A story collection titled Bhagna Premshala was released amid a special function in Kathmandu on Friday.

The collection, written by journalist Khagendra Giri, features nine stories that delve deeply into Nepal’s socio-cultural, psychological, and moral dimensions.

Speaking at the book launch held at the Nepal Academy, several prominent writers described Giri’s stories as realistic, poignant, and vivid portrayals of society.

Writer and actor Saguna Shah called the book “extraordinary stories of ordinary people”. According to her, Giri presents “a microscopic observation of society,” adding, “The vivid descriptions of minute details in the settings are powerful. The character development and the psychoanalytic perspective are equally compelling.”

Writer and journalist Basanta Basnet praised Giri for his bold experiments in storytelling, saying, “These are realistic stories that mirror social realities.”

Noted author Nayan Raj Pandey remarked that Giri has made an important contribution to Nepali literature with this work. He commended the writer for developing his own distinctive narrative style.

“This kind of storytelling has rarely been practised in our context,” Pandey said. “While reading, you may forget the events, but the characters’ images and a lingering sense of melancholy continue to haunt you.”

Speakers at the event noted that Giri has set a high standard for himself with his debut work. The 244-page book was published by Indigo Ink.