Draft:Shekhar Dahit

Shekhar Dahit (born 24 May 1982) is a Tharu author and columnist. He was awarded by the 'National Talent Award in 2023' by Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation by the Government of Nepal.. Three of his novels (Kerani, Bahar, Hamar Basti) have been adapted into Tharu movies.

Early Life and Education
Shekhar Dahit grew up in a traditional Tharu family. His father was served as a Kamaiya and his mother worked as Bukrahi in Local Laldlord house. He was schooled in Modern Public Boarding in Tikapur after he shifted Pashupati Secondary School. He claims to have been topper student in Secondary level. He used to write articles for the National Daily and Tharu Newspapers basically on the issues of identity, culture conservation as well as making standard Tharu Language. Dahit graduated with a Mass Communication from Babai Multiple Campus Bardia in 2007. He perused a Post-graduation in Phonetics and Phonology from the same University in 2014. In July 15, 2023 he was awarded with National Talent Award 2080 by Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation by the Government of Nepal.

Career
After graduation in 2007, Dahit started his first job in [https://www.multiheight.com/ Multiheight Scaffolding Pte. Ltd] as an Administrator. He worked for 2.5 years in Scaffolding Company and came back to Nepal. His started his next job as a Coordinator in Local NGO, where he conducted Public Hearing in Local Government Offices (Village Development Committee). After his tenure completion, he joined Child Sponsorship Service in 2012 in Good Neighbor. He also served as a Human Rights Activist (2013-2015) in Informal Sector Service Center-INSEC as a Coordinator. He switched his role in youth lead organization Restless Development (2016) where he worked as a Role Model. He quitted his job in Restless Development and joined a Peacebuilding Organization International Alert (2016-2022) where he spent more than five years working as a Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer. Same year he wrote a Tharu story book 'Gayarwa Budu' which was published by the Jangrar Sahitya Bakheri. In 2019, he published 'Thanhra' a Tharu story book and able to achieve an award' Tharu Sahitya Puruskar 2078' He worked as a Researcher in Policy Entrepreneurs Inc. where he used to research for SOAS University UK and YALE University US in federalism theme. In 2023, he quitted his social development service (I/NGO's jobs) to write full-time. Shekhar is a popular moderator and facilitator and has facilitated at more than 500 events in Madhesh, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces in Nepal.

Author
Shekhar started writing his first story book 'Gayarwa Budu' when he was working at Informal Sector Service Center-INSEC. His one story was covered by 'Gorkhapatra National Daily' in 2013 which is the oldest newspaper in Nepal. He was shocked seeing his name printed in the Magazine. For his story collection,he drafted more than thrice and sent several publishers but refused the manuscripts, finally Jangrar Sahitya Bakheri published the book. After the success of his first book, he started working on his second story book' Thanhra' which was published in 2019. The story book was also a success and received 'Tharu Sahitya Puruskar 2019'. Shekhar decided to make literature writing a full-time career. His third non-fiction book 'Tharu Jodha' published in 2022 also was a best seller. The documentary ' Farmer Martyr Baijanath Tharu' is based on this book.

Moderator
Shekhar was a popular moderator in Nepali Literature Festivals. He has facilitated on 'Inclusive Governance' along with panelists Constitutional expert Dr. Khimlal Devkota, Speaker of Karnali Province and Chief Secretary Aananda Saru on the 'Kuda Karnalika' season 4 that was aired by various channels. Shekhar was also seen in 'Tikapur Literature Festival 2023' as a moderator on the first Series where senior author and Academic Secretary Sanat Regmi, Bina Thing an author of 'Yambunera', Shyam Shah an author of 'Pather' were presented as a panelists. He has also played a crucial role in organizing National Tharu Literature Conference (2070-2079) 7th series, where he interviewed with 'Madan award' winner Mahesh Vikram Shah, another 'Madan award' winner Ramlal Joshi, 'Padma Shri award' winner Nayan Raj Pandey, an author Shivani Singh Tharu in Tharu literature conference.

Scriptwriting
For 'Magh Festival' Documentary (2021), 'Krishnajanmastami' Festival (2022), 'A farmer martyr Baijanath Tharu' based on his non-fiction book 'Tharu Jodha'. He has also written a script for Tharu movies 'Kerani', 'Bahar' and 'Hamar Basti'.

Fiction
Gayarwa Budu 2073 Thanhra 2078 Mina and Tortoise 2077

Non-fiction
Tharu Jodha 2079

Personal life
Shekhar Dahit married Durga Dahit a Montessori teacher in 2010.They has one son named Leewish Paul.