Nepal, April 20 -- When does a book become truly memorable? Perhaps when it resonates deeply, evoking a sense of familiarity and reflecting one's own experiences. 'The Gurkha's Daughter' by Prajwal Parajuly left a lasting impression on me precisely for this reason-it exuded a comforting familiarity that lingered long after I turned the final page.

This collection of eight short stories revolves around the common theme of 'dis-belonging', a sense of not quite fitting in. Parajuly, himself a Nepali-Indian who was raised in India, explores this theme with profound understanding. Throughout the stories, the intricate layers of mixed identity and the palpable feeling of being out of place resonate powerfully.

In each of his stories, Parajuly...