{{Short description|Nepali writer (born 1974)}} {{Infobox person | name = Kumar Nagarkoti | image = Kumar Nagarkoti (cropped).jpg | caption = Nagarkoti at a programme in Butwal (2019) | native_name = कुमार नगरकोटी | native_name_lang = ne | other_names = Nagarkoti | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|12|2|df=y}} | birth_place = Lalitpur, Nepal | occupation = Writer, poet, columnist | notable_works = ''Ghatmandu'', ''Kalpa-Grantha'', ''Mistika'' | style = Surrealism, Magical realism | spouse = Sabitri Karki | children = 1 }}
'''Kumar Nagarkoti''' ({{Langx|ne|कुमार नगरकोटी}}; born 1974) is a Nepali writer, poet, and columnist.<ref>{{Cite web|title=कुमार नगरकोटी - Nepal Magazine|url=https://nepalmag.com.np/author/10536|access-date=2022-02-02|website=nepalmag.com.np|language=en}}</ref> He is one of the most popular contemporary Nepali writer. He has published multiple books and is known for his use of surrealiastic style in his works.<ref name="tnm.com.np">{{Cite web|title=a man for himself : kumar nagarkoti : writer/fiction designer|url=http://tnm.com.np/a-man-for-himself-kumar-nagarkoti-writerfiction-designer/|access-date=2022-02-02|website=TNM|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202153351/http://tnm.com.np/a-man-for-himself-kumar-nagarkoti-writerfiction-designer/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Biography == He was born on 2 December 1974 (17 Mangsir 2031 BS) in Lalitpur, Nepal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=समसामयिक नेपाली राजनीतिको प्रतिबिम्ब 'कोमा' नाटक {{!}} ताराप्रसाद पोखरेल|url=https://www.samakalinsahitya.com/sahitya/details/7314|access-date=2022-02-02|website=www.samakalinsahitya.com|language=en}}</ref>
He began his literary career in 1999 with an English poem titled ''Sorry Buddha, I Cannot Follow You''.<ref name="नगरकोटी अर्थात् एक शून्य">{{Cite web|title=नगरकोटी अर्थात् एक शून्य|url=https://annapurnapost.com/news/59561-59561|access-date=2022-02-02|website=नगरकोटी अर्थात् एक शून्य|language=en}}</ref> He published his first story, ''Nikash'' at the age of 21. The story was published in ''Sahakalam Sahitya'', a literary paper that only printed works of established writers.<ref name="tnm.com.np"/>
His first book, Mokshanta: Kathmandu Fever, a collection of short stories was published in 2011.<ref name="fridayweekly">{{Cite news|last=Nankhwa|first=Shreesha|date=2013-10-30|title=Spinning a tale|page=10|work=Friday|publisher=ECS Media|url=http://fridayweekly.com.np/uploads/issue/pdf/friday_issue_192.pdf|access-date=2022-02-02}}</ref> His second short story collection, ''Fossil'' was published in 2013.<ref name="fridayweekly"/> He published a memoir titled ''Aksharganj'' in 2014. The memoir has 30 essays and contains various magical realism elements.<ref>{{Cite web|title=हिमाल खबरपत्रिका {{!}} मदिरा, महिला र मृत्यु|url=http://nepalihimal.com/|access-date=2022-02-02|website=nepalihimal.com|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2015, he wrote a play called ''Coma—A Political Sex''. It was staged in Shilpee theatre and was directed by Yubraj Ghimire. The play is about a writer who goes into a coma while writing his book, because the constitution is not drafted on time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coma staged again|url=https://kathmandupost.com/art-entertainment/2015/01/25/coma-staged-again|access-date=2022-02-02|website=kathmandupost.com|language=en}}</ref>
His first novel, ''Mistika'' was published on 20 August 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nasana|date=2015-08-23|title=Nagarkoti reveals his Mistika|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/lifestyle/nagarkoti-reveals-his-mistika|access-date=2022-02-02|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en}}</ref> On 2 October 2016, he published a collection of his fiction and non-fiction writings titled ''Ghatmandu''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nargarkoti's Ghatmandu hits shelves|url=https://kathmandupost.com/art-entertainment/2016/10/02/nargarkotis-ghatmandu-hits-shelves|access-date=2022-02-02|website=kathmandupost.com|language=en}}</ref> He published ''Docha'', his memoir in 2017. The book was not written in first person narrative as with most memoir but used birds and inanimate objects as a narrator.<ref>{{Cite web|title=I did it my way|url=https://kathmandupost.com/miscellaneous/2017/09/09/i-did-it-my-way|access-date=2022-02-02|website=kathmandupost.com|language=en}}</ref>
In 2018, he made a cameo in ''Lal Purja'', a Nepali film.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mahat|first=Sunny|title=Lal Purja movie review: Eccentric, experimental and mildly entertaining|url=https://theannapurnaexpress.com/news/lal-purja-movie-review-eccentric-experimental-and-mildly-entertaining-3719|access-date=2022-02-02|website=The Annapurna Express|language=en}}</ref> He also published ''Gya'', a novel in the same year. He took 3 years to complete the book. The book was unveiled by Saguna Shah, a writer and founder of Bookaholics group, a Facebook readers group.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Setopati|first=सेतोपाटी संवाददाता|title=नगरकोटीको उपन्यासीका 'ज्ञ' लोकार्पण|url=https://www.setopati.com/art-activity/161163/|access-date=2022-02-02|website=Setopati|language=hi}}</ref> The novel was shortlisted for the prestigious Madan Puraskar for the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Republica|title=Seven books nominated for Madan Puraskar|url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/69262/|access-date=2022-02-02|website=My City|language=en}}</ref>
He wrote ''Bath-tub'', a play in 2019. The play was staged in Shilpee theatre, directed by Yubaraj Ghimire and starred actor Neer Shah, writer Bhushita Vasistha and Brajesh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=बाथ–टबमा सिरियल किलर निदाइरहेको थियो|url=https://annapurnapost.com/news/baath-ttbmaa-siriyl-kilr-nidaairheko-thiyo-119290|access-date=2022-02-02|website=बाथ–टबमा सिरियल किलर निदाइरहेको थियो|language=en}}</ref>
He published his tenth book, ''Kalpa-Grantha'' on 27 March 2021. The book consisted of 63 experimental tales including typographs, postcards, screen plays, etc. The book was only sold to the preorders in a limited edition release.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What publisher and writer have to say on Nepal's first case of printing book for pre-orderers only - OnlineKhabar English News|url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/what-publisher-and-writer-have-to-say-on-nepals-first-case-of-printing-book-for-pre-orderers-only.html|access-date=2022-02-02|language=en-GB|website=english.onlinekhabar.com|date=25 November 2020 }}</ref> Many people criticise the hefty cost of the book and the limited release.<ref>{{Cite web|title=कल्प-ग्रन्थ : प्रयोग कि विलास !|url=https://www.himalkhabar.com/news/125590|access-date=2022-02-02|website=Himal Khabar}}</ref> The book was also shortlisted for Madan Puraskar but lost to ''Limbuwanko Etihasik Dastavej Sangraha'' by Bhagi Raj Ingnam.<ref>{{Cite web|title=मदन पुरस्कारको श्रेष्ठ सूचीमा नौ पुस्तक|url=https://www.himalkhabar.com/news/125286|access-date=2022-02-02|website=Himal Khabar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=२०७७ को मदन पुरस्कार भगिराज इङ्नामलाई|url=https://ekantipur.com/literature/2021/09/23/16323980691211540.html|access-date=2022-02-02|website=ekantipur.com|language=ne}}</ref>
He is also a columnist at ''Shilapatra'' online news portal. He describes himself as a fiction designer rather than fiction writer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nagarkoti to make cinematic debut|url=https://kathmandupost.com/art-entertainment/2017/12/19/nagarkoti-to-make-cinematic-debut|access-date=2022-02-02|website=kathmandupost.com|language=en}}</ref>
== Notable works == '''Books''' {| class="wikitable" |+ !Title !Genre !Publication date !Note |- |''Mokshanta: Kathmandu Fever'' |Short stories |2011 |Debut book |- |''Fossil'' |Short stories |2013 | |- |''Aksharganj'' |Memoir |2014 | |- |''Mistika'' |Novel |20 August 2015 | |- |''Ghatmandu'' |Collection of fiction and non-fiction works |2 October 2016 | |- |''Docha'' |Memoir |2017 | |- |''Gya'' |Novel |31 May 2018 |Shortlisted for Madan Puraskar 2075 BS |- |''Kalpa-Grantha'' |Collection of short stories |27 March 2021 |Shortlisted for Madan Puraskar 2077 BS |} '''Plays''' {| class="wikitable" |+ !Title !Publication date !Role !Director |- |''Coma—A Political Sex'' |2015 |Playwright |Yubaraj Ghimire |- |''Bath-tub'' |2019 |Playwright |Yubaraj Ghimire |} '''Films''' {| class="wikitable" |+ !Title !Release date !Role !Character !Director |- |''Lal Purja'' |2018 |Actor |''Sadhu'' (a mystic) |Nigam Shrestha |}
== Personal life == He is married to Sabitri Karki. They currently reside in Balkumari, Lalitpur with their son (Grishmil Nagarkoti).<ref name="नगरकोटी अर्थात् एक शून्य"/>
== See also == * Nayan Raj Pandey * Buddhisagar * Saru Bhakta
== References == {{Reflist}} {{Nepali literature}}{{Nepalese writers}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nagarkoti, Kumar}} Category:21st-century Nepalese male writers Category:21st-century Nepalese writers Category:Nepalese columnists Category:Nepalese male novelists Category:Nepalese novelists Category:21st-century Nepalese poets Category:Living people Category:Newar people Category:1974 births Category:People from Lalitpur District, Nepal Category:Nepali-language Nepalese writers Category:Nepali-language poets