nepali haiku finds a global stage

the latest issue of frogpond — the journal of the haiku society of america — features an article titled “a brief history of nepali haiku literature” by dinesh chapagain. it offers the comprehensive overviews of nepali haiku published internationally, tracing its development from the early 1960s to the present day.

the article follows the evolution of nepali haiku through its pioneering figures — shankar lamichhane, ratna sumsher thapa, kshetra pratap adhikari, and abhi subedi — and documents the growth of haiku groups, publications, and creative movements that shaped the genre. it also highlights the emergence of haibun and haiga in nepal, and the increasing visibility of nepali poets in global haiku circles.

janak sapkota is included among the contemporary diaspora poets featured in this historical survey. the article acknowledges his work in nepali, finnish, and english, and his contributions to bringing nepali haiku to international journals and anthologies. writing from finland while remaining rooted in nepali literary tradition, his presence in this piece reflects the expanding reach of nepali haiku across borders.

chapagain’s essay presents nepali haiku as a living, evolving tradition shaped by landscape, culture, and the creative energy of poets working both in nepal and abroad.

read the full article here:
a brief history of nepali haiku literature (frogpond 47.1)