Sharma, Yuyutsu

Yuyutsu R.D. (Ram Dass) Sharma was born in Punjab and moved to Nepal at an early age. He grew up in very religious surroundings and became a shaman at the age of nine, as he was believed to be possessed by a spirit. He later pursued a western education. While working on his Masters in Philosophy at University of Rajasthan, he met American poet David Ray, who encouraged him to write and publish his poetry. He has published nine collections of poetry and his work has been widely translated. He recently published a book of nonfiction, Annapurnas & Stains of Blood: Life, Travel and Writing a Page of Snow (Nirala, 2010), edits Pratik: A Magazine of Contemporary Writing, and contributes literary columns to Nepal’s leading daily, The Himalayan Times.