GANGTOK, 8 August 2026: Acclaimed Sikkim-based writer, translator and Sahitya Akademi Translation Award recipient Shri Subash Deepak has translated celebrated Nepali novelist Lekhnath Chhetri’s acclaimed novel Phoolange into Hindi.
Published by the leading Hindi publishing house Hind Yugm Prakashan, the translation marks an important milestone in bringing contemporary Indian Nepali literature to the vast Hindi-speaking readership across the country.
Originally published in Nepali, Phoolange is a powerful account of a failed political movement and a cautionary tale about how violence can engulf an entire community. Intensely visual and deeply rooted in the landscape of Darjeeling, the novel presents a compelling portrait of the hills beyond their postcard beauty, exploring themes of identity, political betrayal and social upheaval.
Expressing his delight over the Hindi publication, author Lekhnath Chhetri said, “Following its English and Telugu editions, Phoolange has now been published in Hindi by the well-known publishing house Hind Yugm Prakashan. The Hindi translation has been undertaken by the distinguished translator Subash Deepak, who has around sixty translated books published. It is truly my good fortune that a translator of such experience and stature has translated Phoolange into Hindi. Now, Phoolange will find its readers in the Hindi heartland.”
The Hindi edition was made possible with the support of noted writer and poet Manoj Bogati, who also published the first Nepali edition of Phoolange through Sangri-La Books India. The novel was subsequently shortlisted for Nepal’s prestigious Madan Puraskar in 2021.
The book has steadily expanded its readership across languages. It was translated into English by Anurag Basnet as Fruits of the Barren Tree and published in hardcover and paperback by Penguin India. It was later translated into Telugu by Sriharsha and published by Chhaya Prakashan. With the publication of the Hindi edition, the novel has now entered one of India’s largest literary markets.
Speaking about the publication, Manoj Bogati said, “Subash Deepakji and I had been discussing the possibility for some time. Now we finally have the Hindi translation in our hands. The effort he has put into this work is remarkable. It is through beautiful efforts like his that Nepali literature remains vibrant and alive.”
Bogati said he approached Hind Yugm Prakashan with the manuscript, and the publisher agreed to publish the novel after reading just two chapters.
“I am immensely happy to see a good book finding new readers. It is important that our stories also reach Hindi-speaking audiences. We have very few literary translators. Much of this work depends on the personal commitment of authors, publishers and translators. There are many important works still waiting to be translated. Perhaps, in time, each of them will find their turn. Good books deserve to travel the world,” he added.
Describing the novel, Hind Yugm Prakashan said:
“Behind the breathtaking hills of Darjeeling lies not only the fragrance of tea but also a bitter history of struggle, bloodshed and rebellion.
Phoolange is a deeply moving tale of innocent dreams crushed between the forces of power and authority. It powerfully explores the struggle for identity, political betrayal and the historical roots of the Gorkhaland movement. Through this remarkable novel, brilliantly translated into Hindi by Subash Deepak, Lekhnath Chhetri presents Darjeeling not merely as a tourist destination but as a land fighting for its identity, dignity and rights.”
About Shri Subash Deepak
For more than five decades, Shri Subash Deepak has dedicated his life to enriching India’s literary landscape through original writing, translation, research and journalism. His work has played a transformative role in bringing Indian Nepali literature into the national literary mainstream by making it accessible to Hindi readers through an unparalleled body of translations.
A resident of Gangtok, Sikkim, Shri Deepak received the Sahitya Akademi Translation Award (2003) for translating Pal-Vipal, a Dogri novel by Dr. Om Goswami, into Nepali—the first-ever Dogri-to-Nepali literary translation. This landmark work opened new avenues for literary exchange between Indian languages.
Among his significant contributions is the editorial compilation Bharatiya Nepali Kahani Visheshank (1974), the first anthology of Indian Nepali short stories translated into Hindi, which introduced Indian Nepali fiction to a wider Hindi readership.
His latest achievement is the publication of the two-volume anthology Bhartiya Nepali Kahani: Ek Sadi Ka Safar (2023 and 2024), the first comprehensive Hindi anthology tracing a century of Indian Nepali short stories. Released during the centenary celebrations of the Nepali Sahitya Sammelan, it brings together literary voices from Sikkim, Darjeeling, the Dooars, Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya, preserving a rich literary heritage while introducing it to a national audience.
Beyond the awards and accolades, Shri Deepak’s greatest contribution lies in his unwavering commitment to strengthening India’s linguistic diversity. Through his extensive translations and original writings, he has built enduring bridges between Hindi and Nepali literature, enabling wider recognition of Indian Nepali writers and enriching India’s multilingual literary tradition. Few individuals have contributed so consistently towards integrating Indian Nepali literature into the national literary discourse.
Even at the age of 78, Shri Deepak continues to work tirelessly as a freelance writer and translator, inspiring younger generations through his lifelong dedication to literature and translation.
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