poetry writing, presentations, and painting were conducted in collaboration with schools.
