Kathmandu, March 20 -- Govinda Raj Bhattarai is the first Nepali researcher to earn a PhD in translation studies. His debut novel, 'Muglan' (1974), narrates the harrowing tale of Nepalis deceived and left stranded in the forests of Bhutan. Over the past 51 years, he has published five novels, ten travel and essay collections, nine books on literary theory and criticism, and three poetry collections. His total published works have reached 72, including his translated, edited, and co-authored contributions. He is also recognised as a pioneer and practitioner of postmodernist thought in Nepali literature.

In this conversation with the Post's Sanskriti Pokharel, Bhattarai discusses his literary journey, the qualities of a good translation, a...