KATHMANDU: February 8 was a special day for author Madan Mani Dixit and his wife Rita Dixit. The Madan Puraskar winning writer and his wife completed their 78 years of marriage on this day. And a special programme was organised to celebrate their nearly eight-decade-long conjugal life at Shilpee Theatre, Battisputali on February 8.

The couple exchanged garlands and cut cake to mark the occasion. But that was not all — the second edition of Meri Neelima — a monologue novel by Madan Mani was also launched at the event.

Professor Dr Suresh Raj Sharma, Rastra Kavi Madhav Prasad Ghimire , Madan Mani and Rita jointly launched the new edition.

Optimism and life’s philosophy are some of the issues addressed by this novel.

“The novel gives an optimistic feel about the future. It is a historical work that has literary quality,” Ghimire commented about the book.

This second edition has been published by Book Hill Publication. The book is the first publication in the ‘Classic Series’ by Book Hill. The first edition of Meri Neelima was published by Sajha Prakashan in 1993.

“We have tried to publish such books so that the younger generation can get a taste of good old books,” shared Pawan Acharya, Managing Director at Book Hill.