Born in the Mills Area of Biratnagar, Nepal
Suman Pokhrel
सुमन पोखरेल
Multilingual poet, lyricist, playwright, and translator; the only writer to win the SAARC Literary Award twice
About
Suman Pokhrel worked as a government section officer. He then left to join Plan International as a development activist, in remote hill regions of Nepal. All the while, he built one of the most active and internationally translated literary careers among contemporary Nepali writers.
He writes across Nepali, English, Hindi, and Urdu. He became the only writer ever to win the SAARC Literary Award twice. His poetry has since been translated into languages ranging from Arabic to Russian. His play Yajnaseni has toured stages in the United States, Nepal, and India. He has also translated works, including Shakespeare’s The Tempest, into Nepali.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1967-09-21
- Birthplace
- Mills Area, Biratnagar, Nepal
- Profession
- Poet, Lyricist, Playwright, Translator, Artist
- Nationality
- Nepal
- Status
- Alive
Previous roles
Section Officer
Government of Nepal · 1995-02
Development Activist
Plan International · 1998-12
Education
Mahendra Morang Adarsh Multiple Campus
Tribhuvan University
BSc, MBA, BL
Career & life timeline
- 1967-09-21
- 1995-02
Joined the Government of Nepal as a Section Officer
- 1998-12
Left government service to join Plan International as a development activist
- 1999
Published his poetry collection Shoonya Mutuko Dhadkanbhitra
- 2009
Published the poetry collection Jeevanako Chheubata
- 2013
Won the SAARC Literary Award for the first time
- 2015
Won the SAARC Literary Award for a second time, becoming the only writer to do so
- 2018
Published a Nepali translation of William Shakespeare's The Tempest, titled Aandhibehari
Achievements
Only writer to win the SAARC Literary Award twice
Won in 2013 and 2015
Poetry included in university syllabi in Nepal and India
Awards & honours
SAARC Literary Award
SAARC Literary Award
Shaluk International Literature Award
Related people
Last updated: 2026-09-06