Golden, Colorado-The English translation of renowned musician, singer, and writer Hiranya Bhojpure’s novel Ang Sherpa and Ocean of the Heights was officially launched on Saturday in Golden, Colorado, USA.

Ang Sherpa and Ocean of the Heights is the English rendition of Bhojpure’s acclaimed Nepali novel Sagarmathabhanda Mathi (“Above Everest”). The translation, completed by poet Bhuvan Thapaliya, has been published by Nirala Publications, New Delhi.

The launch event was held in conjunction with the 13th death anniversary of celebrated musician and singer Ganesh Rasik.

The book was jointly unveiled by Himalayan poet Yuyutsu RD Sharma, the author’s wife Urmila Shrestha, grandchildren Yahavi Bhojpure, Pravar Raja Moktan, and Prahar Raja Moktan, along with Karma Sherpa of Sherpa Restaurant and his granddaughter Pasang Maya Sherpa.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bhojpure shared insights into the novel’s protagonist, Ang Chhotre Sherpa, a native of Pangboche village nestled at the foot of Mount Everest. Although Bhojpure has never visited Lukla, his novel vividly captures the landscapes, emotions, and lived experiences of the Sherpa people—depicting Lukla, Everest Base Camp, the South Col, and even the summit with powerful literary precision.

In the novel, Ang Chhotre summits Everest ten times. Following a dramatic incident at the South Col, he is banned from further climbs and exiled to Australia. The narrative traces his exile, eventual return to Nepal, and his internal journey of coping with a life away from the world’s highest peak—rendered in a poignant and deeply human style.

At the event, poet and editor Yuyutsu Sharma praised the novel for amplifying the unheard voices of native climbers. “Ang Sherpa is a powerful and long-awaited novel. Translator Bhuvan Thapaliya, a poet in his own right, has done a remarkable job in conveying a voice that is lyrical, raw, and profoundly human,” Sharma said.

Bhojpure also paid heartfelt tribute to Ganesh Rasik, calling his passing an irreparable loss to Nepal’s musical and literary heritage, as well as a personal loss of a close friend.

He extended gratitude to Nirala Publications and to Yuyutsu Sharma for their role in bringing his novel to an English-speaking audience. Praising Sharma as a true ambassador of Nepali literature, Bhojpure remarked, “While official ambassadors represent individual nations, Himalayan poet Yuyutsu carries Nepal in his heart and represents its soul to the world.”

Urmila Shrestha, Bhojpure’s wife and a singer herself, spoke about the legacy of Ganesh Rasik, recalling how he rose to prominence in Nepali music through sheer perseverance and talent despite his humble beginnings in rural Bhojpur.

Adding a musical note to the occasion, Karma Sherpa—whose image graces the cover of the book—performed Bhojpure’s iconic song Rato Bhale (“The Red Rooster”) to enthusiastic applause.

Born on Mangsir 12, 1999 B.S. (circa November 1952) in Deurali, Bhojpur district, Hiranya Bhojpure (real name Hiranya Shrestha) is a revered figure in Nepali arts. A founding member of the Lekali Parivar musical movement of the 1960s, he helped introduce a new wave in Nepali music by blending folk, modern, and experimental elements. Today, he remains a towering presence in Nepal’s literary and musical landscape.