Kathmandu, Feb. 26 -- In Nepal, as the winter chill recedes, literary discussions and debates heat up. The interlude between winter and spring can be called the season of 'literature festivals' in the country, which has seen a proliferation of such events over the past decade or so.

These events provide a platform to discuss not just literature but also politics, economy and society. But while the number of such festivals is on the rise, they haven't evolved as much thematically, critics say. Topics discussed in previous years are being rehashed, they say, questioning their relevance.

In the view of Archana Thapa, a researcher and author, the issues discussed at such programmes should be continuously scrutinised. "We should also look in...