Nepali Poet Ranjana Niraula Wins Italy's 'Grand Jury Prize'
Nepali poet and literary festival leader Ranjana Niraula has won the 'Grand Jury Prize' of Italy's prestigious 'Il Melato di Guido Gozzano' literary award. Her poem 'City Lights' received the honor from a worldwide poetry competition called in March 2026. Niraula sees this as recognition of the growing international presence of Nepali language and literature.
Kathmandu. Nepali poet, writer, and literary festival leader Ranjana Niraula has won the 'Grand Jury Prize' of Italy's prestigious 'Il Melato di Guido Gozzano' literary award. Her poem 'City Lights' received the prize.
Niraula's poem was selected from poems called worldwide in March 2026. A jury of poets, writers, editors, and artists from various countries decided to give her the prize.
Speaking to Shilapatra, Niraula said her prize is an opportunity to bring Nepali literature to the international community. She said, 'I take this honor not just as a personal achievement but as recognition of the growing presence and journey of Nepali language and literature on the international stage.'
The jury included literary figures from various countries:
- Amita Sanghvi (Oman) – affiliated with Sultan Qaboos University
- Dana Neri (United Kingdom) – journalist, translator, editor, and content manager
- Janthi Hondrou Hill (Greece) – award-winning Greek poet and translator, member of PEN Greece, and founder and director of the Nausa International Poetry Festival
- Marco Perna (France) – poet and artist active in literature and visual art
- Alejandra Miranda (Argentina) – visual artist, writer, and curator
The jury was coordinated by Lilita Konrriari and Lidia Ciarrelli. Lidia Ciarrelli is a poet, translator, and webmaster active in the international literary community.