Upclose with Rabindra Mishra | Pitamber Sharma on books

March-May 2007|Issue-02 What Kathmandu is reading NIBl bene_ In itssoci.1 rttjIOnSibIlily. WM !hIIln mind NIBl hllstarted I ~-- uniquo, firsl of ~I kind lithe .... whlclo Ihl'" wllh _lily I IIttlo III whal k ..... ,chl.vu. Th. S""I,I OepolH. Accllunl pennita any INGOINGO Iccount ------hoIdH to d.lm 11har>i In !hi ptofllS of IhI account Tht Soclll Deposit Aecount Is NIBl's conlrlbUlllln te help Ichl",e . belle< NEPAL INVESTMENT BANK LTD. Nepal. WIll NIBl Invit.In such ~niza~en. to Join hinds with us In this ncbIoClUH. 'fru[y a :Nepafi (/Jan/t www.melamchiwater.org Melamchi Water Supply Project: At a Glance

A view of Sindhu Adit Access Raod Intake Point of Melamchi Water

The main objective of the Melamchi Water supply Project is to solve the chronic water supply shortage in the Kathman- du Valley. The objective will be achieved by the diversion of 170 MLD water from the Melamchi River via 26.5 km long tunnel system to a water system to a water treatment plant and distribution facilities to be constructed in the Kathmandu Valley. The project consists of the following four major components; namely; Infrastructure Development, Social and Environment Support, Institutional Reforms and Implementation. These major components are supplemented by management, social institutional activities including the Social Uplift Program (SUP) for the MDS works, Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), Environmental Management and Monitoring for all the components, and related support activities. The current activity of the Project are mainly concentrated on construction of the access roads, main access road in the Melamchi Valley, and the preparations for the procurement of the Management contractor (MC), in place of the previ- ously proposed Private Operator of the distribution system. Land acquisition and resettlement programs continue, and the Social Uplift activities have commenced. The development of the institutional and legislative frame for creation of the regulatory and executive bodies, and the procurement of Management Contract (for the operation and the supply and distribution system) is in progress. The project is disseminating the information in a regular basis through press, media, and public information centres established at Kathmandu offi ce, and site offi ce in the Melamchi Valley. The detail information could be obtained from the following address:

Melamchi Water Supply Development Board Devkota Marg, Naya Baneshwor, Kathmandu Tel: 4475303, 4468963-5 THE FIRST BOOK IN ENGLISH BY ARGUABLY THE BEST SOCIOLOGIST IN THE COUNTRY

"Essays on the Sociology of Nepal" brings together, for the fi rst time, essays written over two-and-a-half decades by a leading soci- ologist in the country, Dr. Chaitanya Mishra. It contains an array of analytical and perceptive essays on underdevelopment, growth of the social sciences, foreign aid, the Maoist insurgency, etc. Some of the essays in the collection are prophetic: for example, the author had correctly predicted that the Maoists would center-stage politics rather than armed struggle and that the privileged as well as the disadvantaged would come together to fi ght against the king. It also features a hitherto unpublished essay on the April transition, where Dr. Mishra argues that the foundational causes of the transition have to be found in society-wide changes rather than in the actions of the political parties and the Maoists.

The book helps one understand the political, social and economic landscape of Nepal. It should prove indispensable to academics, researchers, social science students, development workers and anyone interested in the undercurrents that shape Nepali politics. FinePrint Phone-4255500 www.readnepal.org

ural Education and Development-Nepal (READ-Nepal) was established in 1991 to work in the ʏ eld of literacy and development. Its mission is to “em- power communities by increasing literacy and access to education through the creation, advancement and leveraging of a replicable library-based mod- el.”R It has three objectives: (a) education through libraries and literacy, (b) economic growth and (c) social development through community centres. It has helped estab- lished 39 community libraries in 35 districts across the country. These libraries have broaden the knowledge base of people, ultimately leading them to better futures.

Over time, the community libraries have turned into a centre for facilitating and im- plementing community development initiatives. Most of the READ-Nepal-supported projects have become a tele-centre equipped with computer, radio, television, CD or video cassette player, telephone, fax-machine, internet facilities etc. These tele-centres have played an important role in the development of modern information technology in rural areas.

READ-Nepal provides only infrastructures to libraries and makes sure that the libraries generate their own income to keep themselves running. The READ-supported libraries are therefore independent.

Read-Nepal supports income generation schemes, establishes community centres and pre-school centres in the premises of community libraries. It has provided over 2 lakh books and numerous reading materials to community libraries.

Volunteerism is the essence of all its endeavours. It has beneʏ ted from the services of over 250 Nepali volunteers at its country ofʏ ce and many more at its project sites.

READ-Nepal initiated, and is now working toward the institutional development of, the National Community Library Association (NCLA). The ʏ rst and the only associa- tion of community libraries in Nepal, NCLA is expected to play an important role in the development of community libraries in Nepal.

Read-Nepal has won a number of awards for its contribution to development and edu- cation. In 2006 it received the prestigious “Access to Learning Award” from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for providing information and information technology Building Literacy and Communities to rural Nepalese. Through Libraries

Rural Education and Development P.O.Box: 11995, Baluwatar-4, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 14423141/4439858, E-mail: [email protected] Contents Dear Reader, As we wrote in the last issue, we were not en- tirely satisʏ ed with our introductory effort. We knew we had the potential to do better than that. GROWING UP COVER STORY 7 And we believe that we did better in the next is- sue—give and take a few editorial lapses—some of which crept in in the last minute, during the layout phase. Some of you readers have compli- mented us on the quality of our content and raved about the layout. Most reviewers told us that we were doing a good job. Naturally, we were gung- ho. However, in attempting to bring out a good prod- uct, we overshot our budget. And that was gnaw- How I came to books 5 ing at our minds. To cut down costs, we were A columnist shares his seriously contemplating reducing the number of experience of growing pages and bringing out the magazine in black and up with books white, despite the desire we had expressed in the last editorial to make the future issues of Read PERSONALITY sleeker and thicker. But then things started to fall in place.

In this provocative essay on Nepali travel writing, Ajit Baral writes why he Ashutosh Tiwari, who is with an international ʏ - finds it difficult to read Nepali travel writing nancial institute in Bangladesh, decided to make an "anonymous" contribution of ʏ ve thousand rupees to the magazine (Sorry, Ashutosh, we had FEATURE 05 MINUTES to mention your name to corroborate our claim). Sharad Babu Shrestha and Sanjana Shrestha of Rural Education and Development-Nepal came up with an offer of partnership. READ, an or- A do gooder 12 ganisation that is internationally renowned for its Juggling journalism and efforts in promoting literacy, doesn't actually fund philanthropy our magazine. So in essence, we aren't any better ʏ nancially. But the organisation, whose mantra STORE PROFILE is sustainability, will, we hope, help us make our venture sustainable in ways we could never have presaged when we started out with loads of en- thusiasm, but little planning. We've been receiving calls from people who want The book I have loved the Book Byte 28 to subscribe to our magazine. Young people have most 20 A renowned academic talks visited our ofʏ ce, asking us how and what to read. Sujit Mundul writes about his about books Writer Govinda Bartaman wrote about our ini- most loved book tiative in Kantipur. Another columnist said she would write about the magazine. The BBC Nepali A book mall 15 ACTIVITIES SHORT TAKE Service contemplated doing a story on the read- Profile of the most Book club events 4 Q/A 24 ing habit. And as if on cue, publishers, book sell- reader-friendly book- The book club activities With Ameet Dhakal ers and printers, who were initially very tentative store in town about supporting us, have now rallied behind us. BOOK REVIEW OFFBEAT People The support we've received has encouraged us to Doing social development Reader's Room 24 continue—come what may. Thank you, all. With From Nepal to the through business 23 Vijaya G Vaidya world 18 your support, we believe that we can do our bit to Applying the business model in A review by Shizu further the cause of reading in Nepal. social development Upadhya Read Team SPOTTING Ajit Baral READ is published quarterly from Anamnagar, Kathmandu, What Kathmandu Jagannath Lamichhane Nepal by FinePrint Book Club Foundation, GPO Box: 19041, Maheshwor Acharya is reading? 26 Tel: 4255500, Email: [email protected] Niraj Bhari in association with READ-NEPAL, Baluwatar. Four leading figures Tiku Gauchan (Copy editor) www.fi neprintbookclub.com talk about what they are Rukesh Shrestha (Photography) reading Bhuwan Singh Thapa (Distribution) Subarna Humagai (Layout/Design) REKINDliNG NEPAl

110DIR 1: ' ~L , VOLUME 1 n

OLl JEn

MEDIEVAL NEPAL MODERN NEPAL Price IC 1595/- per set Price IC 595/- per set

Available with Alpine Book Store Mandala Book Point Tiwari Pilgrims Book House Tel: 4700666 Tel: 4227711, 4245570 Tel: 4700942, 4700919 Educational Book House Nepal Book Depot Tibet Book Store Tel: 4244863, 4242341 Tel: 4700258 Tel: 4415788 Ekta Book Distributors Nepal Mandala (PKR) Vajra Book Shop Tel: 4260482, 4260483 Tel: 061-523203, 540816 Tel: 4220562 Glory Book Centre Ratna Book Dist. Walden Book House Tel: 4441086 Tel: 4223036 Tel: 4244306, 4228119

3 Read Jan-Mar,2007 Subscription Service Book Club Events www.fi neprintbookclub.com

Sukaraatka Pailaaharu

For a subscription, please con- On Feb 4th the Book Club discussed on the recently pub- tact the customer service. lished novel “Sukaraatka Paailaharu” by Dr. Govindaraj Bhattarai. Dr. Bhattarai provided the background to the Tel: 4255500 writing of the novel and responded to the queries of the Email: [email protected] participants. Much of the talk focused on the theoreti- cal part of the novel. Set against the background of the URL: www.fi neprintbookclub.com Maoist struggle, the novel charts the journey of Ananta. He comes to Kathmandu from the eastern region of the Subscription for 1 year: Rs.400 country to do a master's in English, but fails to complete Subscription for 2 year: Rs.750 it, as he gets caught up in the whirlwind of politics. He then tries to go to the gulf through a manpower agency. Subscription for 3 year: Rs.1100 But the agency cheats on him and he loses the money borrowed from his professor. Despaired, he resorts to Or, you can fi ll the form below reading suicide literatures. and send it to:

DVC on editing

FINE PRINT BOOK CLUB The FinePrint Book Club in association with the Ameri- FOUNDATION can Centre organised a digital video conference on edit- Post Box No.19041 ing with David R Godine, publisher and editor of the small but prestigious publishing house David R Godine Anamnagar, Kathamandu Inc, on Feb 28th. Nepal Editor and writer Deepak Thapa, who moderated the programme, provided a short sketch of the Nepali edit-

Name:...... ing scene for Godine to base his talk on. Godine then talked about editing in America with reference to his ...... own publishing house. He said that American publish- Address: ...... ing houses were increasingly outsourcing publishing ser- vices to countries like China, Taiwan, India to minimise ...... the cost. He also said that the editorial department have ...... started to play second ʏ ddle to the marketing depart- Tel (Off.)...... ment. After his presentation, he responded to queries from the participants, which ranged from different layers (Res.)...... of editing to ʏ nding a publisher. (Fax)......

E-mail:......

Please fi nd enclosed Cheque/DD No:...... Bibliomania: Boon or bane ...... drawn on Instead of discussing on books as usual, the FinePrint

(specify bank & branch)...... Book discussed on the interesting topic bibliomania on Jan 7th 2007. One of the most well read columnist, CK ...... Lal said he won't dwell on the beneʏ ts of books as they ...... are evident to all and then went straight into the draw-

...... backs of the excessive obsession with books. He listed down a number of drawbacks, like the problems of stor- age and cataloguing and socialisation, the tendency to for Rs:...... dated...... see everything through theoretical perspectives and look for remedies for everything in books. He said every kind of love is positive but if love turns into obsession it be- comes destructive. The same is true for books, he said. Signature:...... The thrust of the discussion was: Love the book, but don’t be obsessive about it.

4 Read March-May,2007 GROWING UP

How I came to books

Sujeev Shakya , President, Tara Management and columnnist I started reading early in my life, fascinated by books and li- als would come to our home to hold forth on various topics. These braries. I spent my school years in Kalimpong. The British had events at home further whetted my desire to read more. I also yearned left behind a legacy of reading, and reading good newspapers, to associate with the personalities whose names would come up dur- books and magazines was a way of life there. The people in ing the discussions. I had already realised by then that I wouldn’t get Kalimpong accorded a high status to people who read: having recognition in society without money or knowledge. We didn’t have a set of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" in one’s living room money, so the only option left for me was to gain knowledge—more then was as prestigious as owning a plasma TV today. I feel knowledge—if I were to climb the social ladder. This ambition in me fortunate to have been immersed in such a milieu, where read- spurred me on to read more. ing was highly valued. Later, during my college years in Calcutta, my afʏ nity for libraries In the pre-television days, reading was my sole mode of enter- and reading actually came to my aid in other ways too. I could go to tainment. I couldn’t afford to buy a Walkman or the "two-in- the libraries to avoid the heat, and reading was also the most eco- ones", but I could borrow books. So I would spend evenings nomical way of impressing people. When I had no money to go to a and holidays reading books. At that time, the Nepali Bhasa movie or a party, I used to always resort to books. I could, however, Aandolan was underway, and the search for a Nepali iden- develop my persona by accumulating knowledge and hoped that my tity had just begun. I was inʐ uenced by the movement, and I personality would be enticement enough. started reading Nepali books too. My reading of Nepali litera- ture then enriched my understanding of Nepali society and, Today though, I have come to view the pursuit of reading in a more of course, of human nature. A ʐ urry of Nepali publications mature light. I no longer view reading merely as an exercise in whiling came out at that time, which made me want to not only read away time, as a practice for ensuring my upward mobility or as a way more but also write. to bulk up my personality. Today, I regard reading as the supreme My uncle who reads and writes extensively guided me through tool that we have at our disposal for understanding and appreciating the world of books. We would discuss books, and intellectu- this wonder that is life. I regard reading as the supreme tool that we have at our disposal for understanding and appreciating this wonder that is life.

5 Read March-May,2007 05-04-03-FINEPRINT: 4255500 Australia Over colleges, services student Tourist Australian Malaysia General in in MTT Spouse Student Student 90 Resident Professional, Prospective Person, Registration WANNA Australia branch various have 15 Visa from year have and Engineers, Visa language Visa a Dependent in Skilled universities, and strong Nepal Migration of Thailand, lime China helped Marriage (Spouse Accountant Number: BE Parents Citizen Migration relationship MTT schools and IN Computing over TAFA, Japan, student Visa Agent now Migration) of Visa 0107919 3500 and Institute, Australian we for & with Europe, and Others High international are Trade more migration opening Private and schools Korea, than Email: Ktm., Baneshwor Kathmandu P.O Australia Suite Ph 104 02-92832569 Box: Bathurst 46-47, Nepal. [email protected] 9493, office Plaza level office street,Sydney Tel New 01-2305959 2 4 nd Baneshwor floor nsw 2000 COVER STORY

Tira Baralinda", but found the book irritating—in fact, so irritating that I had to belabour to read it. Surpris- Damme, this is the ingly, it is considered as a canonical work and has won the Madan Puras- kar, one of the two most prestigious awards given in literature. If a book hailed as a masterpiece Nepali travel writing bored me, how will other Nepali travel writings fare? I was curious to he ʏ rst two books of travel know. And I picked up the special Twriting I read were inciden- travel writing issue of Samakaleen Sa- tally two of the ʏ nest travel writ- hitya. Most of the writings in the is- ings ever written: "An Area of scene for You sue failed to arrest my attention. And Darkness" by VS Naipaul and reading them, I did not feel any less "The Great Railway Bazaar" by Ajit Baral irritated. I wondered why the writ- Paul Theroux. I came to these ings were exasperating me, but failed books in freakish circumstances. to locate the source of my irritation. I ran into "An Area of Darkness" Evidently, what travel writings I had in a library. It had no library read I had read for pleasure, and not stamps on it, which instantly with the intention of understand- brought out the kleptomaniac ing what travel writing is or what it in me. I stole it and read it in should achieve or be like. So I decid- the comfort of my home. For- ed to read as many travel writings by tunately, I didn’t have to steal foreigners as I could immediately lay "The Great Railway Bazaar". my hand on to ʏ nd out why Nepali But the circumstance I came travel writings bored me and read Ma to read it isn’t any less freakish. Jian’s "Red Dust: A Path Through My father bought it, but why he China"; Pico Iyer’s "The Games" bought it beats my imagination. (a travel piece included in the book He didn’t buy it for himself for I "The Global Soul"); Granta’s travel haven’t seen him give as much a writing special; a New Yorker piece, peek at it. Nor did he buy it for “Fertility Ground”, written by a New me because he hasn’t said that Yorker staff writer, Susan Orlean; he bought it for me. Not yet. and an introduction to an anthol- Moreover, he never has bought a ogy of travel writings, "The Picador book for me. How come he then Book of Journeys", edited by Robyn bought the book! Davidson. Now when I look back, I think After reading them I found that my I was destined to read these source of irritation lay in the content books—these books, which and the style of our travel writings. hooked me into travel writings. Superfi cial details And now I have come to de- Travel writing is not just about jot- vour all of Naipauls and quite a ting down every activity. It's about few Therouxes, and also travel writing things of note, interest. But books by Pico Iyer, Amitava most Nepali travel writers go to ri- Kumar, Pankaj Mishra, William diculous lengths in describing daily, Dalrymple, Ian Buruma, among mundane stuffs, as if anything they others. My reading of these ʏ ne write would be of some interest to exponents of travel writing led readers. As William Zinsser writes in me to select travel writing as my "On Writing Well", "The essay that "favoured" genre for a book of records everything you did on your interviews we were planning to trip will fascinate you because it is work on. And I began by read- your trip…[but not the reader]. The ing Taranath Sharma’s "Belayata

7 Read March-May,2007 COVER STORY

Travel writing, VS Naipaul says, is an inquiry into something. And all the good travel writings inquire about one thing or the other. In “The Games”, Pico Iyer inquires into not just about the Olympic Games but also its politics. In “Fertility Ground’, Susan Orlean inquires about penises that are sketched on houses everywhere in Bhutan as a symbol of fertility. But we rarely fi nd our travel writers examining an idea, a theme mere agglomeration of detail is review (Nepali Times, 14-20 Janu- Iyer inquires into not just about k'/fgf] df]tL lk|lG6ª k|]; 5, hlxn] eg] no free pass to the reader’s inter- ary, issue 230), Tatsuro Fujikura, the Olympic Games but also its klg sfd em§, e/f;fnfUbf] ] 5kfO lrl/Rof§ Û est. The details must be signiʏ - a Japanese living in Nepal, ques- politics. In “Fertility Ground’, -k]h !(#_ cant." tions, "Since when has it become Susan Orlean inquires about pe- With this kind of beginning (and a bad thing to describe mundane nises that are sketched on houses In one of his travel pieces in "Be- his enviable use of language to aspects of life... in a work of liter- everywhere in Bhutan as a sym- layata Tira", Taranath Sharma boot), he could well have gone ature?" Yes, I agree, because any- bol of fertility. But we rarely ʏ nd writes of his visit to a friend’s on to explore the Nepali bhasa thing—any small detail or silly our travel writers examining an house for lunch. This is how the prema of the Darjeeling people conversation—can be signiʏ cant. idea, a theme. piece goes: I took so and so bus and maybe compare it with how But the details have to in some at so and so time and got at so "Belayata Tira" at best describes Nepalis themselves view the Ne- way move the narrative forward and so place. But I got lost and the places the writer has visited, pali bhasa and come up with a and deepen the theme. But in got wet in the rain. The so and so but rarely explores a theme. In wonderful travel narrative. But "Sohra Sanjhharu" the repeated host came looking for me in a car "Baktaharuko Kuno", Taranath he doesn’t probably because he accounts of authors' drinking tea and took me home. She gave me Sharma describes the goings-on didn’t go there to write about the and smoking cigarettes don't add her husband's clothes and asked in Hyde Park, London, but fails place. If he had, he would have anything to the narrative and are me to change my wet clothes. We to weave the descriptions into a looked out for a theme to weave mere padding. And if recording talked over lunch and the daugh- theme. He could have explored his travel narrative around. mundane aspects of life weren't the history of the Speaker's Cor- ter showed me her album. Lunch The fact that most travel writings a bad thing, the following para- ner or its importance in providing over, I expressed my desire to are not woven around an idea graph would perhaps have not a democratic public space to vent meet my so and so friend for becomes evident even when we put me to sleep: people’s anger or conjectured its tea. She ironed my clothes and look at the titles of the articles in- fate in a society where people in- handed them to me. I put them cluded in the special travel writ- cfh ;f]daf/, !# gf]Ef]Da/ xf] . cfh creasingly have little free time. on and bid the family good bye. ;fFem * ah]/ #) ldg]6df d}n] o"6«]saf6 ing issues of Samakaleen Sahitya Of course, this is a bland descrip- ljbf lng'5 . dnfO{ v'zL nflu/x]sf] 5 Similarly, Devendra Bhattarai and Madhuparka (and the articles tion of the piece, but there are no d sf7dfG8f}+ ef]ln !@ ah]/ #) ldg]6 fails to inquire into a subject or included in them, one can safely signiʏ cant details in it to hold the lbpF;f] k'Ub}5' . p7\g t laxfGf} % ah]lt/ explore an idea in his piece, titled say, are representative of the Ne- reader’s interest. p7]+ Pj+ clxn] n]lv/x]5' . laxfgsf] & "Chinari", which has one of the pali travel writings). The travel jh]/ #) ldg]6 eO/x]sf] 5 . 8f= l/of best openings in the whole lot pieces have titles like "Darjeel- If pieces by the exponent of ni- of articles included in the special ing Yatroko Samjhana", "Japa- yatra are rife with such uninterest- * ah] p7\g'eof] / xfdLn] * ah]/ @) ldg]6df cfhsf] lrof lkof}+ . pxfFn] d]/f travel writing issue of Samakaleen niharuko Hulsangai Hausinda", ing and insigniʏ cant details, how Sahitya. This is how he begins his "Dakshin Americadekhi Bolivia could one expect the travel piec- nflu rfprfp agfOlbg'eof], of] rfprfp d}n] sf7dfG8f}+af6 NofPsf] lyPF . travel piece: Pugda", "Fuzi Parbat Chheuma es by other Nepali travel writers Pugda", "Mero Leningrad Yatra". l;nu8L' gfsdf} kmnf] k/] efgeQmafh' ] .s:tf] to be any different? No wonder Æo'6«]s, lgb/NofG8\;sf] e|d0f / :fDemgfÆ, If the pieces were woven around sfObf eg] /fdfo0f af]s]/ st} kf7df then that in her review of Govin- d'/f/L k|;fb /]UdL, ;dsfnLg ;flxTo, a theme, the writers would have lgSn]sf a]nf 7\ofSs s;}n] ;dft]/ da Bartaman's "Sohra Sanjhharu: ofqf ;+:d/0f ljz]iff+·, $!, -k]h ^)) come up with the titles sugges- pgnfO{ ;z/L/ 78\ofPem} nfUof] . Tof] Yuddhaka Asarharubich Yatra", tive of the themes that they have Inquiry Ho'Fbf]hfUbf] cfs[ltn] x/]s g]kfnLefifLnfO{ author Manjushree Thapa criti- tried to inquire into like the New Pp6} wfuf]df pg]sf] 5 . xf], ToxL efiff cises the writer for shockingly Nepali travel writers indulge in Yorker writer Susan Orlean does g} lrgf/Lsf] klxnf] / clGtd af6f] klg chronicling "his drinking of 62 loads of insigniʏ cant things. I in the her article mentioned earli- xf] . efg'eQmn] k9fPsf], 3/–3/df kf7 cups of tea and smoking of just wonder if it is because they don’t er. Orlean’s writing is built on an u/fPsf] …lrgf/LÚ klg ToxL efiffsf] 8f]/f]df as many cigarettes." She adds, try to explore anything in their idea—of penises sketched on the plgPsf] 5 -k]h !(#_ . "What is shocking is not that he writings. houses in Bhutan, images which A few paragraphs later, he writes had so much tea or [so many] cig- Travel writing, VS Naipaul says, are believed to be endowed with about mana chunne darjellingge bha- the power to impregnate even arettes but that he wrote about it is an inquiry into something. sa. He even quotes an advert of a barren women—and she thus in such detail." But not all agree And all the good travel writings printing press written on a wall: comes up with a title that is with Thapa. For example, in his inquire about one thing or the suggestive of the theme of her well written response to Thapa's other. In “The Games”, Pico h:tf] cf–cfˆgf] e]if 5, To:t} xfd|f] piece. 8 Read March-May,2007 COVER STORY

Moral high ground We crawl into the bushes and sit af6fvr{sf] lglDt rflxg] r'/f]6 ;lsg nfu]sf] on a rock. I lift Ding Xue onto lyof] . d}n] Ps a§f lzv/ lsg]F . rfFbgL One reason why I could not read my lap and kiss her breasts. Some- /]:6'/]G6sf] ;'bz{g blvof] ,t/p;sf] ] cgxf/' "Patal Prabash" was because I found one wheels a suitcase past and she ;'bzgh:tf{ ] lyPg . Psk6s p;n] dnfO{ the moral posturing of the author shrinks back in fear. I whisper, g/fd|/L em'SofPsf] lyof], To;}n] d}n] p;nfO{ too disconcerting to read. In the "Don’t worry, no one can see us," b]Vg]lalQs} ;fOt lau|]nfem}F u/L csf]{lt/ book, Taranath Sharma criticises a and stretch my hand up her damp cg'xf/ kmsf{PF . Kf|tLIff klg tgfasf] Pp6f Nepali couple in America for mar- red skirt. She strokes my hair and ;|f]t xf] . ;ft ah]/ kGw| ldg]6 uO;ssf] rying in a church and not in a mandir, blows into my ears. The roar of my 5, sf]xL cfOk'u]gg\ . dgdGf} ;dok|lt xfd|f] another for not wearing a daura sur- blood drowns the noise of the traf- pbf;Lgtfaf/] ;f]Rb} d}n] r'/f]6 ;NsfPF . ;f9] wal. He deʏ nes nationalism in pa- ʏ c. I let go of myself and pound into ;ftlt/ emf]nf le/]sf vu|]Gb| cfOk'u] . rochial terms of culture and clothes her. The lamps ʐ icker, everything and rails against those who marry in This is probably the most egregious clenches, and for a moment I for- a church and don’t wear a Nepali example of a writing done in break- get the litter, the smell of urine, the dress. Similarly, other Nepali travel fast-to-bed format. But even when mosquito. We drip into each other writers take the moral high ground they don’t write in typical dairy style, and sink into the ground and I say and make value judgement on oth- most Nepali travel writers are metic- things to her again and again. ers. Manjul, who is considered one ulous about describing most of the of the better travel writers, in a Of course, there are exceptions. For activities. As a result most uninter- travel piece published in the travel example, Narayan Dhakal, though esting details ʏ nd mention in their writing special issue of Samakaleen not a travel writer per se, has tried writing. This slows the pace of the Sahitya tells his minister brother that to touch upon his sexual fantasies, writing and makes the writing bor- he should love his birth place: in his collection of travel writings ing. and essays: Another interesting feature is that of] ofqf lgaGw k9\g]n]] cjZo eGg] 5g\— Nepali travel writers ascribe time to …Pdfn]sf] gf}dlxg] sfndf t]/f] cfkm\g} efO To; /ft klg d}n] cj}wflgs ;kgf every activity. In a travel piece in- lyof] lg t dGqL, clxn] klg t 5 . s] b]v]5'—ef]lnkN6 Jo'emFbf yfxf kfOof] . cluded in "Belayat Tira", "Devinceko u¥of] p;n] <Ú pm d]/f] efO xf], 7\ofSs} ÆHff]d;f]dsf] ofqfsf sf]nfhx¿Æ, k]h (* . Toki Nagarma Sat Din", Taranath ;xf]b/ efO xf]—xf], t/ d}n] p;nfO { eGg] Dhakal talks about having an abaid- Sharma mentions the time about 30 s'/f elg;ssf] ] 5,' d}n] eGg ] s/f' . xfdL hanik sapana twice, but leaves it to times. It is extremely exasperating to b'a}n] Pp6} cfdfsf] b'w vfPsf xf}+ To;}N]f the reader to conjecture what he read that the writer did this at so and h;/L d cfkm\gL Kof/L cfdf x's]{sf], a9]sf] saw in those sapanas. so time and that at so and so time. ef]hk'/nfO{ cfdf;/x dfof u5'{ d]/f] ljrf/df Diary style Anyway readers are interested in p;n] lg To;/L dfof ug’{'k5{ . elJfZodf reading the details, actions, not what ef]hk'/df 3'Dg cfpg] d h:t} lgjGwsf/n] I am yet to come across a good, the writer did at what time. p;sf] af/]df d}Nf] gf/bd'lg y'nF'nfO{ ;Dem]/ western travel writing which is writ- cfb/ u/] h:t} ug]{ sfd ug{ p;n] oTg ten in diary style. No good writer Show, don’t tell ug{‘k5{ -k]h= #%_ . does that. The one who come clos- Show, don’t tell is the ʏ rst thing Nepali writers are also extremely est to writing in diary style is Dervla they tell to an aspiring writer. But uncomfortable revealing themselves Murphy. But she doesn’t give space while reading Nepali travel writing, and they rarely express things that to all the things she did during her it seems that our writers don’t give reʐ ect them in poor light. And travel. Nepalis travel writers on the a damn to this fundamental rule of when it comes to talking about sex, other hand mention virtually every writing. Our travel writers just tell they seem puritanical. In "Belayat thing—from what they did after and don’t allow the readers to feel Tira", Taranath Sharma talks about waking up in the morning to before the mood or the atmosphere of the a drawn-out relationship with a going to bed at night. Here is an ex- things described. In Nepali travel British girl. But he doesn’t write ample from "Sohra Sanjhaharu": writings, local characters really ʏ g- even about kissing her, forget about ure in the writing or when they do, Af}zfv !( ut] z'qmaf/ xfdL 3/af6 lgl:sPsf they don’t do the talking; instead, things done beyond a kiss. Contrast lyof}F . To; lbg laxfg d ^ ah]lt/ p7]F . this with Ma Jian. He writes, quite the writers do all the talking. For ex- Aofudf cl3Nnf] lbg g} ;fdfg 7Ls kf/]sf] ample, in an otherwise good travel candidly, about his late night binge lyPF . vu]Gb| ;+u|f}nf / d}n] rfalxn rf]saf6 with his writer friends, his having piece "Kakarbhitta: Made In Japan", laxfg ;ft ah] uf8L r9\g] s'/f lyof] . Khagendra Sangroula doesn’t show sex with a series of girls. And for To;}n] d 7Ls ;ft ah] rf]sdf k'Fu] . that reason he sounds more earthly the reader, but just rails against, the rfalxn rf]s ;Fw}em}F Jo:t eO;s]sf] lyof] . baneful effect of globalisation: and more credible (and more fun to /}yfg] kl/lrtx¿ ge]l6o'g\ eGg] d]/f] ljrf/ read!). An extract from the book (p. lyof], t} e]l6Pgg\ . t/ ToxfF cfOk'Ug'kg]{ jfo'd08n w'hfw'hf kfg]{ k6sfsf] ;j{JofkL 154): vu]]Gb| ;+u|f}nf klg cfOk'u]sf lyPgg\ . uf]nfaf/L, cfufsf lemNsfdo em'Kkfx¿n] 9 Read March-May,2007 COVER STORY

Nepali travel writing started in earnest only after 1950, though a few stray accounts of trav- els, for example, of Junga Bahadur to Great Britain, were written more than 150 years back, as compared to western travel writings which hark back to the days of colonisation when the westerners traveled to the distant shores “to civilise the uncivilised” and wrote about them. Nepali travel writing thus hasn’t had enough time to develop itself, hone its craft

9fs]sf] czfGt c.sf;, ceb| xf]xNnf / degenerating Chinese culture. ing worth knowing about while wrote about them. Nepali travel vnansf] /fOFbfOF / gofF ljZjsf] gofF Instead he lets the reader feel the other writings evoke the scenes writing thus hasn’t had enough ;+:s[lt / hLjg z}nLsf] aQL;} nIf0fsf dogmatism and conservatism of wonderfully well. For example: time to develop itself, hone its ¿kdf l;Ëf] csf;sf] ;ftf] vfg] :Jf/df post-cultural-revolution China craft. Second, the economics of xfdL ljBf xf6nlt/] uf8Ldf uO/xsf] 5f F} . ;w}F 3lGs/x]sf] d'Da}of uLt—rf]nL s] lk5] through dialogues and actions. writing. Writing pays in the west cfO/xg] ;fFem cfh klg cfpFFb}5 . xfdL Sof x===} . GfofF ljZjsf ] gofF ;Gbzn] ] ToxfF In one place, a man from the to a certain extent. So western ;fFemsf] k|f/lDes r/0fdf 5f}F . kx]Fnf ;fsf/ ?k lnPsf ] 5 . aflx/sf ulgnf' District Public Security is threat- writers can set off on a journey 3fdsf 6'qmfx¿ x/fpFb} uO/x]sf 5g\ . s'/f gbVg] ] / eb\bf s/fsf' ] gSnn ug{ ening Ma Jian: with, of course, royalty money ;fFemsf] /+u;Fu dgdf pbf;L knfpFb} uO/x]sf] dfq hfGg ] l8:sf,] /s / kksf d7\ofxf from their previous books or fat Wipe that smirk off your face, you 5 . eFd/f] s/fPsf] h:tf] cfjfh lgsfn]/ g]kfnL ;Gtfgx¿ ToxfF km:6fpg ' km:6fPsf advances from the publishers in smug bastard. You think you’re ;8sdf uf8L u'l8/x]sf] 5 . uf8Lleq 5g\ . lzi6tf / zfnLgtf, nHhfzLntf their purses. Even those strug- something special with your long xfdL ;a} df}g 5f}F . cf–cfˆgf zAbx¿;Fu / ufKotf,] dofbf{ / zflGtlk|otf—oL ;a} gling young writers who cannot hair and denim jeans. Well, you Psfnfk ub}{ xfdL r'krfk ;8slt/ xl//x] sf] dfgjLo ;b\u0fx¿sf' ] dfgf F} ToxfF yf]s hope to get advance money to can’t get away with that here! 5f}F . dflg;x¿ cfO/x5g\] / uO/x]5g\ . xTof ePsf ] 5 . ʏ nance their travel can hope to If you were such an upstanding l/S;fx¿ cfO/x]5g\ / uO/x]5g\ . lbg 3f8f,] OZj/{ / d/f] af -kh] g=+ (%_ . embark on a journey to write be- citizen, how come we have re- / /ftsf] of] bf];fFwdf s'g} uLt ah]sf] cause of a higher per capital in- This kind of plain telling sounds ceived so many reports on you? 5}g . uf8Ldf uLt ahfO/xg] /fh'nfO{ come. No such luck for Nepali sermonising and fails to persuade We released you two years ago to klg pbf;h:tf] b]Vg yfN5' d . ; f ] x| the reader. If he had written like give you a chance to prove your- ;fFemx? -k]h !#!_ . travel writers. Any surprise then this self. But look what I have here: that most of Nepali travel ac- Here the writer brings out the "Long-haired man about forty, counts that are being written are Kf6fsfx¿ jfo'd08n w'hfw'hf kfg]{]ul/ monotony of the situation won- visited him twice in his ofʏ ce... of places the writers have gone k6fsk6fs ul//x]sf lyP . ptf k;ndf derfully well, and there is some- A woman was seen sauntering to for seminars, conferences or sfgsf] hfnL km6fpg]ul/ alnp8sf] uLt thing piquant about the sen- in and out of his house all day." study. Travel writing thus not rf]nL s] lk5] Sof x] alh/x]sf] lyof] . tences as well. But the ʐ ashes of Can you explain why the people being the primary agenda, Ne- bf]sfgcufl8 a;]/ nfdf nfdf skfn this kind of brilliance hasn't been have chosen to pick on you in pali travel writers hardly apply kfn]sf, sfgdf g;'xfpg] ul/ d'Gb|L sustained throughout the book. particular? themselves to the art of observa- nufPsf / gSsnL lnefOHf k]G6 / And inevitably we come across a 6fO6]lgs lkmNd / :kfO; un{;\sf kmf]6f tion, note taking and reportage, He answers: boring passage made even more which is fundamental to the art ePsf uf8f /ftf] / ;'Gtnf /+usf l6;6{ boring by over the top descrip- That was my sister they were of travel writing—or any writing nufPsf s]6fx¿ rf]nL s] lk5] Sof tion of quotidian details. x], rf]nLsf lk5] Sof x} eGb} cufl8 talking about. She often stays for that matter. Also, the craft lx+l8/x]sf s]6Lx¿nfO{ lh:sfOx]sf lyP . with me. The neighbours must Conclusion of research—historical or other- have seen her using the tap in my wise—which is also essential to o:tf] b[Zon] s]lx jif{cufl8 ;Dd oxfF There are probably two reasons yard. travel writing, is yet to develop b]lvb}gYof] . for the weaknesses in Nepali fully in Nepal. That’s the reason he would have been more persua- And you have the most critical travel writings. First, the rela- why Nepali travel accounts suf- sive and given readers an oppor- (of the Chinese thought police) tively short history of Nepali fers from the shortcomings that tunity to feel the atmosphere. statement that you could have— travel writing. Nepali travel I have described in the essay, and and that that without spewing writing started in earnest only In "Red Dust", Ma Jian never which literally drives me crazy. any venom. after 1950, though a few stray seems to put on sermonising airs accounts of travels, for exam- (A slightly different version of this es- simply because he doesn’t tell Flashes of brilliance ple, of Junga Bahadur to Great say was fi rst published in the journal nasty things about the Chinese Having said all these, I don’t Britain, were written more than Study in Nepalese History and thought police—that too in a want to sound that all Nepali 150 years back, as compared to Society, 11(1). We have left out the book of a travel that he, a former travel writings make a boring western travel writings which reference and some of the examples for member of a Maoist propaganda read, from beginning to end. hark back to the days of colo- want of space. We hope to carry the re- department, makes to escape Some travel writings keep us en- nisation when the westerners sponses to the essay in the next issue. the surveillance of the Chinese gaged by the sheer beauty of the thought police who think he is traveled to the distant shores So any comments are welcome—Read language, even if there is noth- “to civilise the uncivilised” and Team)

10 Read March-May,2007 .,....,_...... ,-"-.

kll~IIII""~ . &.;h...... ~ bur. bt\Inch IPI'MII wIIh ...... _Df Coca eo... FMtIt., 'p..... Cullbers ...... 7ft pi ... _ per p&I'IOII. kUinlorl. 11:3".".· 3~"' . n-.I'wn Cart ·l\adi_ HoMIKMPurandu. , ...... " , P.02l6f,L-..,IaI=."NoifioL"...... " .... ~ ....m PERSONALITY A man of action Rabindra Mishra of BBC Nepali Service fame talks about journal- ism, poetry, philanthropy, revealing a charming side to his personality

Ajit Baral

n his interviews, Rabindra Mishra said, "You don’t really Mishra, the Head of the have to," as if it was improper to IBBC Nepali Service, can take a discount. come across as an overbearing The discounted bill had come to host. To many, he sounds pushy, something around four thousand. and his voice is a roar. But when Mishra pulled out his wallet and we interviewed him when he was counted the money, thought for in Nepal recently, we discovered a moment and handed one book a side to his personality that is back to the man at the counter. scarcely discernible over the air- He handed over all his money waves. except for a ʏ ve hundred-rupee- He got down the taxi in front note and said, a faint smile play- of the Mandala Book Point, the ing on his face, “I need this to get bookstore where we were to back home.” meet, ambled towards us, comb- Maharjan took a book from the ing his short-cropped hair and counter table and gave it to him. said, "I am sorry, I kept you wait- It was a collection of speeches by ing." He was exactly ʏ fteen min- Girija Prasad Koirala. utes late. “What is its price?” Mishra asked. He wanted to buy some books at Mandala, so we decided that he “You don’t have to pay for it,” should get his shopping done be- Maharjan said. “It’s our own fore we did the interview. Inside publication.” the bookshop, he scanned the “In that case, inscribe it for me,” titles in the Nepal section, took Mishra said and handed the book out a few books—mostlly on back to Maharjan. the Maoists—and went back to Maharjan inscribe the book, the counter to pay the bill. Mad- beaming. hav Maharajan, the owner of the We then headed for the Deli- bookshop, emerged from some- catessen restaurant on the ʏ rst where and asked the man at the ʐ oor and talked. The talk, obvi- counter to give him a discount. ously, started with books

12 Read March-May,2007 Jit PERSONALITY 3CJ"- .51" March ... TMlhnIoalIchDol

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Naravanaadh 1 T"-l2"'-Api ­ """,!"'~1Jya bIgh HaI

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“These books, who is it for?” we asked him, Mishra also draws inspiration from foreign unsure if he had bought them all for himself. poets. "A Russian poet has inʐ uenced me “I buy books every time I come to Nepal. I a lot," he said. He waited for a few seconds had wanted to read some of these books,” he to recall the name but gave up, saying, "My said. “Moreover, my wife also needs them memory fails me." He loves Maya Angelou’s for the thesis she is working on.” and TS Eliot’s poetry. He recited a few lines from Eliot’s "The Hollow Men": "We are the “When did you come to books?” we asked hollow men/We are the stuffed men/Lean- him. And with that question as the cue, he ing together/Headpiece ʏ lled..." and let it narrated the events of his life in a series of trailed off. ʐ ashbacks. Mishra joined Nepal Television in 1991. Mishra’s father, [artist Manuj Babu Mishra], However, he soon got bored reporting about was like most artists—inattentive to his chil- the inaugurations by ministers and the like dren. So Mishra spent most of his childhood and quit his job and went to Pakistan to do with his uncle. His uncle, a government of- a Master’s in Journalism. He worked at the ʏ cer, had been posted in Doti. Mishra left News International, in Pakistan, for some- Kathmandu and went to Doti to live with his time and later joined the BBC Nepali Ser- uncle; he studied there for four years until vice. grade 8. He then went to Darchula, where his uncle was next posted, and studied there for He used to write a popular fortnightly col- a couple of years. Later, he returned to Kath- umn in Nepal. We asked him why he was not mandu to take the test exam. writing the column anymore, and he said, “I am involved with the Help Nepal Network, He would have to start college shortly, but he which together with my fulltime job at the wasn’t sure which subject he should choose He thinks words BBC, leaves me little time for other things.” as his major. His uncle wanted him to study The Help Nepal Network is a philanthropic science, but his father didn’t want him to don’t bring change; organisation founded by him. It now has study a technical subject like science. His sis- branches in 12 countries. The network en- ter, who was studying journalism in Russia, only actions do. courages people to donate money toward suggested that he study journalism too. And good causes in Nepal. so he enrolled in Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus ple yet so powerful.” His eyes lit up behind and studied English and journalism. This is his glasses, as he proceeded to recite a few Mishra thinks words don’t bring change; only the period when he started to read, but he lines from the poem "Mero Chowk": actions do. "More than 95 % of Nepalis are was not seriously into it. He was discover- not as fortunate as we are," he said. "We can ;fF3'/f] uNnLdf d]/f] rf]s 5 . ing other interesting pursuits along the way. at least do something for them, but we don’t. For example, he once participated in a cam- oxfF s] 5}g < ;ayf]s 5 . We don’t have the tradition of charity in Ne- pus-level humour competition along with the c;+Vo /f]u 5, pal. Our educational system doesn’t teach director Prakash Sayami only to be defeated cgGt ef]u 5, us about our responsibility toward society; by Santosh Pant, a competitor from Sarswoti c;Ld zf]s 5, it only teaches us to fulʏ l our own aspira- Campus. He started reading seriously only s]jn xif{ 5}g, tions. Every Nepali living abroad can afford when he was 25. oxfF To;dfly /f]s 5 . to sponsor a child in Nepal and give her a ;fF3'/f] uNnLdf d]/f] rf]s 5 . good education, but we don’t do that. In- He used to read whenever he could, but af- stead, we curse Nepal—its bureaucracy and And then from "Bhupi Sherchan": ter becoming the Head of the BBC Nepali its politics—over rounds of whisky. We need Service he has little time left for reading. He s]xL n]V5g\ to come out of our shells and think about al- leaves for ofʏ ce at 8.30 in the morning and o;f] x]5{g ternative ways of developing Nepali society. returns home at 8.30 at night. “Moreover,” he lrQ a'em\b}g We should speak through our actions." said, “I have to read sitting upright because clg s]5{g\ He talked about the Help Nepal Network of a serious back pain, which is not easy.” k'gM n]V5g\ so passionately that we were left wondering k'gM x]5{g\ Mishra’s reading includes not only prose but where his heart mostly lay—in philanthropy also poetry. In fact, he says he’s passionate nfdf] ;f; km]5{g\ or in journalism. No surprise then that he about poetry and writes poems when he can s7}a/f said, "There is a conʐ ict between my passion ʏ nd the time. When we asked him who his e"lk z]/rg . for journalism and philanthropy. Ten years favourite poets were, he said, “I like the po- "And of course I like Laxmi Prasad Devko- down the road I am not sure which one will ems of Bhupi Sherchan. His poems are sim- ta’s poems," Mishra added. engage me more pleasure."

14 Read March-May,2007 BOOKSTORE PROFILE

A Book Mall Anup Acharya With a fl oor space of 16,000 square feet, Ekta can cram thousands of additional books. But Ekta has de- ferred to aesthetics on this matter and decided to go with fewer books. Ekta, therefore, looks spacious and its atmosphere doesn’t feel oppressive. The fl oors are well lit and spick clean; the walls are painted sky-blue and emit warmth. It feels good just walking around the fl oors kta Books started out in 1982 as a small books there were, Radha Rai, who is in charge and emit warmth. It feels good just walking Eshop in Thapathali, just opposite the of books, said that she wasn’t sure about around the ʐ oors. Nepal Rastra Bank gate. Initially named Ekta the number. “We have classiʏ ed books into On the left-corner of the ground ʐ oor is the Books and Stationery, a name that’s in the various genres. Every genre has more than a counter and on the right are stationery items same register as the names of the smaller sta- thousand titles. More than 75,000 titles have and books that have recently arrived. On the tionery stores in Kahtmandu, the store has been listed on the computer, but thousands now changed its name to the more impos- shelves opposite the stairs are national and of others are yet to be electronically cata- international magazines like The Economist, ing Ekta Books. But the name change has logued,” she said. been justiʏ ed by Ekta’s growth. Today, Ekta Time and Himal SouthAsian. Books occupies a whole building near Prasuti With a ʐ oor space of 16,000 square feet, Ekta On the day we visited Ekta, a young child Griha. The building has ʏ ve ʐ oors, three of can cram thousands of additional books. But sitting on a stool took out one book of chil- which house only books. Ekta has deferred to aesthetics on this matter dren’s stories after another and ʐ ipped the Ekta reminds one of big book malls in big and decided to go with fewer books. Ekta, pages. Her bespectacled brother was reading cities like Bangalore, where one can spend therefore, looks spacious and its atmosphere "The Secrets of Droon" while the parents hours browsing through books. Ekta has doesn’t feel oppressive. The ʐ oors are well lit were engrossed in scanning the books on the thousands of books. When asked how many and spick clean; the walls are painted sky-blue shelves. That was a rare but pleasing sight:

15 Read March-May,2007 BOOKSTORE PROFILE

a family coming together to buy ʐ oor and said to the man man- the ʐ oor space. In the children’s for thought.. books. ning the counter, “Where do you book section we met two Giri sis- keep books about aeroplanes?” ters of the GEMS School. Their Spending time in bookshops can On the ʏ rst ʐ oor, a boy in school The man led him to the shelf ʏ nal exams were over, and they be fun. More so if the bookshop uniform was reading a book, his containing books on aviation. had come to buy books to read is Ekta. At Ekta, you can amble shoulder resting against a rack. The boy took out a few books, during the holidays. The younger through its passages and browse Hearing us approach, he lifted scanned them and put them back of the two, Sreeya, 9, said, "We over books to your heart’s con- his eyes from the book, looked on the shelf. Seeing him making come here before every long va- tent; you can pull out a book, sit at us for a moment and reverted a face, we asked, "What books cation." on a stool and read the blurb, or back to reading. On the sofa by are you looking for?" "Books you can relax on the sofa by the the window, a man was reading about aeroplane manufacturing," A little later, we saw some chil- window and run through an in- a book. And all around us were he said and scampered away. dren with their father. The chil- troduction or read a chapter. If books on science, management, Perhaps he was looking for an dren were pulling out books and you are a child, you can simply medicine, sociology, yoga and illustrated book on aeroplanes, showing each other the illustra- play around. Ekta Books is prob- meditation. There were also and he ran away seeing text-rid- tions in the books. The father ably the most reader-friendly computer books and a wide col- den books. The ʐ oor we were on let them be and was surʏ ng bookshop in Kathmandu, and lection of dictionaries—French, had books on home and interior through the shelves himself. We from what we saw in the visitors, German, English, Sanskrit etc.— design, gardening, aircrafts, mili- sidled to him, a pen and note- Ekta’s efforts to ensure reader- in different sizes and formats. It tary science, tourism, forestry, book in hand, and asked, “These satisfaction has been duly appre- seemed like an ideal place for religion, music and sports. It children...”Anticipating our ciated. students. also housed books on the Eng- question, he said, “I take my chil- The bespectacled boy we had en- lish language, media, literature, dren to bookshops to entertain (Ekta Books has branches in Man countered earlier on the ground philosophy and history. But them.” Bookshops as a place of Bhavan, Kathmandu and in Hetaun- ʐ oor followed us to the second children’s literature took half of entertainment! Now, that’s food da and Pokhara.)

16 Read March-May,2007 A Joint Publications of

IsIAO Istituto Itliano per I' Africa I'Oreiente Vajra Publications

n 1987 Agosto Da Polenza and Prof. Ardito Desio founded the Ev-K2-CNR Project, paving the way for scientiʏ c research at high altitude with the remeasurement of Everest and K2, in collaboration with the Italian National Research council (CNR). Two years later IEv-K2-CNR committee was in an independent, private, non-proʏ t association, for the promotion and development of technological and scientiʏ c research in the Hindu-Kush- Karakorum-Himalaya region. It’s mission is to provide specialised scientiʏ c support aimed at the sustainable development of high altitude remote areas to ensure environmental conservation and quality of life for local populations by furthering scientiʏ c knowledge, transferring scientiʏ c results applied to sustainable management of mountain regions, pursuing capacity building activities and promoting cooperation in the respect of local cultures and traditions. It’s ʏ elds of action are: Medicine and physiology, anthropological sciences, environmental sciences, earth sciences, clean technologies and environmental management system, multidisciplinary projects. Anthropological Sciences The programme comprises the activities of researchers specialised in ethnography of the Himalayas and adjacent areas. The main ethno- graphic research trends concern religious anthropology, ethno-history, visual and aesthetic anthropology, theatrical anthropology, ethno- musicology and history of regions. A particular ʏ eld of research is dedicated to Tibetan and Chinese philology. The research areas pays special attention to direct interventions aimed at preserving local cultures and planning/assisting local develop- ment. The Ev-K2-CNR committee in collaboration with the Italian Institute for Africa and Asia (IsIAO, www.isiao.it) produces “Cinnabaris”, a journal of oriental studies, on the coordination of Martino Nicoletti, head of the Anthropological Science Sector. Its objective is to publicise studies an research in the ʏ elds of anthropology, ethnography, visual anthropology, archaeology, history of religions, philology, and art history of Himalayan civilisations. Vajra Publications, Kathmandu, publishes the journal in English in order to provide avenues for local scholars. So far two works have been published and several more manuscripts have been proposed for publication. The published works are:

The Ancestral Forest Lost among the high hills of eastern Nepal, A fascinating journey through the oral memory, which has meant centuries of cultural isolation, the sacred geography and religious imaginary of the Kulunge RĆi ethnic group have tenaciously this people. An ideal itinerary that progressively maintained their religious tradition ever since abandons the inhabited world and enters the their ancient origins. Bearing witness to a far-off abysses of the mythical woodlands – the silent past of hunting and nomadic life, their myths and witnesses of the group’s ancient life style – only legends form a plot and scenario that comprise a to lose itself in the thick of the immense forests multitude of invisible entities: the “hunter-spir- that even today surround the settlements of the its” and the “monkey spirits”, the undisputed Kulunge RĆi. sovereigns of the forest world; Laladum, the deity who resembles a little girl, the initiator of young Starting from the cults of domestic deities, the re- shamans from the villages of the area; the Nagi, search goes on to analyse the rituals that accom- or ophidiomorphic-spirits, dwelling in the waters, pany the souls of the dead and the village farming the totem ancestors of the Kulunge RĆi group; cults, as a necessary step before dealing with the Molu, a mythical forefather, lost in the woods hunting cults and the hidden paths beaten by Ku- and transformed into a deity. lunge RĆi shamans.

Shamanic Solitudes ʐ ight into the forest – mandatory steps on the An itinerary – only apparently circular – furrows path to obtaining powers; the praxis of healing the universe of Kulunge RĆi shamanism in Nepal. and funerary rituals, centered on the experience A nomadic religion, generated within the space of of a “magic journey” accomplished by crossing a double geography that weaves vivid visionary different regions of the cosmos; the body’s func- foreshortenings into the ʐ at weft of reality. An tion and corporeity within the choreutic-musical extraordinary journey through the principal plac- world of shamanism: a body acting as temple and es composing the universe of shamanic reality: simulacrum for a divine epiphany. As a frontier the “call” by the spirits of the wood. The dreams between worlds. A vocal and sonorous body ca- and initiatic visions; the vocational sickness and pable of starting up the great shamanic machine.

More information: Vajra Book Shop, Jyatha, Thamel, Tel: 4220562, E-mail: [email protected], www.vajrabooks.com.np BOOK REVIEW From Nepal to the

world Shizu Upadhya travelling the last leg of the journey on the By the end of its ʏ rst ʏ ve years, Room to Read backs of yaks. Wood then returned to his had grown from an organisation that worked job at Microsoft, the software giant he had with one village in Nepal to an organisation joined shortly after graduate school. Head of that helped people in several countries around the China ofʏ ce, and just 35, he had a bright the world. With substantial volunteer contri- future ahead of him. But something jarred or, butions from local communities and institu- rather, several things all at once. Beijing was tions, Room to Read had built 200 schools, a crowded, polluted city; his relationship with his girlfriend was falling apart; and he was be- donated more than a million books, estab- ginning to wonder if making rich companies lished 2,500 bilingual libraries, constructed 50 richer was all there was to life. But another computer and language rooms and provided epiphany, similar to the one he had had in 1,800 girls with scholarships through second- Bahundanda earlier, would help him decide ary school in Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, In- what he should do with his life. In 1999, dia, Laos, Sri Lanka and South Africa. The Part beginner manual for change while travelling to Nepal to open two schools winner of numerous awards, Room to Read makers, this book is too subjective he had raised funds for, Wood realised, "I has now come to be regarded as one of the to be an assessment of Room to loved my job, I thought Microsoft was a great most exciting non-proʏ t initiatives of recent Read’s progress company, and I loved working there. But see- times. ing those new schools and seeing the pride of ne evening while ʐ ipping through some the villagers—it was one of the most amazing This saga of Room to Read is what "Leaving Oof the books he had brought with him moments in my life." By 2000 he had quit his Microsoft" is all about. Part memoir, part be- on his long trek along the Annapurna cir- job, relocated to San Francisco and founded ginner manual for change makers, this book is cuit in 1998, John Wood came across this a non-proʏ t organisation that eventually be- too subjective to be an assessment of Room sentence by the 19th century existentialist came Room to Read. to Read's progress. It doesn't say much about philosopher Soren Kierkegaard: "There is the states of education in different Room to nothing with which every man is so afraid as Unlike Microsoft, his new venture didn't Read countries or what other organisations generate revenue and thus didn't draw ea- getting to know how enormously much he are accomplishing alongside. And although ger investors. So he approached foundations is capable of doing and becoming." He then its central message that non-proʏ ts are most got into his sleeping bag and with the quote and wealthy industrialists to ʏ nance the new programmes he thought up. He branded his effective when they are run as for-proʏ ts is still fresh in his mind began to reʐ ect on the important for all those costly, underperform- events of the day. He'd befriended a local "product" as a simple yet accountable way to ing NGOs out there, the analogy between the teacher who had offered to show him around make a difference: $2,000 can build a read- the school in Bahundanda, and on that day ing room, he explained, $8,000 a library; and two ends, surely, once one looks beyond ba- they had set off at dawn and hiked for some $11,000 an entire school. He ensured that sic managerial operations to end goals. More hours before reaching the school.The school each supporter was kept informed of how intriguing are Wood's moments of introspec- was full of students, but its library had just exactly their money was being spent. What tion revealing glimpses of the person he is. four books, that too, discarded by trekkers: he tried to do was run Room to Read as if Few people in his position would emulate his an Umberto Eco novel, "Mongolia: Lonely it were Microsoft, arguing "Just because a career move, and the book doesn't urge its Planet Guide", a Danielle Steele romance and charitable organisation doesn't seek to make readers to do so. Wood isn’t moralistic, and a copy of James Joyce’s "Finnegan's Wake". a proʏ t, that doesn't mean it shouldn't bring he doesn't hawk his methods as sure-ʏ re strat- Noting his astonishment, the headmaster in as much money as it can, and manage that egies for making a successful transition from had asked him if there was any chance of him money well. To do any less is to shortchange the corporate world to the philanthropic one. coming back some day with more books to the organisation's mission." That meant cut- In fact, he even explains how unplanned it's all add to their collection. Alone that night, in- ting costs: he hired very few staff, retained been. In a conformist world the logic against spired, he began to make plans. That's just overheads at 5% of total donations (a ʏ gure what Wood does is strong, and he shares the that later increased to 10%), and resorted about how Wood's book "Leaving Microsoft recurring doubts that plagued him before he to outsourcing fundraising responsibilities, to Change the World: An Entrepreneur's could ʏ nally say, "Given the choice, I would which were shared with volunteer teams that Odyssey to Educate the World's Children" have it no other way." Writing informally and begins. converged ʏ rst in America, then in cities from Hong Kong to Paris to Vancouver. To raise with humour, Wood ends up making his story After the trek, Wood sent out hundreds of money, Wood ʐ ew around the world giv- seem so normal that readers of his book are emails to friends requesting them to ship ing presentations so persuasive that he once left wondering, "Since he's done so much, why their spare books to his parents' home in garnered $1,50,000 in under two minutes. haven't I?" Colorado. Within a month some 3,000 books Though he worked 12-hour days, he declined arrived. They were forwarded to Kathmandu to take a salary, living off savings and the oc- (S. Upadhya is a researcher based in Kathmandu. She en- then to the school in Bahundanda, the books casional sale of personal stocks. joys reading travel writing in her spare time)

18 Read March-May,2007

FEATURE

The book I have loved the most Sujit Mundul|CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited

recently read "The Dinosaur Club" by William Hef- Ifernan, and I must say that I tremendously enjoyed the book. I’m familiar with the ways of the corporate world—the ambitions of the executives, the seeming lack of morals among the habitants of the upper echelons and the methods employed by companies to remain competi- tive. In the name of survival, companies often resort to questionable means euphemised by labels like "downsiz- ing" and "streamlining the workforce". In "The Dinosaur Club", the survival game is played not by a corporation but by Jack Fallon, a middle aged executive about to be- come yet another victim of corporate downsizing.

The novel’s basic premise has Jack Fallon’s life falling apart: his wife of 25 years is leaving him, and the upper management in his company have decreed that ʏ fty-plus executives like Fallon constitute dead weight, and there- fore, must be ʏ red. The legal counsel hired to ensure that the dirty work will be carried out without the company’s being dragged through the mud is Samantha Moore. But Fallon will not go quietly; he rallies other ʏ fty-plus execu- tives around him, who create the resistance group "The Dinosaur Club", and they take on the upper management with counter-moves of their own. Along the way, Fallon falls in love with Moore, Moore switches sides, and the Dinosaur Club eventually emerges triumphant.

The corporate world is what it is, and one cannot expect wholesale changes in its moral setup. But that world is also peopled by humans who want to believe that they can win the good ʏ ght when the corporate monster decides to unleash its terror on them. And for those of us working in the corporate world who would like to continue believ- ing that good can prevail, "The Dinosaur Club" can be considered a modern morality tale that we can refer to in times of doubt. Yo Jindagi Khai Ke Jindagi Ateetka Pana Author: Haribhakta Katuwal Author: Shiva Regmi Price: Rs. 50 Price: Rs. 175 Publisher: Ratna Pustak Bhandar, 2007 Publiser: Ratna Pustak Bhandar, 2063 vs Phone: 4242077 Phone: 4242077 Poet Haribhakta Katuwal is best known for his power- Shiva Regmi has spent years studying the history ful imageries and expressions. His poems are packed of Nepali literary magazines. In this book, which is with patriotic feelings. This collection contains 61 of a collection of articles published in different news- his all time favourite poems. Ratna Pustak Bhandar papers and magazines, Regmi profiles 50 literary has reprinted this collection, which was first published magazines. 20 years ago, under its tribute to literateurs series. Atlas of the Himalaya Kathmandu Valley Environment Outlook Authors: Zurick D.; Pacheco J.; Shrestha B and Price: Rs. 400 Bajracharya B. Publisher: ICIMOD, 2007 Price: Rs. 1200(HC), 1000 (PB) Phone: 5003222 Publisher: ICIMOD, 2005 www.icimod.org Phone: 5003222 “Kathmandu Valley Environment Outlook” provides www.icimod.org a detailed account of the status of the Kathmandu The Himalaya is the source of the great rivers of Asia. Valley environment highlighting five key environmen- The region directly supports some 150 million peo- tal issues—air quality and traffic management, un- ple, and impacts on 500 million more downstream. planned settlement, degradation of water resources, This book was prepared to support the understand- waste management and natural disaster prepared- ing of Himalayan geography and development activi- ness. The book reviews their statuses, and recom- ties in the region. The “Atlas” provides information on mends measures to prevent or minimise negative the characteristics of physical geography, geology, impacts, providing direct options for management by climate, and natural hazards, as well as sociocultural various levels of government, civil society, the public- and historical descriptions. This book is for regional private sector and residents. distribution only. Computer Practical Manual Vol I Business Statistics and Price: Rs. 150 Data Management Publisher: Ekta Books, 2007 Phone: 4245787 Author: Dr Hridaya B. Shrestha www.ektabooks.com Price: Rs. 425 Publisher: Ekta Books, 2007 This book contains some special features of MS-Of- Phone: 4245787 fice and chapters on HTML, Email and Internet that will www.ektabooks.com help user to create web pages, free email addresses and chat with friends. The book is specially designed This book is designed especially for BBA and to meet the latest syllabus prescribed by HSEB for MBS students. It’s the popular statistical pack- Grade XI. It also covers the Diploma courses offered age SPSS for windows. It will benefit scientists, by most computer training institutes. A computer business people and administrators. It can be learning manual, it will be very useful for students. used as a crash course on introductory statis- tics for non-traditional students also. Anugita: The Follow-up Gita Nepal: Struggle for Existence (Sanskrit Text with English Translation) Author: Jagadish Sharma Anchored by-Dr. Jagadish Sharma Total pages: 388 Price-Rs.300 (I.C.) Price: Rs 999 Published by-Parimal Publications, New Delhi (2006) Publisher: CommInc, Kathmandu, 2006 Mobile: 9841203394 www.nepalstruggleforexistence.com.np When Arjuna expresses a desire for the repeat recital Mobile: 9841203394 of Gita, Shree Krishna obliges him with a version known The seminal work on Nepal’s foreign policy was first as Anugita. By virtue of its being Shree Krishna’s last published in 1986. The updated edition analyses the exhortation, it may subsequently come to be known events up to the Janaandolan II. The book concludes as his own gita bhasya. Anugita may help deepen the that a successful movement away from satellite understanding of the actual message Shree Krishna relationship with India to a more independent status tried to impart to Arjuna when he first recited it and is a hallmark for those who continue to struggle ultimately also help facilitate the settlement of the for existence as a sovereign nation-state. Situated on-going debate on karma, bhakti and gnana yoga. between the two behemoths, Nepal’s challenge The book has Foreword by Dr. Karan Singh and Com- is to pursue foreign policy for its survival. The mentary by Madan Mani Dixit. The next edition, due to book emphasises that the refinement of bourgeois be out soon, will include Exposition from Atal Bihari democracy enhances readability while maintaining a Vajpayee. balanced presentation. 21 Read March-May,2007 Kaanch Ko Parda Mass Media in Post-1990 Nepal Nepali Televisionma Mahila Author: Pratyoush Onta Author: Deepa Gautam Price: Rs. 200 Price Rs: 125 Published by - Martin Chautari, 2006 Publisher: Martin Chautari, 2007 Phone: 4240243 Phone: 4240243 www.martinchautari.org.np www.martinchautari.org.np Since 1990 the media in Nepal has recorded spec- tacular growth, both in terms of quantity and qual- A first of its kind, the book analyses the portrayal ity. Several factors are responsible for this growth. of women on Nepali television channels. Bringing the This book examines those factors and describes the gender perspective to bear on her analysis, she ar- changes in the media in the last fifteen years. It also gues that the contents of televisions in Nepal are not analyses many micro-facets of the media in Nepal women-friendly. The author explores flaws on Nepali under the assumption that such attention is crucial televisions and suggests ways to correct them. for making the media a real force for democracy in Nepali society. The book contains 48 short essays. Samajik Abiyyan ya Bikas Saharikaran: Jibikako Vivid Sahayata Aayam Author: Eiichi Satamatfu Editors: Bhaskar Gautam, Jagannath Adhikari Price: Rs. 200 Price: Rs.200 Publisher: Martin Chautari, 2006 Publisher: Martin Chautari, 2006 Phone: 4240243 Phone: 4240243 www.martinchautari.org.np www.martinchautari.org.np It’s a compilation of scholarly articles on urbanisa- The book is a remarkably honest account of a foreign tion and livelihood. It deals with how the neo-liberal aid worker. In it, the author Satamatfu writes about policies actively followed by the state after 1990 have experience of working in Nepal and his reflections on affected urbanisation and different aspects of liveli- the experience. It was first written in Japanese. This hood. It also emphasises that the state has always book is a plea to Nepali readers to explore the possi- considered rural development as he backbone of the bilities of learning from people from different corners economy and overlooked the need to eliminate pov- of the world and collaborating with them for building erty, and improve the livelihood of the people, in the more equitable and just relationships. cities. Nepal: Human Rights Year Jana Andolan-II: A Witness Ac- Book 2007 count Price: Rs. 500 Price: Rs. 205 Publisher: INSEC, 2007 Publisher: INSEC, 2006 Phone: 4278770 Phone: 4278770 www.inseconline.org www.inseconline.org

An annual publication of INSEC, the human rights It’s a document of human rights violations by the year book documents the instances of human rights king’s government during the April movement. Here violation in the country. The latest yearbook contains people share what they witnessed during the 19-day two chapters. The first chapter deals with the new movement. The book is out of print, but readers can roadmap and the challenges of the transition and read the book at the central and regional libraries the second chapter deals with the state and human of INSEC rights. The annexes provide records of human rights violations that occurred in 2007 in five regions. New Paradigm in Global Security: Nepalma Maobadi Sasastra Civil: Military Relation in Nepal Dwanda: Karan, Ashar ra Sa- Author: Dr Prem Singh Basnyat madhanka Prayasharu Price: Rs 295 Author: Bishnuraj Upreti Publisher: Bhrikuti Academic Publications, 2004 Price: Rs 395 Phone: 4256036, 4220660 Publisher: Bhrikuti Academic Publications, 2061 vs Mail- [email protected] Phone: 4256036, 4220660 Mail- [email protected] This book contains articles related to the different levels of security including the challenges to national The book describes the concepts of conflict, the security and the importance of the civil-military rela- rise of the CPN (Maoist) and the impact of its armed tionship. It touches on the difference among national, struggle on natural resources. It prescribes measures international, regional, corporate and global security, to peace building. It is a valuable record of a situation substate and transstate actors, and the changing existing in a violence-ridden country. It is a historical paradigm of security. document for the study of the arm conflict initiated by the CPN (Maoist). 22 Read March-May,2007 OFFBEAT

local private boarding schools but the interesting thing about it Doing social development is, it invests in the social sector the way one invest in business. That is, it uses the business model in social development. He says, "Schools usually don’t charge the third or the fourth student through business from the same family. That is, they give a discount. What we do is place 60 students for ʏ ve years at a school, but at a 50 per cent aul Kavanagh, Irish businessman, loves to read spiri- discount." tual writers like Deepak Chopra and Paulo Coehlo. He also likes to read Charles Handy, a management ALL also helps schools build infrastructures. He says, "Some of Through P the schools have good faculty but poor infrastructure. In such guru with a socialist heart. It is Charles Handy, he says, who an NGO inspired him to earn a lot and invest in social development. cases, we build infrastructures but demand the free placement of called ALL, certain students for certain years in return." That way, schools can he has He is a capitalist. But he says, "I am spending or at least have better facilities, a larger class size, great educational environ- created hoping to spend some of my money for a reason. I make ment and ALL can provide quality education to needy children. opportuni- lots of money from one hand and give some of it back from ties for the another. It's a great motivational factor to know what you ALL has already partnered with a local school in Duakot, Bhakt- neediest are doing has a value." And what he has been doing in Nepal pur. And the response, Paul says, has been great. Initially he was people of has a value. not sure if placing 60 students from the disadvantaged commu- Nepal for nity at an English boarding school dominated by high-caste and learning & Through an NGO called Access to Learning and Livelihood middle- and upper-class students would not disturb the school. livelihood. (ALL), he has created opportunities for the neediest people But, he says, students have integrated very well. "Now that it has of Nepal for learning and livelihood. What ALL do is provide worked here, we can be sure it will work elsewhere," he says. ALL scholarships to children from disadvantaged backgrounds at is thinking of extending its support to other areas. 23 Read March-May,2007 PEOPLE

Ameet Dhakal News Editor, The Kathmandu Post

How much and when he reads On average, I read for about two, three hours a day, but I don't have a ʏ x time for reading. I en- joy reading before going to bed and before leav- ing for ofʏ ce. Because of the recent changes in my life and routine, I try

Chandra Shekhar Karki to reach ofʏ ce early and spend ʏ rst two hours (before my colleagues ar- rive) on reading. Books he reads I am mostly a non-ʏ ction reader. Books on politics and economics interest me a lot. Of late, I have been reading books on democratic transitions. Almost any books that deal with the age-old debate of socialism vs liberalism interest me. I read ʏ ctions only when they are recommended by someone or when they become acclaimed. But I must confess that reading ʏ ction is more fun and relaxing than reading non-ʏ ction. Importance of reading Reader’s Room |Vijaya Gajananda Vaidya I read because not reading is painful and night- marish. Of course, I read for other mundane hen Vijaya Gajananda Vaidya, Chairman of Vaidya’s Organisation of In- and utilitarian reasons as well—it's the only Wdustries and Trading Houses, left his job at the Asia Economic Society way to keep you grounded in the world you live in the United States and returned to Nepal, he had only $ 700 in his pocket. He in. Reading also brings a lot of joy in your life was only 26, but he was ready to conquer the world of business—and conquered and helps you be less lonely. he has. In a little over four decades, he has created a small business empire. No Recommended books wonder he is so busy. But he does make time for reading, a habit that he acquired Let me mention three ʏ ction works that I when he had to go underground for political reasons. He was 14 or 15 at that have enjoyed reading the most: "One Hundred time. Years of Solitude"[by Gabriel G. Marquez], "The Alchemist"[by Paulo Coehlo] and "Zen Before leaving for ofʏ ce at 8 am he reads the Hindu and the International Herald and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"[by Tribune. The old issues of both newspapers are piled on one side of his black Robert M. Pirsig]. Of the three, "The Alche- desk in his study. Beside the desk is a shelf lined with books like "Kissinger: The mist" is the easiest to read, even though all of Price of Power" by Seymour M. Hersh, "Business at the Speed of Light" by Bill them take you on life-philosophy and are most Gates and scores of biographies. On the rack on the other side of his study are likely to change the way you view life. But I an assortment of books—"My Name is Red" by Orhan Pamuk and "Travelling have a caution: It's your consciousness that with Che Guevera", etc. There are also books on Nepal and urban development, brings meaning to the words in the books; they books he is reading to prepare a paper that he will present at a seminar in China. don’t have a meaning of their own. So reading He buys at least 7 to 8 books on his foreign visits. These books in his study, he in itself is a test of who you are. says, are not even one-tenth of what he owns. Blogs as a substitute for books I don't read blogs much. So it will be unfair to He reads for at least 2 hours on weekdays and longer on Saturdays and when he compare books with blogs. Yet, I can share my is free. He loves to read biographies and autobiographies of successful people: general impression. I don't think blogs are as John F Kennedy, Jawaharlal Nehru, Abraham Lincoln. He loves reading Dr. Ma- serious as books are. Since blogging is a recent hathir Mohamad’s books and has read most of his work. He, however, doesn’t phenomenon, it still has to pass a test of au- read Nepali books. That, he says, is a sad thing, because he’s a Nepali after all. thentication and depth. Who knows, ten years down the line, I may have something else to When not reading, he writes articles for publications. He is currently working on say about blogs. But for now, I don't see blogs his autobiography. even as a replacement for newspapers, let alone books. 24 Read March-May,2007 JUST AROUND THE CORNER Indian Resturant

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Narayan Dhakal Rajendra Pradhan Priyanka Karki Ashmina Ranjit Writer Anthropologist VJ and Model Artist One of my friends had sent me I usually read several books at a I had read "The Notebook", a I usually read two or three books an essay by Orhan Pamuk's "My time—on different topics and in novel by Nicholas Sparks, some at a time, bit by bit. But I am not Father's Suitcase" via email. I bits and pieces. Of late, I have time back and found it very in- a serious reader and I don't read liked the essay. So I picked his been reading books on collective spiring. When I was in Pokhara cover to cover. I am at the mo- novel, "My Name is Red". How- violence, for example, Rene Gi- for work recently I chanced upon ment reading three books: "Uttar ever, I gave up reading it after a Aadhunik Aina", "Women, Art few chapters because I found it rard's "Violence and the Sacred", another novel by the same writer, and Society" and "Fifty Contem- complicated. I had a similar ex- which attempts to link religion "The Wedding". It is a romantic perience while reading Marquez's and violence. I am also read- love story. I am half way through porary Thinkers". The ʏ rst is a "One Hundred Years of Soli- ing a set of four books by Eric it and ʏ nding it interesting. book of theories, which I picked tude". I will read the Orhan book Hobswam—"The Age of Revo- up to learn about the recent trends in literary theories, but I again sometime later and see lution", "The Age of Capital", I don't get time to read in the if can follow it, like I did "One found it obscure. The second is "The Age of Empire" and "The morning and the afternoon. But Hundred Years of Solitude" in a about the works of women art- Age of Extremes"—and a book I read at least something before second read. ists. The third, as is evident from on social exclusion and inclusion, going to bed. I cannot usually I am busy rewriting my novel and the title, is about the 20th century "Inclusive Citizenship". Edited sleep without reading a few pag- trying to read as little as possible. thinkers. I am a few chapters into At the moment I am just going by Naila Kabeer, the book dis- es. I like to read books (I don't it. In between I am reading "The through some of the portions of cusses how people perceive and care if they are ʏ ction or non-ʏ c- Greatness Guide" to lighten my- a novel I had read years ago and experience citizenship depending tion) which boost morale. self up. liked: "Sult" [Hunger] by Knut on their social situation. Hansun.

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I 1'J'.J'11 W.IJI.Jll/· WUll/· IU!J/· BOOK BYTE Pitamber Sharma A phd in regional planning, Pitamber Sharma taught Geography at Tribhuvan University for 27 years. He now works for different organisations as consultant. He is the author of “Urbanisation in Nepal” and edi- tor of “Tourism and Development”. His many articles on urbanisation, hill development, regional planning and tourism have been published in magazines and books.

When did you start to read? Which books have infl uenced you I started reading out of my own the most? interest when I was perhaps in Many books have inʐ uenced grade ʏ ve. me and it won't be fair to cite Which is your favourite children one. "Red Star Over China" book? by Edgar Snow. "The Great "The Little Prince" by Antoine Transformation" by Karl Po- de Saint-Exupe´ry. lanyi. "A Study of History" Which books are you reading at by Arnold Toynbee. "The present? Structure of Scientiʏ c Revo- "The Argumentative Indian" lutions" by Thomas Kuhn. by Amartya Sen. "The Wretched of the Earth" What kind of books do you usually by Frantz Fanon. "The read? Age of Extremes" by Eric All kinds, but mostly the social Hobsbawm. "Poverty and sciences, history and literature. Famines" by Amartya Sen. The list can go on. On average how many books do you read a month? Which is your favourite interna- tional writer? When I am relatively free I read one or two books a month. There is no favourite as such. One would be a serious book Which is your favourite Nepali on the social sciences or histo- writer? ry/philosophy such as Joseph Stiglitz's "Globalisation and Poet Gopal Prasad Rimal. Its Discontents" or Samuel Which Nepali social science book Huntington's "The Clash of would you make a mandatory read- Civilisations and the Remak- ing? ing of World Order" and the other would be a novel such as "A Study in Nepali Economic Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" History: 1768-1846" and "An or Robert Waller's "Bridges of Economic History of Nepal: Madison County" or even Pau- 1846-1901" by Mahesh Chan- lo Coelho's "The Alchemist". dra Regmi.

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