Poet Abhay K, who authored and recorded the UN-recognised song "Earth Anthem" has come out with a collection of new poems on Nepal, marking his three year diplomatic stint there.
Titled 'Jatra,' the anthology of poems was released by the Vice President of Nepal, Parmanand Jha in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
Jha also inaugurated an exhibition of poetry-paintings on Nepal by Italian artist Tarshito and Abhay K.
""While we as Nepalese haven't been able to visit many historical places of Nepal, poet Abhay K took time out his hectic schedules as a diplomat and painted Nepal's beauty with such grace through his words," Jha said.
"I congratulate him for leaving us with such a beautiful collection of poems on Nepal and wish him every success ahead of his life," he said.
Jatra is a collection of poems on major landmarks and heritage sites of Nepal as well as key personalities and festivals by poet Abhay K written during his three-year stay in Nepal.
India's Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae said, "I haven't yet read Jatra in Nepali but have read this collection in English."
Describing his poems as elegant, Rae said, "...Abhay makes a beautiful balance to give enough space to his passion, his creative endeavors."
Noted playwright and professor Abhi Subedi shared how the author in his tenure in Kathmandu has successfully contributed in promoting Nepalese literature in international arena.
"As soon as he joined his deputation in Kathmandu he came to all small and big literary programmes in Nepal to understand the arena here and to get to know Nepali writers.
"His initiative of Poemandu, a monthly recitation of poetry in Indian library is one major example to that. I see this man as a prolific and critically acclaimed poet who for profession is involved somewhere," he said.
Chancellor of Nepal Academy of Music Drama and Dance, Sarubhakta, who is also a noted poet said, "I am amazed how in not more than four to five lines each poem in Jatra powerfully hits your mind and soul. ...It takes us beautifully in every aspect of Nepalese Jatra and will remain one of the most visual collections of Nepalese poetry in our literature."
The collected poems originally written in English under title "The Eight-Eyed Lord of Kathmandu" have been translated into Nepali by Kishore Nepal and published by We Read - an imprint of Kathalaya Inc.
The book contains illustrations by Tarshito, who earlier collaborated with poet Abhay K on poetry-paintings on Delhi.
Abhay K, recently appointed Director of The Nehru Centre in London is a recipient of SAARC Literary Award and nominated for the Pushcart Prize 2013. He is the author of two memoirs and five poetry collections.
