Book on migrant workers' lives, Mahendra Mahak's short story collection 'Khadama,' launched

Short story writer Mahendra Mahak's first short story collection, 'Khadama,' has been released in Kathmandu. The collection, which depicts the lives, pain and struggles of Nepali workers abroad, was published by Bela Publication.

At the launch program, reviewer Naveen Bibhash described it as a short story collection that represents the working class. According to him, the stories show the compulsion to go abroad, the oppression faced by female characters, and the hope that persists amid it. He said the work also enriches the Nepali language through its multilingual and transgender characters.

Reviewer Bibhuti Bhattarai said the book represents the suffering of Nepali women who go to work in Gulf countries. According to him, these stories can inspire Nepali youth.

Author Mahak said he drew on experiences he saw and lived through at workplaces and in the streets while working in Arab countries. His labor journey began in a village in Salyan, passed through Shimla in India, and reached the United Arab Emirates. Having started work at a young age, he had seen up close the loneliness and small joys faced by low-paid workers abroad.

After returning to Nepal, Mahak passed the Lok Sewa exam and entered government service. He is currently Under Secretary in the Government of Nepal. Alongside his administrative responsibilities, he has continued to write literature.