Born: 11 April 1946, India
Died: 24 May 2021
Country most active: Nepal
Also known as: वानीरा गिरि
Banira Giri was a prominent Nepalese poet and novelist, born in Kurseong, Darjeeling, India. Renowned for works like Karagar, Nirbandha, and poetry collections such as Jiwan: Thayamaru, she earned acclaim, winning the prestigious Sajha Puraskar in 1999 for her novel Shabdatit Shantanu, a remarkable feat as the first woman to receive the award.
She began her academic journey in Darjeeling, later studying at North Bengal University. In 1965, after securing second place in a poetry competition in Kathmandu, she expressed her aspiration to King Mahendra, leading to an invitation from the Royal Secretariat to study at Tribhuvan University with a scholarship. Giri made history by becoming the first woman to attain a Ph.D. from Tribhuvan University, specialising in the poetry of Gopal Prasad Rimal.
Her literary career flourished as she taught at various colleges and campuses of Tribhuvan University. Giri’s contributions extended beyond borders, representing Nepal at the Afro-Asian Writers’ Conference in 1975. She penned her debut, Euta Jiundo Jung Bahadur, in 1974, followed by Jiwan: Thayamaru in 1977. Her novel Karagar (1978), exploring themes of family, loneliness, and complex relationships, remains widely celebrated. In 1985, the sequel Nirbandha followed. Notably, her poetic fantasy novel Shabdatit Shantanu, published in 1999, marked a pinnacle in her career, earning her the distinguished Sajha Puraskar. Giri’s impactful literary legacy endures, marking her as a trailblazing figure in Nepalese literature.
Giri passed away on 24 May 2021 at the age of 75, at the Nizamati Government Hospital. She had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for the past three years and had tested positive for COVID-19 three hours before her demise.