English alumnus underlines authoritarianism in new novel Darkmotherland

Upon graduating from The College of Wooster with an English degree, Samrat Upadhyay ’87 wrote a few realist fiction books, most of which center on individual lives balancing their desires in a rapidly changing society in Kathmandu, Nepal. His most recent novel, Darkmotherland, focuses on individual characters’ perspectives of an authoritarian government in a dystopian Nepal after an earthquake ravages the country. Upadhyay’s liberal arts education at Wooster inspired both Darkmotherland and his other award-winning novels.

“If I didn’t have Wooster’s liberal arts education, I probably would have stayed in this box and continued studying business, which is what I originally came to America to study,” shared Upadhyay.

Born and raised in Nepal, Upadhyay attended the College after experiencing firsthand the political protests and unrest in his country. “I started college in Nepal and there were a lot of strikes, and I felt like I was wasting my time,” Upadhyay expressed. “I’m really glad I attended Wooster, because it was pretty much at the forefront of recruiting international students in the 1980s, so I had a lot of good friends internationally.”

Upadhyay’s experience taking theatre and literature classes at Wooster opened him up to the world of creative writing, in which he received his master’s degree at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. As an English professor at Indiana University Bloomington, Upadhyay draws inspiration from the teaching styles of his Wooster professors to his students, notably from I.S. mentor Ray McCall, former English professor and two-term chair of the department. He also expressed the encouragement of professors in the natural sciences, communications, and religious studies departments provided a well-rounded education that he carried to his professional career.

“I learned the value of critical thinking at Wooster and how to apply that skill to higher disciplines. I tell my students that, even in their fiction writing, which is what I mostly teach, they’re applying a lot of critical thinking skills. There’s a level of analysis that you miss without that thinking, and Wooster taught me that,” said Upadhyay.

Upadhyay hopes that Darkmotherland, while centered on a corrupt authoritarian government, invites deep reflection on powerful individuals in any country. “I hope there’s a sense of how universal our experiences are despite us being in different countries and having different cultures and religions,” said Upadhyay. “We all have similar aspirations and want good things for ourselves, our families, and friends.

Featured image: Samrat Upadhyay ’87, photo provided by subject

This story originally appeared in the summer 2025 issue of Wooster magazine. 

Posted in Alumni, Magazine on June 25, 2025.