The winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award 1978 and various other literary awards of the highest order, Shiv Kumar Rai, was a versatile Indian Nepali litterateur. His versatility has found manifestation in the forty-two beautiful short stories he has written, his poems, plays, lyrics and his novel. Though the theme of all his literary works is social, his treatment of the theme in each work of art is so different that none of them fails to take the reader by surprise. Readers of all age groups, from the old realist to the young idealist find something to appeal to their literary taste in Frontier (1951), Yatri (1956), Khahare (1976), Bada Dinner (1987), Shiv Kumar Rai Ka Sat Katha (1994), Daphe Chari (1954) and Dak Bungla (1956).

Apart from being a litterateur, he was also a great journalist. As the editor of Himalchuli, he played a dynamic role in developing journalism in Darjeeling. He played a significant role in setting up AIR Kurseong (1962) also.

Monica Mukhia, the author of this monograph, is the daughter of Late Gerard Mukhia, a renowned Nepali teacher. She is the sub editor of Nav Jyoti. has translated into Nepali; the encyclical of Pope John Paul II entitled Nari Ko Maryada. She is the recipient of the National Award for Teachers, 2004.

A short story writer par excellence, a novelist of no less calibre than Rup Narayan Sinha, a poet, whose heart rending pre sentation of the tragic end of 'Daphe Chari' in beautiful verse has won many a heart, a lyricist, a popular playwright and a successful journalist Shiv Kumar Rai appeals to all lovers of literature. As a man also he has a host of admirers. Though he is no more with us yet he is admired even today for his selfless service to the society, his kindness, his concern for the less privileged, his belief in Satya and Dharma, his friendly demeanour and his pleasing humour and wit. From the little that I know of him as a man and a literature, what I admire the most in him is his versatile creative genius. It sets him apart from all his contemporaries and has earned for him an enviable place in the history of Nepali Language and Literature.

I have made a humble effort to bring out this aspect of his character in this book. If I succeed at all, I would like to give special' thanks to Dr. Jeewan Namdung, Mrs. Bina Hangkhim, Mr. K. B. Gurung, Mrs Keval Ratna Gurung, Mrs. Maria Goretti Lepcha, Dr. Ranjana Yonzone, Mrs. Kanti Bista, Kishore B.K., Mr. Balkrishna Sharma, Mr. Tanka Sharma, Mr. Chandra Sharma, Mr. Surya Prakash Chettri and Miss Angelica Mukhia. Had it not been for their support, especially that of Dr. Jeewan Namdung, this book would never have seen the light of the day. I would also like to express my gratitude to Sahitya Akademi for giving me an opportunity to introduce the great Nepali Literateur, Shiv Kumar Rai to the non Nepali speaking lovers of Nepali Literature living in India and abroad.

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