Pathshala (novel)
{{Short description|2017 novel by Tirtha Gurung}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Pathshala
| image = Pathshala-novel.jpg
| author = Tirtha Gurung
| language = Nepali
| country = {{flagicon|Nepal}} Nepal
| genre = Coming of age
| published = August 26, 2017
| publisher = Book Hill Publications
| isbn = 9789937910156
| title_orig = पाठशाला
| orig_lang_code = ne
| followed_by = Aapa Kharpa
| caption = Cover page
| media_type = Print
| pages = 245
| awards = {{Plainlist|
- INLS Best Novel Award
- Tamu Sahitya Award
- Madan Puraskar (Shortlisted)}}
}}
Pathshala ({{Langx|ne|पाठशाला|lit=School}}) is a Nepali coming–of–age novel by Tirtha Gurung.{{Cite web|title=गुरुङको पाठशाला बजारमा|url=https://saptahik.com.np/literature/2017/08/28/20170827144837|access-date=2021-12-04|website=saptahik.com.np|language=ne}} It was published on August 26, 2017, by Book Hill Publications. It is the debut novel of the author. The book was shortlisted for the Madan Puraskar in the same year. Gurung worked as a teacher in a school and wrote this book from his various experiences with his pupils.{{Cite web|last=Setopati|first=तीर्थ गुरुङ |title='पाठशाला' मेरो कथा होइन|url=https://www.setopati.com/art/interview/79842/|access-date=2021-12-04|website=Setopati|language=ne}}
Synopsis
Pathshala is a coming of age story of a Nepalese teenage boy. It depicts the story of an urban teenager and presents the various the elements of his social life—friends, family, school. It sheds light on the growing pains of an adolescent child in a city.{{Cite web|title=पाठशाला एक तीर्थयात्रा|url=https://annapurnapost.com/news/81545|access-date=2021-12-04|website=पाठशाला एक तीर्थयात्रा|language=ne}} Gagan is the central character of the book who lives in the city of Pokhara.{{Cite web|title=Decoding the teenage mind|url=https://kathmandupost.com/miscellaneous/2017/09/23/decoding-the-teenage-mind|access-date=2021-12-04|website=kathmandupost.com|language=English}}
Reception
The book won the International Nepali Literary Society Best Novel Award for the year 2019. The prize is awarded every two year for best novel in Nepali language. The book also received the "Tamu Sahitya Award".{{Cite web|last=Swechcha|first=Sangita|date=2019-11-04|title='International collaboration is the key in bringing Nepali literature to the external world': An interview with publisher Bhupendra Khadka of Book Hill Publishing|url=https://glli-us.org/2019/11/04/international-collaboration-is-the-key-in-bringing-nepali-literature-to-the-external-world-an-interview-with-publisher-bhupendra-khadka/|access-date=2021-12-04|website=Global Literature in Libraries Initiative|language=en}} The book was also shortlisted for the coveted Madan Puraskar for 2017.{{Cite web|last=Thapa|first=Richa|date=2018-07-12|title=Eight books shortlisted for Madan Puraskar|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/lifestyle/eight-books-shortlisted-for-madan-puraskar|access-date=2021-12-04|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en}}